L.U.C Grand Strike
Ref. Number:
161994-1001
From the workshops of Chopard Manufacture comes the new L.U.C Grand Strike, an opus of mechanical mastery developed entirely within the walls of the Swiss watchmaker. This exceptional chiming timepiece, featuring a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie and minute repeater with proprietary sapphire crystal gongs, represents the culmination of the Maison’s mechanical expertise and a decades-long sonnerie journey initiated by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard.
The result of over 11,000 hours of focused research and development, the L.U.C Grand Strike draws on ten proprietary technical patents - five of which were newly developed for this timepiece - making it the most complex watch ever created by Chopard Manufacture. Its performance is assured by rigorous in-house tests as well as certifying bodies such as the Poinçon de Genève, and the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). With these certifications, the L.U.C Grand Strike is officially the most comprehensively rated grande sonnerie in contemporary high complications.
The design of this timepiece is a blend of traditional forms with modern aesthetics, combining understated curves with a dial-less display that puts the 686-component calibre L.U.C 08.03-L in the spotlight. Housed in a remarkably compact 18-carat ethical white gold case measuring 43mm in diameter, the restrained curves and profile of the case design draw the eye directly towards the high precision L.U.C 08.03-L calibre, which is fully visible thanks to the open dial. At the 10 o’clock position, two polished steel hammers clearly indicate the chiming nature of this watch, which can be adjusted to three sonnerie modes – Grande Sonnerie (G), Petite Sonnerie (P), Silence (S) – via an ergonomically designed sliding selector switch located next to the winding and setting crown. The lower half of the watch dial is occupied by a 60-second tourbillon, a visual reminder of the COSC-certified performance of the movement. Between the continuous rotation of the tourbillon and the motion of the chiming mechanism, the L.U.C Grand Strike offers its wearer an immersive experience of mechanical wonder with every glance.
