Ah, back here nearly to where we started. One of the first watches we covered for Baselworld this year was a Chopard, and now as we come to the very last day of the show, we are looking at another Chopard. This time, it’s the turn of the L.U.C Quattro, a very personal favourite. The Quattro has been intriguing everyone who’s seen it since its launch 19 years ago. Now it’s come back with fresh colours which promise to delight.
The case of this watch measures 43mm in diameter, so it keeps with modern design trends, but remains unfussy. The first iteration of the Quattro was in a 36mm case, so we know that the dimension change is purely a response to buyers wishes, rather than the big movement. The case measures 8.84mm thick and is crafted from 18k white gold which gives a sleek and fresh look. It pairs well with the grey/blue-ish colour dial which has vertical satin polishing. Last year, the L.U.C Quattro was revamped with a new dial consisting mostly of pointy markers instead of Roman numerals, a much-needed change. What haven’t changed are the distinctive notched dauphine style hands which are a Chopard hallmark, in this case, they are also filled with lume.
Speaking of hallmarks, the real winner of the watch is the movement. The calibre 98.01-L is a masterpiece, as are most L.U.C movements to be honest. The name ‘Quattro’ refers to the barrels, of which there are four. In the L.U.C Quattro, one barrel is stacked onto another and then doubled up to make four barrels, which gives the watch a hefty nine days of power reserve plus a little extra safety margin. The movement is also only 3.7mm thick and 28.6mm across, so to fit all that in there takes skill.
The decoration is worth a mention, too. Most people stop at the name Chopard and don’t think any more of it, that this is a fashion brand. More fool them because this is anything but. The movement has not only a COSC chronometer certificate but also the Poinçon de Genève which is just awarded to watches of the highest calibre. Each watch must pass a rigorous inspection of every component, and the manufacturer’s processes are examined too. To read more on how that’s done, see our Jargon Buster article.
So, classic Chopard style once again shines through here, and while we haven’t exactly seen anything new here, the traditional designs have had a nice upgrade. This watch is limited to 50 pieces and will cost €23,700.
Visit Chopard here.
