Watches & Wonders 2022: Chopard - The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon

The eagle has landed with a flying twist! At Watches & Wonders 2022, the contemporary sports steel collection by Chopard gets the addition of a new complication - An Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon.

The Alpine eagle collection has seen a flyback chronograph and a high-frequency calibre, but the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon model is the first complication watch in this collection that has been acknowledged by the Poinçon de Genève hallmark. Among the flying tourbillon watches on the market, those by Chopard are the only ones to receive both Chronometer certification and the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.

What is a flying tourbillon?

A flying tourbillon is characterized by the absence of an upper bridge. Since the tourbillon carriage is held only by the lower bridge, it appears to fly, creating an effect of transparency throughout the movement.

Which brings us to the key highlight of this watch - the L.U.C 96.24-L. Much like Chopard's first Manufacturer calibre L.U.C 96.01-L presented in 1997 it is as slim as 3.30 mm. This ultra-thin movement made it possible to optimise the 41mm size of the watch: the case of which has been reduced to just 8 mm thick. Compared to a classic Alpine Eagle Large model, the flanks and bezel have been trimmed down, hence offering a wider dial aperture.

The L.U.C 96.24-L movement is equipped with a stop-seconds function certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, evidenced by the "Chronometer" inscription on the dial below the logo. With Chopard's patented twin technology, two stacked barrels provide the watch with a 65-hour power reserve. The automatic winding driven by a 22-carat gold micro-rotor amongst components of this watch are adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif recalling the attention to detail cultivated by Chopard Manufacture.

The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is made from an innovative steel alloy developed by Chopard - the Lucent Steel A223. It boasts of anti-allergenic properties, its robustness and an incomparable brilliance that is obtained through a meticulous re-smelting process. The aesthetic stay true to the Alpine Eagle - a round case with stylised sides, a crown engraved with the compass rose, a bezel with eight functional screws, a stamped dial featuring deep colours, luminescent indications, and finally a metal bracelet that is particularly comfortable on the wrist.

Inspired by nature, it’s aletsch blue dial is finely textured on a solid gold base according to a pattern inspired by the eagle's iris. Centred on the tourbillon at 6 o'clock, this radiant design highlights the mechanism by emphasising its perfect transparency. This eagle is further enhanced with white gold baton-type hours and minutes hands,applied white gold hour-markers and numerals, a white gold triangle-tipped small seconds hand all enhanced with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova®.

Chopard’s entire production process is vertically integrated, thus enabling it to make and assemble all the components of its Alpine Eagle collection in-house, from movement through to case and bracelet.

All in all an elegant and graceful sports steel flying tourbillon with well-balanced proportions. Not too overwhelming and an ergonomic delight on the wrist. An admirably executed new integrated sports steel with a flying twist is here…