Chopard which celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Manufacture in 2021, has extended the offerings of its sportwatch model, the Apline Eagle, with a flying tourbillon movement. The introduction of an innovative movement, the L.U.C Calibre 96.24-L, is exemplary of the Manufacture's quarter century prowess.
The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon model is the first complication watch in the Alpine Eagle collection acknowledged by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
A flying tourbillon is characterised 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. Encapsulated in an ultra-thin movement, the watch case is a mere 8 mm thick, with its the flanks and bezel trimmed down compared to a classic Alpine Eagle Large model, offering a wider dial aperture.
These well-balanced proportions, a signature feature of the collection, endow the timepiece with an elegant and graceful appearance entirely suited to the lightness of the complication.
The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is made from Lucent Steel A223, an innovative steel alloy developed by Chopard for its anti-allergenic properties, its robustness and its incomparable brilliance obtained through a meticulous re-smelting process.
The timepiece'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. The collection’s aesthetic codes are also picked up on the arms of the tourbillon carriage, specially redesigned in the same shape as the gold hands on the dial, while the tourbillon carriage bears the small seconds hand, which has been meticulously coated with SLN X1 by the artisans of the Manufacture.
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.
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. The latter guarantees the fine craftsmanship and smooth operation of the timepieces assembled within the Canton. Stamped on the case-back of the watch, it depicts the city of Geneva’s coat-of-arms composed of a golden key and above all of an eagle: a symbol reminiscent of the original inspiration behind the Alpine Eagle collection
