MEET THE NEW L.U.C 1963 CHRONO PURISTS EDITION BY CHOPARD

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L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition

The L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition was developed from a dialogue that Karl-Friedrich Scheufele initiated and maintained with PuristS since 2007. The question was: "What would a PuristS chronograph be like?" This was not a call for fantastic or costly 'blue-sky' complications but a pure distillation of the function and form of a chronograph that could survive the vagaries of time and fashion.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele attended and hosted part of the PuristS 10th anniversary celebrations in 2011, to reveal technical updates and gather a myriad of opinions. PuristS could only agree on a classic, steel, hand-wound, chronograph without expensive complications that could stand the test of time. The focus is on the superb finishing and function of the first L.U.C hand-wound chronograph movement that is featured by the exhibition caseback.  A PuristS’ passionate gaze is drawn into the movement by the artful shape of the caseback. This is where the techniques are fused into a dramatic and passionate mechanical horological performance celebrating past tradition, ongoing friendship and future creativity. This hand-wound chronograph movement allows the start of a new range of exciting watches from Chopard Manufacture.

The PuristS collectors' group awarded Chopard Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele the first PuristSPro Purity Prize in 2009 honouring “the pursuit of perfection in an imperfect world”. The award was a crowning recognition for the five proprietary movements developed by Chopard Manufacture within 10 years, and above all for the “technical and aesthetic excellence” of the L.U.C Lunar One, a perpetual calendar with complete moon-phase display.  Since then, Chopard Manufacture continues to develop proprietary movements culminating in the L.U.C. 03.07-L that is the heart of the L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition.

The year 1963 has special significance to both Chopard Manufacture and PuristS. In 2013, the Scheufele family celebrates the 50th anniversary of their purchase and successful stewardship of Chopard since 1963 with a limited edition rose gold 1963 hand-wound Chronograph to launch the movement.

Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele explains the origins of this project: “I had always dreamed of making a hand-wound chronograph. This model was programmed ever since we launched the L.U.C Chrono One in 2006 and this 50th anniversary year was an ideal occasion to unveil it.”

Chopard made an exception for PuristS by issuing a launch edition of 50 pieces in steel as well as their usual gold model. PuristSPro CEO and former Chopard forum moderator, Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo said: "Haute horlogerie is about People, Process and Products, but at the highest level of watch collecting, it is about people. PuristSPro has no financial interest in this watch but the community has invested our passion, opinion and friendship in equal measure with the Scheufele family to produce a landmark timepiece. It is and will always be the first steel L.U.C hand-wound chronograph wristwatch."

Availability:

The L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition is available worldwide upon request from all Chopard boutiques.

L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition

Technical details

Case:

Stainless steel

Total diameter                                              42.00 mm

Thickness                                                     11.50 mm

Water resistance                                            50 meters

Stainless steel crown with L.U.C. logo             8.00 mm

Glareproofed sapphire crystal

Exhibition caseback

Movement

Hand-wound movement                                 L.U.C 03.07-L

Total diameter                                               28.80 mm

Thickness                                                      5.62 mm

Number of jewels                                          38

Frequency                                           28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Power reserve                                               60 hours

Côtes de Genève adorned bridges

“Chronometer” certified (COSC)

Poinçon de Genève

Dial and hands

Black dial

Silver-toned hours, minutes and small seconds hands

Red sweep seconds-hand as well as hour and minute counter hands

Functions and displays

Central hours and minutes

Small seconds at 6 o’clock

Chronograph function: Sweep seconds-hand

30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock

Strap and buckle

Hand-sewn black alligator leather lined cognac-toned alligator leather

Stainless steel pin buckle

Ref. 168556-3001

Limited edition 50 pieces

Exclusive to Chopard Boutiques

About PuristSPro.com
PuristSPro.com is the premier, independent, moderated, on-line discussion forum covering haute horlogerie and luxury brands, and focused on owners, collectors and watch enthusiasts across the globe.  URL: www.puristspro.com

Established as ThePuristS in 2001 and relaunched as PuristSPro in 2007, the community continues to grow. The moderator team is located on five continents, bringing up‐to‐the‐minute coverage and discussion on all that is important to our community in over 100 countries. A Chinese language read-only website - PuristS Chinese Digest - was launched in 2013

URL: puristschinesedigest.watchprosite.com