As part of what would have been Chopard’s Baselworld 2020 announcements, the brand has launched two new iterations of their L.U.C Perpetual Twin. Alongside the existing steel/silver dial version, the L.U.C Perpetual Twin can now be had in steel with a blue dial or 18k rose gold with a ruthenium grey dial. The L.U.C line represents some of Chopard’s most elaborate watchmaking, and from both a value and a finishing perspective, the COSC-certified performance of the Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Twin makes for a very appealing and modern QP offering.
I remember seeing this 43mm wide QP in person at Baselworld 2016 when it was launched. L.U.C models always stand out in my memory because they offer a very high level of finishing when compared against others at their price point and are typically a joy to photograph (especially in macro). For these new versions, the format remains very Chopard, with an almost sporty blue dial and a more classic rose gold/grey dial option. Both come on matched straps as seen in the photos and both have display casebacks offering a view of the lovely movement within.
Powered by the L.U.C 96.22-L, like the original model, these Perpetual Twins are COSC-certified and tick at 4 Hz while offering a dual aperture big date display, a full QP display, and standard time. With 65 hours of power reserve supported by two barrels, the 99.22-L has a 22-karat micro-rotor that really completes a rather lovely movement.
Pricing starts at $24,700 for the steel (in either the existing silver dial or the new blue dial). As an elegant and impactful alternative to other “entry-level” steel QPs from luxury brands – this is exceedingly relative, I am aware – like the JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual ($19,600) or the Glashütte Original Senator Excellent Perpetual Calendar ($22,300), the Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Twin is worth a look (and rose gold never hurt anyone).
It’s a little harder to sell a watch (or, for that matter, luxury consumer goods in general) than it was even 12 months ago, if the figures recently released by the Swiss watch industry are to be believed, and increasingly, people who love fine watchmaking seem to be inclined to look more carefully at whether or not there’s actually something more behind what they’re buying than novelty, or a strong brand name. Depending on who you are and what you’re making, this can be a bad thing, or it can be an opportunity. For a company like Chopard, which makes some very beautiful haute horlogerie watches, but which has never quite had the recognition as a watchmaker that the Pateks, Vacherons, and APs of the world enjoy, times like these are a chance to make potential clients more aware of what they’ve got to offer. The Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Twin , in steel, therefore, is both an end in itself, and a means by which the company hopes to get out the message that there’s more out there at the high end than the usual suspects.