A new collection from Chopard, entering the genre of the luxury sports watch with integrated bracelet: introducing the Alpine Eagle. Available in Chopard Alpine Eagle 41mm and 36mm versions with case and bracelet metal options. We had the watch for a good part almost a week and used it incognito as a daily driver while the watch is under embargo. Here our honest review.
The new Chopard Alpine Eagle 41mm is a reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch designed by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in 1980 at a tender age of only 22. Imagined and personally designed by him, the Alpine Eagle is driven by his passion for the Alps and by the lofty power of the eagle that reigns supreme there.
The St. Moritz was the first sports watch from the maison, and the first timepiece ever to be made in steel in their workshops. In 1980, it was a calculated risk. At that time the Swiss industry was just about to pull itself out of the doldrums of the quartz crisis, and the majors like Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe was beginning to see success with their luxury sports steel watches – the now iconic Royal Oak and the Nautilus, both designed by the erstwhile Gerald Genta. It too followed in the path and was the maison’s best sellers for the next decade.
Since then, he has become co-president of Chopard and have gone on to establish the bond between passionate enthusiasts of the automobile world and of watchmaking mechanics with the legendary partnership in the Mille Miglia race. In 1996, he decided to restore haute horlogerie by launching the LUC project.
Karl-Friedrich tells the story that with Alpine Eagle, it seems like history is repeating itself. His son Karl-Fritz, secretly supported by his grandfather Karl, insisted that he update the St. Moritz design. He was at first reluctant, but was soon won over by his son’s strength of conviction, just as he himself had been able to win his father’s support 40 years ago.
As mentioned, we had the watch for a few days to wear as a daily beater. And in this role, it performed very well, as it is expected to. It kept excellent time, and the Lucent Steel proved its worth as it remained free from scratches, though it must be admitted that we did baby the watch when it was with us.
The level of detail and attention lavished on a watch like this by a seasoned manufacture who have full control of every single component almost guarantees that the final product is perfect. And indeed the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41mm is as perfect as they come.
Criticisms can be leveled at the aesthetics by some, though we feel it a rather beautiful timepiece. And we think no self respecting critical reviewer can fault the manufacturing process, or the fit and finish, or the quality of the movement supplied. So we consider this as yet another achievement on the cap of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Bravo monsieur!