Making a watch truly feel authentic to a particular pastime, subculture, or market segment is an incredibly long, laborious process. Ideally, the watch in question should be associated with the desired location for decades or more, with untold thousands of hours and millions of dollars in marketing efforts to reinforce the message — take, for example, the more than half-century Omega has taken to relentlessly push the Speedmaster as the first watch worn on the moon to make it the de facto choice for space-minded watch enthusiasts. In short, authenticity is a slow and expensive game in the watch industry, which makes the Chopard Mille Miglia series all the more interesting. Outside of TAG Heuer, it’s difficult to find a watch with more automotive and motorsports street cred than the Mille Miglia, and TAG Heuer has been plastered across the world’s most prominent race tracks and showcased on racer’s wrists since at least the 1960s. By contrast, the Mille Miglia is a relative newcomer, without the same marketing juggernaut to support it, and its motoring credentials are centered around a single vintage road race in central Italy. Among the real automotive cognoscenti, though, the Mille Miglia line has built a sterling reputation since its launch in 1988. This circa 2008 Chopard Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG is an ideal example of the genuine passion, fanatical attention to detail, and superb build quality that has earned the series an authentic motoring feel other automotive-inspired timepieces struggle to match.
The first ingredient in the Chopard Mille Miglia’s recipe for automotive authenticity is sincerity. Rather than being driven by dispassionate market research or a desire to advertise to a certain clientele, the Mille Miglia was born from Chopard head Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s own personal participation in the Italian Mille Miglia classic car rally since the late ‘80s. As a result, the watch line more or less began as a passion project for Scheufele, a way to patronize the event he loved and create a more meaningful souvenir for those competing in the race. This honest, unabashedly passionate approach to the classic racing theme shines through in both the product line and the company’s continued support of the rally each year.
This genuine love for classic cars, as well as the look and feel of vintage motorsports, also allows the Chopard Mille Miglia to pick up on fine visual nuances and stylistic cues that an automotive outsider would easily miss. The Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG showcases this well, in a way that few of its stablemates attempt to replicate. Take the dial, for example. This is arguably as contemporary and sporty as Chopard would ever make the mainline Mille Miglia chronograph (not counting the beefy, aggressive Mille Miglia GTS sub-line), but even here, the modern cues are softened with a midcentury Italian flair. The wide, angular cutoff Arabic hours numerals of the main dial are pure late-2000s sporting style, with a form near identical to the typeface used for the contemporary Ferrari F430 Scuderia’s tachometer. Likewise, the polished straight sword handset and stark white lume give this design a firmly modern bent. However, elements like the gauge-like silver-white outer seconds scale, silver azurage subdials, and squarish, vintage instrument-style subdial numerals temper the contemporary side of the ref. 8915 BRG’s character with a ‘50s-era warmth.
However, Chopard’s use of light and color is where this dial truly shines. A set of broad, mirror-polished subdial accent rings gives the Mille Miglia a more refined, luxurious feel than some of its more tool-oriented competitors, and the combination of cream white and vibrant red for the arrow-tipped central chronograph seconds hand reinforces the vintage sporting feel. The high-gloss main dial surface itself is a genuine conversation starter as well. In most lighting conditions, this hue reads as simple, demure black, but under the sun or in bright direct light, it reveals itself to be an extremely dark, richly saturated green. Admittedly, the ref. 8915 BRG’s namesake take on British Racing Green is far from the more verdant hues familiarly used by the likes of Lotus and Aston Martin in international motorsports, but this darker, more reserved shade takes its inspiration from an older source. Rather than the bold British Racing Green tones of the ‘50s and ‘60s, this color instead harkens back to the rakish, aristocratic “Bentley Boys” that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1920s and early 1930s with massive, supercharged Bentleys painted in this same near-black green. It’s not the obvious color choice that a non-automotive enthusiast would make when creating a “British racing watch,” but there’s a depth of knowledge apparent in the decision that seasoned gearheads appreciate.
The Chopard Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG’s case continues this considered mix of vintage and modern automotive inspirations. Measuring 40mm wide, it’s a fairly trend-proof compromise between sporting wrist presence and old-school compactness, with a stance that works for a variety of wrist sizes. The shape itself is classically simple, with clean vertical case sides, downturned unchamfered straight lugs, and a softly domed smooth bezel. With such a basic form, every minute visual element matters, and Chopard’s sense of refinement and extreme attention to detail pays off handsomely here. For example, the purposeful fully brushed finishing works to lightly accentuate the subtle rounding of the broader case surfaces in a way that polishing might have over-exaggerated. The brand’s choice to use titanium here rather than stainless steel is also an interesting one. Obviously, titanium wasn’t a common watchmaking material during the ‘50s heyday of the Mille Miglia race, but the darker, more lightweight feel of this material helps to prevent the ref. 8915 BRG from feeling too ornamental. The engraved tachymeter scale around the bezel is a classic vintage sports chronograph touch, however, and the squared-off vintage-style typeface ties in deftly with the chronograph subdials. Chopard tops this case with a printed sapphire display caseback, and despite the sporty pretensions, rates the watch for only 50 meters of water resistance.
Like many of its modern descendants, the Chopard Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG is powered by the dependable ETA 2894-2 automatic chronograph movement. While it may not be as exotic or as horologically exciting as an in-house powerplant, the 2894-2 is a reliable platform with excellent performance, including COSC-certified chronometer accuracy and a 42-hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate. As with the rest of the watch, the 2894-2’s finishing is stellar, with gold-filled engraving throughout, crisp, even perlage for the bridges, dark blued screws, and a dark-coated signed rotor topped with the brand’s familiar Côtes de Genève.
So much of the car enthusiast charm of the Chopard Mille Miglia series lies in its strap designs. For the Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG, the brand originally fitted this watch with a thick, supple big-hole-style rally strap in black leather with deep green accent stitching. To preserve the original limited-run strap, this example instead sports a modern example of the line’s signature tread-pattern rubber strap. With a texture lifted directly from a ‘50s-era Dunlop bias-ply racing tire, it’s another thoughtful, authentic motoring cue that those outside the classic car community may overlook or fail to recognize.
Creating a watch that truly fits into a certain community or subculture is a deceptively difficult undertaking. In order not to feel disingenuous or pandering, it can take an immense effort in both design and marketing, but nothing tops genuine passion and love for the subject matter when it comes to crafting authenticity. Few watches demonstrate how far this passion, attention to detail, and quality execution will take a product line as well as the Chopard Mille Miglia, and the Mille Miglia ref. 8915 BRG showcases the depth and breadth of Choard’s automotive knowledge better than most. Beyond simply being a striking piece of watchmaking, it’s a poignant reminder to brands and enthusiasts alike about the thought and labor it can take to truly speak to a subculture.
Category: Chopard Watch
Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono 41mm
If you’re reading HODINKEE, there’s an excellent chance that you already know stainless steel sport watches on integrated bracelets are a thing. Chances are you also know that in the past few years, a number of new entries have joined a crowded field of watches that, although they have new designs, employ an aesthetic code originating in the 1970s. By and large, a trio of brands that happen to overlap with what some call the holy trinity of Swiss watchmaking are at the center of this cult of retro-styled, braceleted watches.
Last year, a major independent, family-owned Swiss watchmaker joined the ranks of brands that make this type of watch, offering high-quality in-house movements, impressive ergonomics, and a design seemingly intended to scratch an itch that everyone knew existed while managing to stand out, in large part thanks to some striking dials. I’m talking about the Chopard Alpine Eagle. (To be fair, it’s much better to say that Chopard rejoined these ranks. The watch it launched in 2019 is, in fact, part of a lineage that began with the St. Moritz, a sporty and stylish watch that the company came out with at the dawn of the 1980s.)
The Chopard Alpine Eagle collection is Chopard’s interpretation of the luxury sports watch, a genre that has never waned since it hit the market in 1972. Presented in 2019 in time-and-date and time-only models, the Alpine Eagle collection strengthens its sports credentials with the arrival of this new 44mm automatic flyback chronograph. Beating at the heart of the three new models is Chopard’s column-wheel chronograph movement with an autonomy of 60 hours and COSC certification. The new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono is available in Lucent steel cases with blue or black dials, or in a two-tone ethical rose gold and steel version with a black dial. And we take a look at it, on the wrist. With the advent of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak in 1972, practically every watchmaker worth his salt has dabbled in this category. Chopard’s take on the luxury sports watch occurred long before the appearance of the Alpine Eagle. Designed by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in 1980, Chopard’s first luxury sports watch was the St. Moritz. A successful model that captured the over-the-top bling of the 1980s, complete with a very elaborate-shaped bezel with eight screws, the St. Moritz was eventually discontinued. Although there are plenty of sporty watches associated with the world of classic car racing (Mille Miglia, for example), a steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet and strong design was missing in the brand’s portfolio.
Cutting straight to the chase: upon its debut we explained in great detail why the Chopard Alpine Eagle ranks among the best value propositions in the otherwise wilfully non-value-oriented luxury steel sports watch segment. A year later, we see the Alpine Eagle collection expand with the Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono that, you guessed it, is a larger, chronograph-equipped, more expensive version for those who want a larger, more complicated, and perhaps yet more expensive-looking Alpine Eagle. From day one, the case and bracelet finishing of the Alpine Eagle has been easily on par with the waiting list champions such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak… And that’s before we mentioned the genuinely incredible Lucent Steel A223 that Chopard developed to help its newbie pack one unexpected punch right upon entering this arena of bare-fisted steel luxuriousness.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’
Chopard’s latest Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control fuses three big trends in watchmaking today: firstly, it is a collaboration piece with Bamford; secondly, it plays with contemporary bead-blasted and frosted textures; and thirdly, it has an incredibly long name! Christened the Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Race, this latest collaboration has been conceived by Geroge Bamford as the off-road cousin of the Mille Miglia. A limited edition of 50 watches, the Bamford makeover gives the watch an edgy, gritty, contemporary spirit.
As our readers know, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (co-president of Chopard) has been involved as the official timekeeper, partner and competitor of the famous Italian Mille Miglia race for 36 years. A daunting open-road race held between 1927 and 1957, the Mille Miglia made history thanks to some of the greatest racing cars piloted by the bravest drivers of the day. The event returned in 1977 as the Mille Miglia Storica, a classic car event eligible for pre-1958 cars that registered or raced the original Mille Miglia. You can read the full story in Robin’s article.
The model chosen for the Bamford touch is the sporty 43mm Mille Miglia GTS Power Control that debuted in 2015, complete with a power reserve indication on the dial inspired by dashboard gauges and an in-house movement. George Bamford, founder of the London-based customisation firm, shares KF Scheufele’s passion for cars and watches, and the new GTS Power Control is, in fact, the second collaboration between the two, following the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph in 2021 with its signature Bamford touch of dark surfaces and bursts of bright orange.
George Bamford is also a racing fan and competed in a Meyers Manx buggy in the latest desert off-road edition of the National Off Road Racing Association’s (Norra) held in May 2023 in Baja California, Mexico. Exposing the new ‘Desert Racer’ to the hostile conditions of a desert race, Bamford wore and tested the watch during its baptism of fire. Needless to say, the watch performed impeccably.
Like other GTS Power Control models, the case measures 43mm across and has a thickness of 11.43mm. While it shares many similarities with an earlier Grigio Speciale edition, the rosso corsa (racing red) accents associated with the Mille Miglia race are replaced with signature Bamford orange accents. The case is made of lightweight yet sturdy bead-blasted titanium and features a black aluminium inlay with orange numerals in the titanium bezel. With short lugs for a better fit, the rubber strap features a woven effect and is secured to the wrist by a folding clasp in DLC bead-blasted steel. The 100m water-resistant case has a screw-down caseback with eight black PVD-treated screws and a tinted crystal with an orange gasket offering a view of Chopard’s automatic movement.
The dark frosted dial also has a gritty asphalt-like texture and features bright orange accents on the oversized Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, the digits on the date wheel, the 5-minute intervals on the flange, the Bamford inscription and the ‘empty’ section of the fuel gauge/power reserve indicator. All the sanded and metallised hour markers, including the orange ones at 12 and 6, are treated with black Super-LumiNova, as are the large dagger-shaped hour and minute hands. A nice touch, the central seconds hand is also lumed and has three orange stripes at its tip. Another difference with the Grigio Speciale is the elimination of the red 1000 Miglia arrow framing the date aperture. The ‘Desert Racer’ is powered by Chopard’s automatic COSC chronometer-certified calibre 01.08-C.movement. Beating at a frequency of 4Hz/28,800vph, the movement delivers a power reserve of 60 hours. Following a successful initial collaboration in 2021, Swiss luxury Maison Chopard has once again tapped Bamford Watch Department to deliver a very exclusive, unexpectedly tough limited edition take on their underrated Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control watch.
Chopard Happy Sport
With Alpine Eagle, Chopard has created a contemporary sporty-chic collection featuring a pure design paired with a sophisticated mechanism. Following a flyback chronograph movement, a high-frequency calibre and a flying tourbillon, Alpine Eagle is extending its range with an ultra-thin model featuring a small seconds indication. Measuring just 3.30 mm thick, the L.U.C 96.40-L movement is just one of the feats achieved by the watchmaking artisans of Chopard Manufacture. Its advanced features enable the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS to beat with chronometer-certified accuracy, while guaranteeing 65 hours of power reserve thanks to Chopard Twin technology. The Alpine Eagle 41 XPS with its 41 mm-diameter case and integrated bracelet is entirely crafted in the Maison’s workshops from Lucent Steel A223: an exclusive, ultra-resistant and remarkably shiny alloy made from 85% recycled materials. Its optimal proportions and textured “Monte Rosa Pink” dial endow this model with undeniable elegance and distinction; while its finishes, reflecting the highest Haute Horlogerie standards, have earned it recognition by the coveted Poinçon de Genève. Inspired by a historic Chopard Happy Sport model reinterpreted by three generations of men from the Scheufele family, the Alpine Eagle collection has been constantly enriched by new achievements since its launch. The latest of these is a signature movement from Chopard Manufacture, developed thanks to the watchmaking expertise steadily acquired by its workshops since 1996 – and to which the introduction of the L.U.C 96.40-L movement with small seconds indication within a watch in the Alpine Eagle collection bears vibrant testimony. Greatly appreciated by watch enthusiasts, the small seconds display made its collection debut with the 2022 release of the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon model. It now once again embodies the horological roots of this collection comprising timepieces powered by in-house movements with chronometer-certified precision, meticulously decorated and equipped with key innovations from the Manufacture, such as the gold micro-rotor and Chopard Twin technology. With the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS, Chopard orchestrates an encounter between the finest Chopard Manufacture movements and the sporty elegance of the Alpine Eagle collection.
The main immediately identifiable characteristic of the L.U.C 96.40-L movement is its extreme thinness: resulting from the development of the first Chopard Manufacture calibre (the L.U.C 96.01-L presented in 1997), it measures just 3.30 mm thick. To facilitate precise time-setting, it is equipped with a stop-seconds function. It also features a swan’s neck enabling finer adjustment of the oscillating frequency – and thus the rate of the watch – by helping to modify the active hairspring length. In addition to its technical interest, the swan’s neck endows the calibre with a more elaborate aesthetic. The precision of this movement, which also powers a small seconds dial display, is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, as evidenced by the “Chronometer” inscription on the dial below the logo. This demand for accuracy embedded in the DNA of Swiss watchmaking lies at the very core of the philosophy upheld by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (Co-President of the Maison) and drives the entire creative process of the Manufacture.
Thanks to its two stacked barrels based on Chopard Happy Sport Twin technology, the L.U.C 96.40-L movement guarantees a 65-hour power reserve, and its automatic winding system operates via a 22-carat gold off-centre micro-rotor whose density contributes to the movement’s slenderness. Recalling the attention to detail cultivated by the artisans of emotions, each bridge is adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif and all other movement components are finished in compliance with the Poinçon de Genève criteria. The thin movement has contributed to optimising the proportions of the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS watch: the case is only 8 mm thick, while the sides and bezel have been trimmed compared to a classic Alpine Eagle Large model, resulting in a wider dial. These well balanced proportions that have always characterised the collection imbue this timepiece with a gracefully elegant appearance.
Drawing inspiration from the power of Nature, the Alpine Eagle collection clearly reflects Chopard’s creative richness and visionary spirit. The Alpine Eagle 41 XPS remains true to this aesthetic: a round case with stylised flanks, a crown engraved with a compass rose, a bezel with eight functional screws set at a tangent, a stamped dial with intense colours, luminescent indications and an eminently wearable metal bracelet.
A timepiece for women who stride boldly towards their destiny and whose vitality impels playful dancing diamonds to stage a mesmerising show. At the heart of the new Happy Sport, reinvented in a 25 mm diameter case in steel or steel and ethical gold, the course of dancing diamonds becomes even more fascinating. This new-sized iteration of the Manufacture‘s iconic watch comes in four variations featuring a choice of materials, straps – including a new double tour option – and diamond settings. A round dial, softly caressing like a protective cocoon and sparkling like a champagne bubble. A fascinating and soothing sight in which we come to immerse our gaze and catch our breath before setting off again on our hectic rush. A companion always on hand to provide playful, poetic time-out from the pace of a world perpetually on the move.
One glance at this watch reveals an invigorating mirror of our own energy, extended through the ballet of five dancing diamonds, caught up by means of a slim gold spinning top in a wonderful game of chance and kinetic energy. Happy Sport is the story of a free-spirited attitude and infinite Joie de Vivre daily reinvented by women everywhere.
The Chopard Happy Sport watch returns in a version that is daintier than ever with a 25 mm case celebrating the spirit of jewellery watches and staging the wonders of five dancing diamonds. The softness of the pearly silvery grey dial draws the gaze and envelops it in an ultra-chic chromatic texture. This subtle shade accentuates the jewel-like quality of the collection, forming a luminous heart that is an inexhaustible source of soothing gentleness where the eye can come to recharge its batteries at will.
This Chopard Happy Sport 25 mm has retained several of the collection’s key characteristics, including the deliberate association of materials belonging to radically different registers: steel, ethical gold and diamonds. Thus unleashed, diamonds are rendered more accessible while losing nothing of their magic and their fascination.
Four versions of this unprecedentedly sized case – the most miniature version of the Chopard Happy Sport ever produced – are available: in fully polished steel, or adorned with a diamond-set bezel; and in steel featuring a crown, cabochons and polished or diamond-set bezel in ethical 18-carat rose gold.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Chrono California Mille 32nd Edition
The California Mille, a 1,000-mile driving tour through the hills of Central and Northern California, celebrated its 32nd running April 23rd to April 27th. Sponsored by Chopard, the event featured cars designed prior to the final running of Italy’s original Mille Miglia road race in 1957. “Like fine watches, fine cars are meant to be used, and when it comes to driving there’s no better place to do that than the breathtaking byways we select each year for the California Mille,” said Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. “What really sets this annual tradition apart, though, is sharing it with other enthusiasts. We are always so grateful for the time we get to spend with people who get just as fired up about great cars and lovely roads as we do.”
For Chopard President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the link between luxury watches and cars is entirely natural: “Lovers of fine cars often have a great weakness for precious timepieces and vice versa. Extreme precision and sporting elegance are important in both these fields.”
Chopard, in addition to creating the commemorative Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Chrono California Mille 32nd Edition, provided watches for the winners of the Spirit of the Mille Miglia award, the Best Pre-War Car award and the Best Post-War Car award. Limited to 30 examples, the watch exemplifies masculine elegance, mechanical precision, watchmaking performance and racing ergonomics – all dedicated to the beauty of driving.
The California Mille was a carbon neutral event for the second year running, offsetting 74,000 miles driven between participating and support vehicles. Hagerty and the California Mille have also donated $10,000 to the California Fire Foundation for the preservation and maintenance of the beautiful environments we live and drive in. Hagerty is an automotive lifestyle brand committed to saving driving and fueling car culture for future generations. The company is a leading provider of specialty vehicle insurance, expert car valuation data and insights, live and digital car auction services, immersive events and automotive entertainment custom made for the 67 million Americans who self-describe as car enthusiasts. Hagerty also operates in Canada and the UK and is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, a community of more than 750,000 who can’t get enough of cars. As a purpose-driven organization, Hagerty Impact aims to be a catalyst for positive change across the issues that matter most to our teams, our members, the broader automotive community, our shareholders and the planet at large. For more information, please visit www.hagerty.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
“Like fine watches, fine cars are meant to be used, and when it comes to driving there’s no better place to do that than the breathtaking byways we select each year for the California Mille,” said Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. “What really sets this annual tradition apart, though, is sharing it with other enthusiasts. We are always so grateful for the time we get to spend with people who get just as fired up about great cars and lovely roads as we do.”
For Chopard President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the link between luxury watches and cars is entirely natural: “Lovers of fine cars often have a great weakness for precious timepieces and vice versa. Extreme precision and sporting elegance are important in both these fields.”
Chopard, in addition to creating the commemorative Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Automatic Chrono California Mille 32nd Edition, provided watches for the winners of the Spirit of the Mille Miglia award, the Best Pre-War Car award and the Best Post-War Car award. Limited to 30 examples, the watch exemplifies masculine elegance, mechanical precision, watchmaking performance and racing ergonomics – all dedicated to the beauty of driving.
The California Mille was a carbon neutral event for the second year running, offsetting 74,000 miles driven between participating and support vehicles. Hagerty and the California Mille have also donated $10,000 to the California Fire Foundation for the preservation and maintenance of the beautiful environments we live and drive in.
New Chopard Happy Sport
With almost 200 years of experience creating Swiss-made watches, Chopard is one of the world’s oldest and best-known luxury watch and jewelry creators.
Including style, sophistication, and functionality beyond compare, this high-end retailer is for people who want to make an elegant statement.
Although an old business, Chopard continues to stay up-to-date with their designs and their image. This is obvious from their 2 million followers on Instagram and almost 1.2 million on Facebook. To get a good idea of the image they created, they have aligned with Julia Roberts for a couple of their jewelry lines. The brand has also been covered in the media by the likes of Forbes, GQ, WWD, and Vanity Fair.
My Chopard review will take a deep look into this luxury brand to see if they are worth your money before you buy. I’ll embark on this journey by checking out their products, promotions, customer testimonials, and more.
By the age of 24 years old, Swiss-born Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the son of a farmer, was already one of the best watchmakers in the world.
He not only became skilled with Swiss watchmaking but he added innovations that gave his pieces precision and reliability that were rarely seen in watches of that day.
His skill and elegance of design made him world-renown earning him commissions with Tzar Nicholas II of Russia and the Swiss Railroad Company.
After a lifetime of making Swiss-made watches, in 1915 his son Paul-Louis Chopard took over the family business. Keeping the same quality, he moved the company’s headquarters to the economic center of Geneva.
In 1943, the third generation in the form of Paul-Andre took over the business. With no sons interested in the business, he considered selling Chopard.
Along came German goldsmith and watchmaker Karl Scheufele III who was looking to acquire a Swiss manufacturer so that they wouldn’t have to rely on outside sources for their watches’ movement. Keeping the Chopard family artistry, Scheufele and his wife Karin started designing the aesthetics for the watches. Eventually, their family and descendants joined the business in various respects, usually involving themselves directly in the stylish designs.
The company then moved into jewelry and accessories, all of which are high-quality and make a statement.
Before taking a look into some of this luxury brand’s supreme products, my Chopard review will provide a bird’s eye view of what exactly makes this company so enduring. Over centuries, Chopard went from solely making exceptional watches to creating stunning jewelry, natural perfumes, and stylish sunglasses. In my Chopard review I’ll take a look at a few outstanding products from this best-selling brand. A redux of the popular 80s watch style, the St. Moritz, the Chopard Alpine Eagle XI Chrono is a blend of elegance and functionality – a luxury sports watch.
Exquisitely designed to evoke the Alps and the majestic eagle, this 18K rose gold case and dials, with a deep-black face, is a statement of elegance.
As an homage to the St. Moritz, this is the only of the Chopard watches in their men’s Alpine Eagle collection with a black calf-skin wristband, instead of metal.
The look makes it a luxury watch and the chronograph functions make it a sports watch. Not only does it have a timer, but it also has a flyback feature for multi-lap times. The titanium gives it strength and durability, as does the glare-proof, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal front glass. Not only that, but this watch is also water-resistant up to 100m.
This premium product comes in wrist sizes from 1-9. All this elegance and functionality should be enough, but I must mention in this Chopard review that this watch is also automatic, meaning that it self-winds and needs no battery. Designed by Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s “Big-Hearted Woman,” the Happy Hearts collection celebrates all women with big love to give.
The design of the Happy Hearts Flowers ring is exquisite. Mounted on, and outlined in, 18K ethical rose gold, it has a 0.05 carat diamond in the center.
The sparkly centerpiece is surrounded by a small metal ring, which in turn is amid a ring of hearts. The overall effect is of a flower with the hearts as the petals and the diamond as the pistil. The core of each heart is mother-of-pearl to add depth and brightness. This stunning, feminine ring comes in sizes 4.5 to 9.5. You won’t feel blue wearing the Chopard Ice Cube sunglasses, but you will feel pretty cool.
The large, square, electric blue front piece frame, gradient smoke lenses, and titanium temples come together to give these women’s sunglasses style and durability. But the best part of these glasses is that they are made from mainly biological materials. A great companion to the Alpine Eagle XI Chrono, Chopard Men’s Alpine Eagle sunglasses, make a statement in all black, with polished metal accents.
Like the Ice Cube sunglasses, the frames and lenses are made with biological materials. The black frames and smoke lenses are sleek and go with everything. Chopard jewelry is something that any woman would love for both its beauty and subtle statements. This makes them ideal for men who want an unforgettable, stunning, and thoughtful piece to give their special someone or beloved family member. No Chopard review would be complete without hearing from their customers. To start, the brand’s range of sunglasses is popular for both their style and their functionality.
Finding any flattering sunglasses can be difficult for some depending on the shape of their faces. Looking bug-eyed is a big problem for those of us with thin faces. This isn’t a problem with out featured brand, however, as one review on Trustpilot details:
“I have a hard time finding sunglasses that compliment my face but I found the most beautiful pair by Chopard. They are extremely comfortable and filter the sun incredibly well. They are exceptionally designed and I can wear them with a casual outfit or a fancy dress. I get compliments every time I put them on.”
One of the best Chopard reviews on Ezcontacts, without even mentioning the sun protection, explains why the steep price tag is worth it: “A perfect blend of elegance marked with sophistication and class. You definitely stand out when you wear these in a very distinct way. Worth every penny spent for the looks and distinction it offers.”
I think that customer’s tale of one of their watches would agree about the elegance and value of the brand. They bought the Chopard Superfast Sports Watch through jomashop.com and said that: “I just purchased a dream sports car. I wanted a watch with a motor sports theme.”
“I was concerned about its massive size because my wrist is only 6-3/4, but it’s one of the most comfortable watches I own. I rotate it with a Rolex, Panerai, Glashutte Senator among others. I keep coming back to this watch. Can’t take my eyes off of it which is a problem when driving a fast sports car. Haha”
I agree. Staying on the road should take priority over checking out your stunning watch, but I don’t blame you. All Chopard watches are stylish and eye-catching, especially the Chopard Alpine Eagle Xl Chrono. Its rose gold and titanium are the height of sporty luxury.
This brand’s quality is found across the board from their Swiss-made watches to their high-end glasses to their perfumes. Like the Ice Cube, this brand’s perfumes are made with natural ingredients. This Chopard review from a customer on the Nordstrom website shows why Chopard is considered a great luxury brand. They say:
“This is high quality! It’s beautiful from first spray through dry down. Not cloying, no headache! Not irritating to my skin. The natural ingredients makes a difference. It’s so beautiful and warm. Love it! Highly recommend!”
The only complaint from a customer on the Better Business Bureau shows how great Chopard’s customer service really is. This was their response to the complaint:
“A new pair of sunglasses will be sent in the next couple of days as a courtesy. Please note that the sunglasses were not purchased from a Chopard authorized retailer. Chopard isn’t directly liable for the product but is however granting this replacement in order to continue ensuring perfect customer service to all Chopard owners.”
Chopard Happy Sport replica
At MONOCHROME, we tend to sparingly use the word “icon” as it has become a marketing tool rather than a proper definition of the status of a model. There are, however, true icons of watchmaking, timepieces that are known far beyond the small circle of seasoned collectors. And most are, sadly maybe, watches created first for men. When it comes to feminine watches, fewer models have gained cult status, but the Chopard Happy Sport and its dancing diamonds is surely one of them. Created in 1993, its design has evolved years after years but in 2021, the brand introduces a revamped collection, which includes the Chopard Happy Sport “The First,” limited-edition re-releases of the very first watch presented.
The Happy Sport is the brainchild of Caroline Scheufele – now Co-President and Artistic Director of the brand – who was driven by the idea of creating a versatile watch, formal yet casual, precious yet slightly sporty. A watch that you “could wear all day long; at the gym, in the office or for a dinner in town.” she said. And behind this watch, in addition to its overall casual attire, was a striking concept, the dancing diamonds launched by Caroline’s parents – “these diamonds are happier when they are free,” as her mother exclaimed in 1976 when she initially laid eyes on the first prototype.
Yet, instead of making freely moving diamonds dance around the watch as was the case with Chopard Happy Diamonds timepieces, Caroline Scheufele decided to place them between two sapphire crystals above the dial. The result of this idea came to life in 1993, with the first Chopard Happy Sport, a watch mixing steel and diamonds, a soft, comfortable pebble-link bracelet, set with cabochon-cut sapphires on the lugs and on the crown, echoing the blued hands, and of course, a white dial enhanced by seven diamonds “dancing” above it.
If Chopard will also launch a redesigned collection for the Happy Sport, a watch that will show modernized elements yet still totally in line with the DNA of the range, there’s also and mostly this limited edition model to surface, a watch that is a direct descendant of the original 1993 watch, yet of course with contemporary touches all around. The case is clearly echoing the design of the initial model, which has been designed according to the golden ratio, a mathematical balance used to define the proportions of the new models in the collection. By using the golden ratio in direct relation to the diameter of the movement designed for Chopard ladies’ watch collections, the case of the Happy Sport has been redesigned in a 33 mm diameter, particularly well suited to the female wrist.
The shape of the case is also highly familiar, with its polished surfaces and 4 cabochon-cut sapphires on the lugs, as well as an additional one found on the faceted crown. However, this 33mm case, with a reasonable height of 10.84mm (knowing the extra layer required for the diamonds), is now made of Lucent Steel A223, a steel alloy that combines anti-allergenic virtues with the brightness and sturdiness of ordinary steel. It is also 70% made from recycled metals, following Chopard’s commitment to sustainable luxury (think about fairmined gold). As for the dial, the Chopard Happy Sport The First brings back the understated silver-toned dial punctuated by blue Roman hour markers, minute track and hands, as a visual balance with the blue cabochons. There are two versions of “The First” launched, one being full steel with a silver-white dial, the other featuring a diamond-set bezel and a mother-of-pearl dial.
Of course, the most emblematic element of the Chopard Happy Sport, its dancing diamonds, are still present. Still enclosed between two layers of sapphire crystal, 7 free-moving modules in steel with a brilliant-cut diamond are making the choreography this model is known for.
To complement this slightly vintage look, the Chopard Happy Sport The First is bringing back the stainless steel pebble-link bracelet that was part of the 1993 model. Supple and smooth, it offers this watch versatility with enough robustness, yet the shine of a fully polished surface. Under the sapphire caseback is an in-house automatic movement, the calibre Chopard 09.01-C. Designed for feminine collections, it is entirely designed, developed and produced by the brand. Beating at 3,5Hz, this self-winding mechanism can store up to 42 hours of power reserve. It is finished with Geneva stripes.
Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF
Chopard just launched a new titanium Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF that features a “pitch black” colored dial and some rather attractive orange accents.
The new high-frequency timepiece belongs to the wider Alpine Eagle family – Chopard’s 2019 answer to the integrated bracelet sport watch trend – and maintains most of the design cues of its 41mm “Lucent” steel predecessor. As mentioned, dial-wise, the Cadence 8HF does have a few notable cosmetic differences, but the main point of departure here is the titanium casing and bracelet as well as the technically advanced in-house high-frequency movement. Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF released a limited version of this high-frequency watch back in 2021, which was also produced in titanium. The specs remain pretty much identical: 41mm in diameter, 9.75 mm thick, satin-brushed case and bezel with eight screws, a tapered satin-brushed bracelet with polished central caps, sapphire crystal exhibition case-back printed with “Cadence 8HF,” the Roman numerals at 12 o’clock and the ever notorious 4.30 date window.
The key update to this 2023 version is the new black colored dial, which still features the sunburst pattern (intended to be reminiscent of an eagle’s iris) and now also includes an orange arrow-type seconds hand with eagle’s feather counterweight, an orange “high-frequency” arrow symbol and matching orange railway-track minutes circle. Sounds like a lot of orange, but as you can see above they are small accents that balance out the black dial rather nicely.
The Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF Calibre 01.12-C beats at the frequency of 8 Hertz, meaning twice as fast as a standard automatic movement. This is a technical detail that is commonly understood as a means to improve precision and stability. The logic goes like this: The faster the movement beats, the less effect each impact has on the average rate. This high frequency means high speed, thus implying rapid recovery of the isochronous rate.
Chopard has been working on chronometer-certified high-frequency movement since 2012, namely in its L.U.C Haute Horlogerie collections. The Calibre 01.12-C however, will remain exclusively for the Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF models. This is a fun addition to the Alpine Eagle family. While I’m more of a yellow-gold Alpine Eagle gal, I was still drawn in by the aesthetics of this watch. (Hey, I’m trying to be more open-minded about my watch identity these days.) The stark contrast of the black and orange against the dark titanium gives the Cadence 8HF a super sporty feel – almost like a Porsche Design watch or a kooky driving watch from the ’80s. I think I’ll have to get my hands on this one at the show to decide whether it’s really for me. Maybe this is the beginning of my new sporty identity. Stay tuned!
Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage Chronograph
Alongside the new Chopard L.U.C. 1860 launched at Watches and Wonders 2023, Chopard is introducing a new chronograph to the L.U.C. lineup — the L.U.C. 1963 Heritage Chronograph. As the name suggests, this is a throwback model with plenty of vintage cues, albeit with the haute horlogerie execution you’d expect from any model in Chopard’s L.U.C. lineup. Measuring in at 42mm, this new flyback chronograph is crafted from Chopard’s proprietary Lucent Steel, a material made from 80% recycled materials that’s differentiated from standard 316L stainless steel by both its increased brilliance and luminosity as well as increased dermo-compatibility. A nice touch for those with sensitivities to stainless-steel cases. The case shape is largely subdued and traditional in appearance, with two mushroom-shaped pushers and a For the 1963 Heritage Chronograph, Chopard opted for what they call an English-green dial. The dial features a sunburst pattern that radiates outwards from the L.U.Chopard logo at 12 o’clock. Chopard then contrasts the sunburst pattern with snailed concentric chronograph registers. The effect is dynamic and, frankly, gorgeous. For the 1963 Heritage Chronograph, Chopard leaned into the British racing heritage of the colorway, opting for dual Arabic numerals graduated from 05-60 in lieu of hour designations. Contrasting against the green dial are rhodium-plated Dauphine fusée-type hour and minutes hands, along with a rhodium-plated sweep-seconds chronograph hand. What you won’t find on the dial, however, is a date aperture. Chopard decided to keep things clean and simple and it’s a move that’s paid off, as it’s hard to imagine disrupting such a clean dial.n oversized crown. This is a nice approach, as the case doesn’t distract attention from the dial, and, with Chopard, the dial is almost always the conversation starter.
The 1963 Heritage Chronograph features Chopard’s chronometer-certified in-house flyback chronograph movement, L.U.C. 03.07-L. This hand-winding movement features a column wheel, vertical coupling clutch, and flyback chronograph complication. Not surprisingly, movement receives all the bells and whistles when it comes to finishing, including rhodium-plated bridges, yokes, levers, and column wheel against a rose-gilt backdrop. You’ll also find circular graining on the base, straight-graining on the chronograph components, and Côtes de Genève finishing on the nickel silver bridges. Chopard ensures the movement is as functional as it is beautiful with COSC chronometer certification and an ample 60-hour power reserve. As another point of external validation, the Chopard 1963 Heritage Chronograph receives the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph
The Mille Miglia is still around. I know it seems like Chopard is all L.U.C. and Alpine Eagle these days, but I promise the Mille Miglia—which commemorates the legendary Italian road race of the same name—is very much alive and well. Every year, in fact, Chopard has released a race edition with an external tachymeter bezel (here’s the one from last year), and the Classic edition has also had its fair share of LEs. But after years of special editions, the Chopard Mille Miglia collection was due for a remodel, and that’s just what it got for Watches and Wonders 2023. Now in a smaller case with the brand’s proprietary Lucent Steel, including a two-tone version with rose gold, the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph is more appealing than ever.
The biggest updates are to the case, which sees the Mille Miglia sized down from 42mm to 40.5mm, in line with current trends and I’m sure welcome by almost all. The bezel and crystal have also been updated: A “glass-box” sapphire crystal replaces the flat crystal for a more vintage vibe, while a thinner polished bezel gives the dial some breathing room. Although the case size has been reduced 1.5mm, some of that will be made up by thinning the bezel, which makes the dial, and therefore the watch, appear larger. On account of the new domed crystal, the case has gone from 12.67mm-thick to 12.88mm-thick; while this isn’t a huge leap, it will be more noticeable since the case diameter was also reduced. On balance, all these dimension shifts will likely only result in a slightly different wrist presence, which will be aided by lugs that feature a more significant curve. While the three color dials are fitted on perforated leather straps mimicking leather driving gloves, the black dial has a rubber strap modeled on the tread of 1960s Dunlop racing tires, which is cool; all four come with a redesigned pin buckle closure.
Chopard has also upgraded the cases to its proprietary Lucent Steel. This includes the brake-pedal textured pushers, the knurled steering wheel crown, and the welded lugs. I know “Lucent Steel” sounds like some gimmick akin to Blue Steel vs. Magnum, but the difference is real, and I’ll quote our own review of the Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono from 2020 to help you understand: Lucent Steel is an ethical, sustainable, double-forged steel alloy that took the brand four years to develop. You can read more in our article debuting the Alpine Eagle collection. The two-tone variant also features Lucent Steel, with ethically sourced 18k rose gold for the bezel, crown, and pushers.
The new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph is available in four variants: Verde Chiaro (light green), Rosso Amarena (cherry red), Nero Corsa (racing black), and Grigio-Blue (gray-blue). Now that you know Italian, I can tell you that the red, green, and grey-blue dials all have circular satin-brushed finishing while the black dial features what the brand refers to as an engine-turned finish and what I refer to as perlage (though I agree with the brand that it reminds one of vintage metal dashboards). The entire idea of the different color dials is to establish a deeper connection to racing. Inspired though they may be by race cars, Chopard doesn’t go into details about which cars, which would have added a bit of depth to the watch’s story. That said, I will admit that some race cars are green and some are red and some are black and I’m sure some are even gray-blue. The overall layout and style of the new model is almost identical to the previous generation, with two chronograph registers, a running seconds at 3 o’clock, and a color-matched date wheel at 4:30 (if it weren’t color matched, I’d rant for an extra paragraph). One change is the shift from a simple white line around the registers to a thick border scale. Further, the registers no longer indicate their respective units. While I can’t confirm, I believe the brand has also slimmed down the hour numerals, which are filled with the Super-LumiNova also seen on the sword hands. For a pop of color, all four dials feature the red “1000 Miglia” logo and a matching tip on the chronograph seconds hand. Chopard isn’t specific about which movement is in the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, but we know the previous models had an ETA 2894-2 modular automatic chronograph movement. Other than some striping on the rotor and the brand’s name in gold, this movement appears to be no more embellished than other high-grade ETAs, with some perlage on the bridges and blued screws. The ETA 2894-2 affords 42 hours of power at 28,800 vph, and the brand indicates it is COSC-certified, keeping time at -4/+6 seconds per day.
One of the biggest challenges for brands that link themselves and specific models to anything external to watches is finding a balance between telegraphing that link and alienating people who don’t care about that link. To be sure, sometimes when dealing with very specific externalities, brands often just throw this consideration out the window (like the TAG Heuer’s Mario Kart watches). When dealing with broader links, brands can achieve a balance, as Chopard has with the new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph.