Named for its illustrious founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard, Chopard’s LUC collection has been a showcase to the brand’s fine watchmaking skills. The Geneva manufacture celebrated 10 years of L.U.C. with a new Limited Edition L.U.C 10 CF chronograph dubbed Chrono One in 2006. A year later, the 44mm Chrono One retained use of the new in-house integrated chronograph movement, the 11CF which later became known as the Calibre L.U.C 03.03-L. The new L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback is Chopard’s latest Baselworld 2019 novelty, with 250 models in stainless steel and another 100 featuring a brand new material – Titalyt®.

Chopard L.U.C Chrono One Flyback – a Limited Edition Chronograph for Baselworld 2019

The new 42mm Chopard L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback is a limited edition chronograph featuring the brand’s robust, mainstay manufacture chronograph calibre L.U.C 03.03-L, and for the first time, in a non-precious material – stainless steel. While the latest Baselworld novelties are both limited in varying quantities, each comes with its own unique qualities – the stainless steel L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback is dressed with undeniably refined L.U.C. aesthetic codes, played up by its monochromatic nature. Yet, somehow, it bears the virility of some of watchmaking’s more outlandish chronographs. Perhaps Chopard’s newest gentleman’s chronograph “restrains” its unabashed machismo with its complementary contrast vertical satin-brushed midcase with its sophisticated polished bezel and lugs topping it all off with a slate grey, vertical satin-brushed dial. The result is a monochromatic modern classic chronograph dressed with a slate-grey alligator leather strap with brown alligator leather lining.

Suffice it to say, the new L.U.C. Chrono One Flyback is no mere rehash of pioneering models. Bearing new design codes – a slightly stepped bezel, the modern design paired with L.U.C. aesthetic motifs  like Dauphine hour and minute hands enhanced with luminescence, furthermore, faceted arrow-shaped applied hour-markers replace predecessor Chrono One thick Arabic and Roman numeral fonts. Also, gone, the old school Chopard “name plaque” replaced with the new L.U.Chopard signature at 12 o’clock.

Two faces of the new L.U.C Chrono One Flyback

While the stainless steel 250 piece Limited Edition Chopard L.U.C Chrono One Flyback is emblematic of the collection’s iconic classic elegance, the other version is a hyper masculine, sportive play on colours new to the  L.U.C. collection. The Limited Edition  L.U.C Chrono One Flyback is encased in dark, matt Titalyt,  a material widely used in the aerospace, aeronautical and medical fields that is known for its hypoallergenic properties. For those unfamiliar, the last time Titalyt was used in Chopard L.U.C., it was in their 2011  L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon.

The last time Titalyt was used in Chopard L.U.C., it was in their 2011  L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon

Titalyt is a patented procedure in which Titanium is subjected to electro-plasma oxidation hence improving material’s hardness and and abrasion resistance/ What results is an undeniably robust titanium core with non of its scratch magnetism. Additionally, the colour palette of Chopard’s Baselworld 2019 chronograph, an olive green dial with  steel grey hour-markers, hands and subdial rims are matched by a darkened matt case. Available in 100 limited editions, the Titalyt enhanced L.U.C Chrono One is an extension of that trend “military green” trend which kickstarted 2019 at SIHH.

The heart of the Baselworld 2019 L.U.C Chrono One

Watch lovers might recall that the first Chrono One birthed in 10 editions in 2006 used an integrated chronograph calibre designed and developed by a team who was also previously involved in the creation of a famed, often out-of-stock chronograph from another Geneva brand. The 2006 L.U.C 10 CF chronograph was updated with engineering improvements related to reliability and precision and it became the 11 CF with four validated patents attesting to the degree of innovation and fine craftsmanship, eventually becoming badged the L.U.C Calibre 03.03-L. By any other name, a rose is just as sweet and the Chopard Baselworld 2019 L.U.C Chrono One Flyback movement bears the classic signatures of L.U.Chopard Manufacture including generous 60-hour power reserve, and COSC certification.

Limited Edition L.U.Chopard Chrono One Flyback Price and Specs

Movement Automatic L.U.C 03.03-L with 60 hours power reserve
Case 42mm stainless steel or Titalyt titanium with 100 metres water resistance
Strap Leather
Price From SG$ 36,000