Chopard pays tribute to Día de los Muertos, Mexico’s Day of the Dead, with the new L.U.C Full Strike ‘Día de los Muertos’ timepiece (Ref. 161947-5007). This has become an annual tradition for the brand, with this year marking the 13th edition in the collection. Celebrated on November 1 and 2, Día de los Muertos is a vibrant Mexican holiday during which families honour, remember, and joyfully welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones.
Encased in 42.5 mm 18-karat ethical rose gold, the highlight of the minute repeater watch is its calavera ‘skull’ dial, the most recognisable symbol of this tradition. Developed for more than 160 hours by a single artisan in the brand’s dedicated workshop, the dial marks the brand’s first eggshell marquetry, featured around the eye sockets and teeth of the calavera.
The dial’s base is in rose gold and features a skull made of deep-blue straw marquetry. The straw used in this is grown in France; it is arranged by hands in different sizes to make a perfect contours of the skull.
Moreover, the hand engraved skull’s moustache features a L.U. Chopard logo. There’s gilded fusée rose gold hour and minute hands displaying minute markers on the periphery of the dial. The power reserve indication is located at 2 o’clock.
“By associating an exceptional chiming complication with rare decorative crafts, the unique L.U.C Full Strike ‘Día de los Muertos’ Edition 13 celebrates both the richness of Mexican culture and the remarkable talents of our Artisans who perpetuate these precious skills,” says Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard.
Visible though the sapphire crystal caseback is the brand’s L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L, the first minute repeater movement developed entirely by Chopard Manufacture. Introduced in 2016, the movement features a patented monobloc sapphire construction which means the watch glass and gongs both formed from a single piece of sapphire crystal, making the watch produce sound of exceptional purity. The movement first boasted the L.U.C Full Strike, which was awarded the Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2017.
The movement beats at 4 Hz frequency and has a power reserve of about 60 hours. A hand-sewn cognac brown alligator leather with tone-on-tone lining completes the watches.
Images: Courtesy brand
