Karl-Fritz Scheufele showed me the new Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage watches. This refresh of the collection is masterminded by his design ideas. The look of the two new Heritage pieces are fresh and updated. Here is my hands-on impressions.

Handling the new Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage watches | GWD26 Live

Two novelties are released for GWD26. First is a chronograph and the second a regulateur. This release is a 25-piece limited edition available exclusively through Chopard boutiques. The design is decidedly contemporary, combining fresh looks with traditional haute horlogerie.

The white gold (ethical gold of course for Chopard), measures 40 mm in diameter and a slim 10.30 mm profile. It feels very slim and comfortable on the wrist. Echoing the hue of the white gold case, the silver-toned dial creates a harmonious aesthetic.

The movement is hand-wound L.U.C Calibre 98.02, and is set within a sloped rehaut which reflects light into the movement. The movement has earned chronometer certification from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), attesting to its precision, while the prestigious Poinçon de Genève

I also handled the L.U.C 1963 Heritage Chronograph. This was shown in a magnificently beautiful blue dial.

Flip the watch over, and the movement gleams. The movement is the L.U.C 03.07-L is a fully integrated column-wheel with 60 hours power reserve. This is not a new movement, but is rather special because the base plate is brass and gold plated with beautiful perlage. And the bridges over the plates are in maillechort. The speciality is that these German Silver bridges are gold plated, and then the Côtes de Genève applied, shaving off most of the gold plating leaving only a sliver at the upper edge of each stroke. The same polished rehaut is also used to bounce light back into the movement.