Chopard presents the L.U.C Skull One, a 100-piece limited-edition adorned with a Mexican calavera as a tribute to the Day of the Dead. Clad in a beautiful combination of dark hues thanks to a black dial with lacquered finishes and gilded hour-markers, the L.U.C Skull One features a 40 mm case in beadblasted DLC stainless steel and a brown calfskin leather strap. Beneath this mischievous death mask beats the L.U.C 96.53-L mechanical movement with automatic winding, crafted by Chopard Manufacture Artisans.
Press Release information
The retail price of the Chopard L.U.C Skull One is S$ 13,500 inclusive of GST.
Chopard L.U.C Skull One
Wiki definitions: A calavera [plural: calaveras] (Spanish – pronounced [kalaˈβeɾa] for “skull”) is a representation of a human skull. The term is most often applied to edible or decorative skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay that are used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls’ Day. Calavera can also refer to any artistic representations of skulls, such as the lithographs of José Guadalupe Posada. The most widely known calaveras are created with cane sugar and are decorated with items such as colored foil, icing, beads, and feathers.
The design – inspired by ancient traditions
A syncretic tradition, born in the Aztec civilization and blended with Spanish Catholicism, the Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead in Spanish – is a joyful celebration of the cycle of life and a reminder to be aware of the possibility of death, which in turn gives meaning to existence. A holiday intended as a remembrance of loved ones who have passed away, it is an opportunity to offer gifts, offerings and libations to the deceased, and to maintain the bond that unites families on both sides of the final frontier. Macabre, yet in a manner that is all about parody, this festival gives Chopard the opportunity to revisit the theme of vanities through the L.U.C Skull One timepiece.
Its lacquered dial features a calavera face, a stylized Mexican skull featuring sun, flower and heart-shaped motifs, as well as a moustache with rounded tips above a sweet toothless smile. An emaciated, yet harmless-looking and even friendly skull on which the hours flow by, marked off by hands, Arabic numerals and gilded hour-markers striking an elegant contrast with the overall black hue.
A hand-stitched brown calfskin leather strap sets a final touch of elegance to this 100-piece limited edition. Responsibly sourced in accordance with stringent ethical criteria, this noble leather becomes even more beautiful when time enhances it with a light-brown patina.
The movement- L.U.C 96.53-L
The case of this new timepiece houses the L.U.C 96.53-L mechanical movement with automatic winding. Ultra-thin at a mere 3.3 mm, it is nonetheless equipped with two barrels based on Chopard Twin technology and ensuring a 58-hour power reserve. It comes to life thanks to a micro-rotor in tungsten – a high-density alloy ensuring optimal winding. With its movement bridges finely adorned with a “Côtes de Genève” pattern, it makes the L.U.C Skull One watch as beautiful inside as it is on the outside, which is why its precious calibre is made visible through a blackened transparent back reflecting the sombre aesthetic of this creation.
Chopard L.U.C Skull One Technical details
100-piece limited edition in DLC-coated steel
Case:
Beadblasted DLC-coated steel
Total diameter 40.00 mm
Thickness 7.20 mm
Water resistance 30 metres
Crown in beadblasted DLC-coated steel 5.00 mm
Beadblasted bezel, case-back, flanks and space between the lugs
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Exhibition case-back – tinted glass
Movement:
Mechanical with automatic winding L.U.C 96.53-L
Number of components 172
Total diameter 27.4 mm
Thickness 3.30 mm
Number of jewels 29
Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve 58 hours
Two barrels – Chopard Twin technology
Winding via a tungsten alloy micro-rotor
Balance-spring with flat terminal curve
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Dial and hands:
Black dial, skull motif
Lacquered finish
Gilt Arabic numerals and hour-markers
Gilt Dauphine-type hours and minutes hands
Functions and displays:
Central display of the hours and minutes
Strap and buckle:
Brown calfskin leather strap with tone on tone stitching and lining
Pin buckle in DLC-coated stainessteel
Ref. 168592-3004 – in beadblasted DLC-coated steel
100-piece limited edition
