Chopard, LUC

The vintage mid-1970s Chopard L.U.C (Louis-Ulysse Chopard) watches powered by the Calibre 90 are just lovely, ultra-thin dress watches. The Calibre 90 is a highly regarded, 30-jewel automatic movement featuring an elegant micro-rotor. This one has just been serviced and is working beautifully. 

Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the Swiss luxury brand was acquired by Germany’s Scheufele family in 1963, merging fine jewelry with precision horology.

During the 1970s, Chopard famously utilized Calibre 90,  which is an innovative calibre— originally built on a high-grade Buren base—allowing Chopard to design ultra-thin, elegant dress watches, demonstrating their early commitment to high-end, micro-rotor engineering before the launch of their modern L.U.C line.

Tech Specs.

Reference: Chopard LUC 1022
Year:  c.1975
Movement:  Cal. 90, automatic wind
Service History:  2026
Dial: Silver
Case:  18ct gold with screw-in case back.
Measurements:  33mm (case diameter), 38mm lug-to-lug, 8mm thickness
Water Resistant:  No
Crystal:  Acrylic
Crown:  signed LUC
Strap/Bracelet:   black leather with LUC pin buckle (not gold)
Lug Width:  17mm
Box & Papers: Chopard watch/jewellery box (fair condition)
Warranty: 6 months

Watches modelled on a 7” (18cms) wrist

Condition

This is a lovely, incredibly slim and elegant gold dress watch that exudes Swiss horological class. It's just time only - no seconds hand on this. There are a few marks on the dial with one blemish at the '10' index; there are a few scratches on the case and caseback, but nothing serious.  The long lugs are a perfect foil for the pencil thin hands and slivers of hour markers.

The calibre 90 was a preview for the groundbreaking Chopard 1-96 series of movements that came out of the 1990s so the new owner is getting some excellent calibre pedigree with this watch.