Chopard's Alpine Eagle is a new standard for luxury sports. Explaining its history and appeal

2021.12.12

Chopard's Alpine Eagle is a newcomer that debuted in 2019, but it's a collection with a rich history. Knowing the background behind its creation, along with its features and appeal, will help you make a better decision on your purchase. We'll introduce the Alpine Eagle's history, the reasons it's garnering attention, and recommended models.

Chopard "Alpine Eagle"


Uncovering the History of Chopard's Alpine Eagle

The Alpine Eagle is a model released by the prestigious brand Chopard in 2019. It was inspired by the maison's first sports watch, the St. Moritz.

A new generation luxury sports magazine born in 2019

The Alpine Eagle is a model released by the prestigious brand Chopard in 2019. It was inspired by the maison's first luxury watch, the St. Moritz.

The Alpine Eagle perfectly captures the trend of luxury sports watches that has become so popular in recent years, perfectly blending sophisticated, traditional details with sporty-chic style.

Another attractive feature is its more affordable price than the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or Patek Philippe Nautilus. As a new standard in luxury sports, the Alpine Eagle is attracting a lot of attention from the industry.

The story behind the birth of Alpine Eagle

"St. Moritz"

Chopard's first sports watch, the St. Moritz, was the brainchild of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, a 22-year-old employee (now co-president of Chopard), in 1980. For a brand that specialized in gold and diamond watches, the stainless steel model was revolutionary, and it became the brand's best-seller for the next decade.

The St. Moritz, which had a major influence on the creation of the Alpine Eagle, was released in 1980. It was the Maison's first sports watch and also its first stainless steel model.

This was, so to speak, the debut work of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the current co-president of Chopard.

Chopard's first stainless steel model, the St. Moritz, proved popular and was produced in numerous variations, helping to shape the brand's development for nearly a decade before other models were introduced.

The origins of Alpine Eagle date back to the accidental discovery of St. Moritz by Scheufele's son, Karl-Fritz.

Fascinated by the design and comfort of the watch, Karl-Fritz persuaded his father, and the Alpine Eagle, which could be considered a revival model of the St. Moritz, was created.


Why Alpine Eagle is attracting attention

We will explain three reasons why the Alpine Eagle is so popular. Each of these is an essential factor in explaining the model's popularity.

Lucent Steel A223 creates a unique shine

"Lucent Steel A223"

Lucent Steel A223 boasts durability with a Vickers hardness of 223 and hypoallergenic properties comparable to surgical steel. It is also characterized by its higher purity and unique shine compared to conventional steels.

The Alpine Eagle's case and bracelet are crafted from a new stainless steel alloy called Lucent Steel A223, a proprietary Chopard material that took four years to develop.

Lucent Steel A223 is not only approximately 50% stronger than standard stainless steel, but also has a low level of impurities, giving it a shine and luminosity comparable to that of gold.

It is also less likely to cause allergies than other stainless steels, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Eagle iris engraved on the dial

"Eagle Iris"

The uniquely textured dial is inspired by the iris of an eagle, which lives in the Alps. The second hand resembles a feather, and the reflection of the steel evokes a glacier, evoking the natural beauty of the Alps.

The pattern engraved on the dial of the Alpine Eagle is called the Eagle Iris, and is based on the iris of an eagle.

The Maison's message is that "there is nothing better than nature" as a source of inspiration.

The dial is characterized by its unique texture, thanks to the galvanic treatment (electrolytic plating) applied to it, and the arrow-shaped second hand is also shaped to resemble an eagle's feather.

Highly accurate in-house movement

Cal.01.01-C

This 41mm three-hand model is equipped with the in-house manufactured Cal. Chopard 01.01-C, a COSC-certified chronometer. The simple movement, with its fine grained finish, can be seen through the see-through case back.

Each Alpine Eagle model is equipped with four different movements developed in the Maison's own workshops.

Both are high-precision in-house movements certified by COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), which is a major attraction of the Alpine Eagle.

Each movement has a different diameter and thickness, and is fitted to a watch of a different size. The Alpine Eagle's case back allows you to admire the delicate movement.


Alpine Eagle's representative model

The Alpine Eagle collection has expanded in size and complexity, so let's take a look at some of the most popular models in the series.

The Alpine Eagle Large Ref. 298600-3001 features a beautiful blue dial.

"Alpine Eagle Large Ref. 298600-3001"

Alpine Eagle Large
Automatic movement (Cal. Chopard 01.01-C). 31 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Lucent Steel A223 (diameter 41mm). Water resistant to 100m. 165 million yen (tax included).

The Alpine Eagle Large (Ref. 298600-3001) is a model that beautifully showcases the Lucent Steel A223. The standard color is Aletsch Blue, but models with a dial in Bernina Gray or a combination with rose gold are also popular.

It is equipped with the in-house automatic movement, Cal. Chopard 01.01-C, a high-performance movement boasting a power reserve of approximately 60 hours and a vibration rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour.

It is an attractive piece with a luxurious finish that combines elegance and masculinity, and is arguably the most popular model in the collection.

Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF Ref. 298600-3005, launched in 2021

Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF Ref. 298600-3005

Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF
Automatic (Cal. Chopard 01.12-C). 28 jewels. 57,600 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Ti (diameter 41mm). Water resistant to 100m. Limited to 250 pieces worldwide. Price: 2,398,000 yen (tax included).

The Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF (Ref. 298600-3005) was released in 2021 as a limited edition of 250 pieces. It is equipped with the high-performance movement Cal. Chopard 01.12-C.

The hand-patinated Vals grey dial is engraved with the arrow logo, a symbol of the Maison's ultra-high frequency models.

The titanium case is approximately 30% lighter than stainless steel, making it comfortable to wear.

The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Ref. 298609-3002: A powerful 44mm case

"Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Ref. 298609-3002"

Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
Automatic movement (Cal. Chopard 03.05-C). 45 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 60 hours. Lucent Steel A223 (diameter 44mm). Water resistant to 100m. 242 million yen (tax included).

The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono (Ref. 298609-3002) is the first chronograph model in the series to feature a flyback function. The powerful form of the 44mm case gives the Alpine Eagle an even sportier feel.

The flyback function allows the chronograph to restart measurement without stopping the movement. It is considered a high-end mechanism among chronographs, and its manufacturing requires high technical skills.

The watch is equipped with the in-house chronograph movement, Cal. Chopard 03.05-C, which has a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. In addition to the elegant design that Chopard is proud of, this watch is also practical.


Alpine Eagle: A luxury sports car with a noble feel

The Alpine Eagle is a new generation luxury watch launched by Chopard in 2019. It was developed with inspiration from the popular "St. Moritz" model of the past.

The main elements that characterize each model are the use of proprietary materials, the design of the dial, and the highly accurate in-house movement. Learn about the features and appeal of each model and use this information as a reference when considering purchasing one.



Contact info: Chopard Japan Press Tel. 03-5524-8922



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