Chopard's Alpine Eagle: A lightweight complication

Inspired by the magnificent nature of the Alps, the Alpine Eagle collection is the product of the deep ties between the three generations of the Scheufele family that run the brand. A wide variety of models are unveiled every year, and two new models were introduced in 2022. This represents the evolution of a new generation of luxury sports watches.

A new option for Alpine Eagle

　The Alpine Eagle was born in 2019 as a new icon for Chopard. It is a luxury sports watch with a stainless steel case and bracelet. Its distinctive design follows in the footsteps of the St. Moritz, a long-selling model introduced in 1980.

　Three years after the launch of the Alpine Eagle collection, the brand has expanded its lineup in a short space of time. Starting with the Alpine Eagle Large, which features a classic three-hand display and calendar, the collection includes the unisex Small, a more compact design, the XL Chrono, which features a flyback chronograph, the Cadence 8HF, a high-precision timepiece beating at 57,600 vph, and the Frozen, whose exterior is studded with precious stones. Every year, Alpine Eagle inspires anticipation with the question, "What's next?" In 2022, the brand unveiled two new models: the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon and the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono, both available with rubber straps.

　The former is the collection's first watch to feature a flying tourbillon, seamlessly incorporating the complex mechanism at 6 o'clock into its sporty exterior. Powered by the caliber LUC 96.24-L, which debuted in the 2019 LUC Flying T Twin, this timepiece features a modified tourbillon carriage to match the exterior design. The arms, previously slightly tapered in the center, now feature deeply chamfered sides, similar to the Alpine Eagle's hour and minute hands. Certified as a COSC chronometer and the Hallmark of Geneva, the LUC 96.24-L boasts impeccable precision and decorative finish. Based on the LUC 96.01-L, a renowned masterpiece of micro-rotor automatic winding, the 3.3mm movement of the LUC 96.24-L also contributes significantly to the overall slimness of the watch. With a case thickness of just 8mm, it's clearly significantly slimmer than the existing "Large" model.

　The latter is also the first model in the collection to feature a rubber strap, giving it a lightness not found in the bracelet-equipped XL Chrono. The form that connects to the center caps of the integrated lugs is also reproduced in the rubber, and it is attached seamlessly to the case without any sense of incongruity. Chopard was one of the first brands to use rubber straps, and their first attempt was to combine a rubber strap with a tire tread pattern with the Mille Miglia, released in 1995. The flexible rubber of this model is highly durable, resulting in a more modern and sporty model. This model adds a new dimension to the Alpine Eagle collection.

　Additionally, these new models use Lucent Steel A223 for the exterior, which contains up to 70% recycled steel. Melting the steel twice gives it high hardness, making it less likely to cause metal allergies, and it also has the bright, precious-metal-like reflectivity. They also share features such as a stop-seconds function, ample power reserve, high legibility, and comfortable fit, all of which consider practicality as well as aesthetics. Chopard has given a lighter feel to the ever-evolving complex "luxury sports" watch, broadening the range of options available.