In 2016 Chopard launched its first minute repeater, the L.U.C. Full Strike. First in Fairmined rose gold and other versions such as white gold, platinum and carburised steel, with their patented minute repeater using monobloc sapphire gongs, the first one won the Aiguille d’Or best-in-show at the 2017 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. The primary reason behind this achievement was the inclusion of Chopard’s patented minute repeater system, whereby monobloc sapphire gongs strike the hours, quarters and minutes.

In 2022, Chopard launched a trilogy of L.U.C Full Strike models – the L.U.C Strike One, L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon, and L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire. The final ones of these was in a five piece limited edition and featured a minute repeater in a transparent sapphire case. Its case, crown and dial were all cut from blocks of sapphire, allowing a full view of the COSC-certified Calibre L.U.C. 08.01-L, which allowed an uninterrupted view of the repeater’s gongs. It was the first minute repeater timepiece in this case material.

Now there is a new (also limited to five pieces) L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire minute repeater, this time in a blue sapphire case – the blue is achieved through the use of chromium and rare earth elements.

The case is again 42.5mm, with a thickness of 11.5mm and a monobloc caseback. The crown has an integrated blue sapphire pusher with the L.U.C logo.

The open-worked sapphire dial has a minute track that is engraved into the sapphire before being coloured black. The applied hour markers are rhodium-plated and there are also black transfer hour markers on the minute track.

There is a small seconds at 6 o’clock and a power reserve indicator at 2 o’clock with two hands that is for both the watch and the strike power reserves. The hours, minutes and small seconds hands are also all rhodium-plated, as are the two power reserve indicators.

The logo is on an 18kt white gold plate with black transfers. Finishing wise, both the chapter ring and small seconds are satin-brushed.

Powering it is the manually-wound L.U.C 08.01-L which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 60 hours. Its main plate and bridges are made of untreated nickel silver, with Côtes de Genève. The sapphire gongs of the repeater are patented and integrated into the monobloc, which means it’s ‘sapphire on sapphire’ – the gongs and the resonance chamber.

The movement also has a patented ratchet-driving mechanism whose role is to avoid pauses during chiming, and a patented strikework activation disengagement system. As soon as this is activated the pusher is disengaged, making it impossible to disturb or damage the repeater’s mechanism.

The energy for the repeater function comes from a separate barrel that is wound by the crown, unlike the traditional situation of the energy being provided for this function by the activation of the winding lever. This, in conjunction with a patented clutch-lever that ensures that the striking going train is stopped to avoid losing power reserve during the gathering of the ‘information’ required to control the minute repeater, means that the L.U.C Full Strike Blue Sapphire, like the regular Sapphire model that preceded it, can do the 12 hours and 59 minutes chime, which requires the most energy because of the number of chimes required, up to twelve times.

Coming on a blue alligator strap with blue alligator lining and an 18kt ethical white gold folding clasp, it is POA.

[Photo credit: Chopard]

Categories: Chopard, Limited Editions, Minute Repeaters, Watch Profile, watches