Since 2013, Chopard has embraced Chinese culture and astrology in the designs of timepieces that auspiciously celebrate the Lunar New Year.
The totem animal, representing each year of the 12-year cycle, has taken turns in starring in an L.U.C timepiece, named after Louis-Ulysse Chopard, who founded the company in 1860.
Its trademark, The Artisan of Emotions Since 1860, emphasises the passionate craftsmanship embodied in the watchmaking, which is now carried out at its production sites in Geneva and Fleurier in Switzerland.
Chopard returned to its watchmaking roots in 1996, when the manufacture was established to develop and produce movements for the L.U.C collections.
The Swiss haute horlogerie combines with the beauty of Japanese lacquer art for L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox and L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of Shí Chen wristwatches.
As the wheel spins to the Year of the Ox, the second of the 12 zodiac animals gleams on the first ultra-thin limited edition, available in 88 pieces.
The dials were handcrafted by master lacquer artist Minori Koizumi at the workshop of the century-old Yamada Heiando company in Tokyo, Japan.
The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac parade slowly on an urushi lacquer disc.
Drawn from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree, the natural lacquer or urushi is layered on the dial while the Maki-e technique captures gold flakes between the layers, resulting in an illuminating background for a golden ox, harnessed to a wagon.
Made of gold, mother-of-pearl and coloured lacquer, the motif symbolises agriculture as the benevolent animal ensures the prosperity of the soil and the crops.
Under its Journey to Sustainable Luxury philosophy, the independent maison run by the Scheufele family began using 100% ethically-produced gold in July 2018.
A block of ethical 18ct rose gold has been sculpted into the case with a thickness of 6.8mm and a diameter of 39.5mm. The slimness is enabled by the 3.3mm thick movement offering automatic winding via a micro-rotor.
The small off-centre oscillating weight incorporated into the calibre boasts high inertia enabling it to wind two barrels efficiently. The latter are stacked in accordance with the Chopard Twin Technology and are capable of storing the energy necessary for the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox to provide a power reserve of 65 hours.
L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox is dedicated to a year conducive to harvests and wisdom.
The Year of the Ox, which begins on Feb 12, is believed to be a year of appeasement and thus of wisdom, optimism, restraint and dialogue.
The ox along with the other zodiac animals slowly parade in an aperture on the L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of Shí Chen, whose novel complication displays the international and traditional Chinese timekeeping systems.
The latter divides the day into 12 units or shí chen, and each 2-hour period of time is represented by a zodiac animal. Following this traditional system, the day begins at 11pm with the Hour of the Rat and ends with the Hour of the Pig, while noon is in the middle of the Hour of the Horse.
Offering a power reserve of 65 hours, the automatic winding movement features a disc that completes a full rotation in 24 hours, while representing the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac.
The succession of the zodiac animals underlines Chopard's mechanical prowess, which is complemented by Japanese craftsmanship.
The master lacquer artist meticulously worked on the shí chen disc and the main dial, centred by the golden, embossed emblem of the god Lu Ying.
Natural urushi lacquer and gold powder are used in crafting the dial.
The three deities Lu Ying, Fu Xing and Shou Xing are respectively related to prosperity, happiness and longevity, symbolically summing up the characteristics of a full life.
Housed in a 40mm ethical 18ct rose gold case, the L.U.C XP Urushi Spirit of Shí Chen is also available in 88 pieces, as eight is an auspicious number.
In most cultures throughout history, the figure eight has been a happy omen, a sign of balance, completeness and prosperity. The symbolism of this number is particularly important in China, where it is associated with good luck and success.
Eight diamonds dance on the dial of Happy Sport ablaze with the lucky colour red.
An original association between steel and diamonds in an audacious and free-spirited way, the Happy Sport launched in 1993 has become an iconic women's watch.
The new version charms with the textured mother-of-pearl dial shimmering in shades of red.
The ruby further sets a propitious finishing touch to the faceted crown of the dainty model presented in an ethical 18ct rose gold case, matched with a glossy red alligator leather strap.
The proportions of the 33mm case are inspired by the rules of the golden ratio and dictated by the size of the mechanical movement with automatic winding, which provides a power reserve of 42 hours.
Eight dancing diamonds twirl on the dial of the red Happy Sport in an 18ct rose gold case.
