Greatly inspired by Chinese traditions, Chopard’s L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon boasts a 39.5 mm ethical 18k rose gold case, while the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L caliber with micro-rotor ensures a slender profile of just 6.80mm can be maintained. It is a fusion of both technical savoir-faire and artistic flair delivered by Chopard Manufacture. Its dial is a piece of art, skilfully decorated with Urushi lacquer, gold powder and mother-of-pearl inlays. And for the twelfth year running in the Chopard Urushi story, the dial has been hand crafted in Japan by a world-renowned artisan specialising in the Maki-e technique.
The Chinese Five Elements Theory assigns one of the five elements – Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth – to each year, in addition to the zodiac signs. 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon. If the Dragon is usually powerful, endlessly energetic, full of vitality and endowed with the keenest sense of Self among the 12 zodiac signs, the Wood Dragon is seen as a protector of the environment and a symbol of harmony with Nature. This strong identity beautifully echoes Chopard’s respect for the Earth and its riches. The Japanese master lacquerer called upon by the Maison has thus created a moody, elegant black dial on which the dragon comes to life. Soaring high above the clouds, it radiates a striking blend of power and grace, with bold statement colours of red and yellow.
All 88 of these spectacular dials have been produced in the workshops of the century-old company Yamada Heiando and crafted by master artist Minori Koizumi, a meticulous task requiring no less than 20 hours for each. In accordance with this refined ancestral technique, gold flakes placed between layers of lacquer made from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree light up the background.
This precious dial is housed in an extra-thin case in ethical 18-carat rose gold, which is not only comfortable on the wrist but also offers an unparalleled level of understated elegance.
This thinness is made possible by the use of the 3.30 mm-thick in-house L.U.C 96.17-L self-winding movement equipped with an off-centred 22-carat gold micro-rotor incorporated into the overall thickness of the calibre. Its strong inertia ensures efficient winding of the two barrels, which are stacked according to Chopard Twin technology and store the energy required for the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon to offer a 65-hour power reserve. Once off the wrist, it will remain on time and accurate for more than two and a half days, neatly corresponding to a long weekend.
L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon (88-piece limited edition in ethical 18-carat rose gold)
Case:
- Ethical 18-carat rose gold
- Total diameter 39.50 mm
- Thickness 6.80 mm
- Water resistance 30 metres
- Crown in ethical 18-carat rose gold with L.U.C logo 4.00 mm
- Polished sides and inter-horn space
- Polished bezel and case-back
- Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
- Exhibition caseback
Movement :
- Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.17-L
- Winding via a gold micro-rotor in ethical 22-carat gold
- Total diameter 27.40 mm
- Thickness 3.30 mm
- Number of jewels 29
- Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve 65 hours
- Two barrels stacked according to Chopard Twin technology
- Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Dial and hands:
- Dial hand-crafted in Japan using the Urushi lacquer technique with a special Year of the Dragon scene
- Gilded Dauphine-type hours and minutes hands
Functions and displays:
- Central display of the hours and minutes
Strap and buckle:
- Hand-sewn black alligator leather strap with nubuck lining
- Pin buckle in polished ethical 18-carat rose gold
