The Chopard L.U.C QF Revolution and Its Luminous Sector Dial

Revolution, a long-established print and online magazine focussed on watches and run by our friend Wei Koh, is used to making quite impressive collaborations, often resulting in highly attractive watches. One of the long-time partners of Revo is Chopard, a collaboration that already resulted in two salmon-coloured models paying tribute to the first-ever L.U.C watch. Today, the Singapore-based magazine launches its third dedicated edition with the Swiss manufacture. And it’s an attractive combination of classic 1940s design, modernity in the execution and mechanical refinement. Meet the Chopard L.U.C QF Revolution Edition.

In short, what you’re looking at is a “vintaged” take on the classic dress watch à la Chopard, with slightly enlarged case and a luminous sector dial to bring some casualness and inside the best of L.U.C with a Qualité Fleurier movement. On paper, this sounds like a pretty engaging recipe. And the result really does make an impression.

After two watches playing on highly classic codes, with 36.5mm case and solid gold guilloché dials treated in salmon colour (either in a classic time-and-date version or with a tourbillon), Revolution and Chopard change style and makes vintage and modern friends again. The new L.U.C QF Revolution Edition is housed in a 39mm stainless steel case, which retains a slender profile of 8.9mm. The case is mostly noticeable thanks to its sharp, pointy soldered lugs. It’s entirely polished, features a thin bezel and has sapphire crystals on both sides. Elegant and discreet, it leaves the stage to the dial on one side, and the movement on the other. To bring some coolness, it is worn on a vintage-inspired light brown calfskin strap.

The dial is certainly the piece de résistance of the habillage here, with its circular brushed black background on which has been printed a sector dial and Arabic numerals. The syringe hands, rhodium-plated and polished, are classics of Chopard. What really brings the watch to life is the fact that all elements are coated in Super-LumiNova, making the dial pop at night. Of course, trained eyes will see that it is somehow reminiscent of the Laurent Ferrier Boreal, also equipped with such a luminous sector black dial. And since I’ve always loved this watch, it might explained why the Chopard L.U.C QF Revolution Edition feels so attractive.

Under the hood is an important movement, the calibre 96.09-L, which architecture is at the foundation of the L.U.C range. The thin, yet powerful micro-rotor movement has been the cornerstone of the collection since its creation in 1996. It is here executed in its higher-end version, bearing the Qualité Fleurier certification. Originally created in 2004 by Chopard L.U.C, Parmigiani Fleurier and Bovet, the QF certification is one of the most demanding standards around. It includes requirements regarding the provenance (in short, 100% Swiss Made for the watch head/movement), the decoration of the movement, the materials used. It’s also about precision since watches must receive the COSC certification, but also the ultra-rigorous Chronofiable test and the Fleuritest. Certification at its finest. The movement, as you’d expect, is here finely decorated and features a 22k gold micro-rotor.

Availability & Price

The Chopard L.U.C QF Revolution Edition is a limited edition of 25 pieces, available now from Revolution here. It is priced at USD 15,000. For more details about Chopard and QF, visit www.chopard.com.