Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Chopard Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon
Chopard’s haute horology take on its integrated bracelet sports watch.
In 2019, Chopard entered the crowded field of integrated sports watches with the Alpine Eagle. The Alpine Eagle drew inspiration from the St. Moritz of 1980, Chopard’s first integrated bracelet watch. The time-and-date Alpine Eagle was followed up with the sporty Alpine Eagle XL Chrono in 2020 and the limited-edition high-frequency Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in 2021. The collection now welcomes the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon, the first model in the collection to bear the Poinçon de Genève.
The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon shares the same shape as the base Alpine Eagle, which means that it has a 41mm wide tonneau-style case with a round bezel held in place with eight screws and distinctive ears on each side of the watch. The tops of both the case and the bezel are vertically brushed, whereas the flanking elements are in high polish. Thanks to the micro-rotor automatic calibre inside, the case has been slimmed down in comparison to the time-only model, down to 8mm from 9.7mm. Additionally, the width of the bezel has been slightly tweaked, resulting in a wider dial aperture. Seamlessly integrated into the case is a three-link design bracelet with highly polished central links that are slightly raised above the flanking links. The finishing of the bracelet is exhaustive: each of the individual links in the bracelet is bevelled, and all facets have been finished. The bracelet tapers slightly and ends in a concealed triple-folding clasp.
The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon will be available in Chopard’s proprietary Lucent Steel A223, a highly biocompatible alloy that is 50% harder than conventional steel alloys. It is reportedly more reflective than standard steel alloys, leading to a more pronounced sheen.
Remarkably, despite the thinness of the watch and the tourbillon regulator inside, the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is still a proper sports watch and upholds the 100m water-resistance of the time-only Alpine Eagle.
The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is currently available only with the Aletsch blue dial that is also found on the base model. The solid gold dial base is first stamped with a pattern that is meant to resemble the iris of an eagle, after which it undergoes a galvanic treatment. However, whereas the pattern spirals outwards from the cannon pinion in the time-only model, here the tourbillon is the pattern’s focal point. Applied white gold stick indices and Roman numerals at 12, 3 and 9 o’clock, filled with Super-LumiNova, round out the dial, which is bordered by a sloping, dark blue flange.
At the heart of the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is the calibre L.U.C 96.24-L, which was first introduced in the Chopard L.U.C Flying T Twin in 2019. However, for the version used in the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon, the tourbillon carriage was modified to echo the shape of the hands. The calibre is an evolution of the Chopard L.U.C manufacture’s first automatic calibre built from the ground up, the calibre 96.01-L. Because of its lineage, the calibre 96.24-L shares many of the same traits as its predecessor. Namely, it is a chronometer-certified, beautifully finished micro-rotor automatic calibre measuring only 3.30mm in thickness. Despite the tourbillon, the calibre offers a 65-hour power reserve thanks to two stacked barrels that operate in series, ensuring even torque release and more accurate timekeeping. Driving home the emphasis on accuracy, this tourbillon movement also features hacking seconds.
The Chopard Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon in Lucent Steel (ref. 298616-3001) is not a limited edition watch, but its production volume is likely to be limited. The price is still to be confirmed. For more information, please visit Chopard.com.
