Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Many Faces of the Poetic Chopard Imperiale Day-Night
A rotating day-night complication recreates an ever-changing sky of diamonds, sapphires and mother-of-pearl framed by lotus flowers.
Many of our readers associate the brand Chopard with watch collections like the Mille Miglia, the Alpine Eagle and L.U.C overseen by co-president Karl Friedrich-Scheufele. But there is also a feminine face to the brand directed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president and the creative spirit behind Chopard’s red carpet jewellery and women’s watch collections. The latest model to join the luxurious Imperial collection is this opulent high jewellery watch depicting a mobile sky to indicate night and daytime hours under sculpted lotus motifs.
Launched in 1994, the Imperiale collection is closely associated with the lotus flower, including the 2017 GPHG award-winning Lotus Blanc secret watch. Using a variety of techniques, Chopard’s artisans have crafted the lotus flower on the dial of the Imperiale in ethical rose gold; the lower half of the dial features solid engraved lotus flowers, while the top part features the silhouette of the flower. Gilded openworked swords-shaped hands indicate the time.
To recreate the different tones of day and night, the upper half of the dial is set with a medley of snow-set diamonds and sapphires in six different shades of blue. Beneath the three rows of gradient gemstones, protected by the lacework silhouette of the flower, is the lacquered mother-of-pearl disc that rotates to depict the different times of the day. Transitioning from a delicate light blue to a more saturated tone of blue with seven golden stars, the rotating mother-of-pearl disc and its accompanying gemstone sky is a romantic and highly visual interpretation of a classic night and day function.
Developed by Chopard’s manufacture, calibre L.U.C 96.30-L is a variation of the first calibre – 1.96 – to emerge from the manufacture in 1996. Equipped with a 65-hour power reserve, this automatic movement drives the central day-night disc with a 24-hour rotation to provide an ever-changing panorama on the wrist.
The ethical 18k rose gold case has a diameter of 36mm, a height of 10.15mm and is water-resistant to 50 metres. Diamonds set into the bezel, lugs and crown draw light to the scenery and the crown and lugs are further embellished with sapphire tips. The Imperiale is presented on a pearly blue alligator strap with an ethical 18k rose gold pin buckle.
The Imperiale is a limited and numbered edition of 25 pieces; the price is on request. More information at Chopard.com.
