Chopard L.U.C Full Strike “Día de los Muertos”

Sapphire Chime

Chopard’s L.U.C Full Strike timepiece debuted in 2016 and went on to win the “Aiguille d’Or” (Grand Prix) at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) the following year. To mark its tenth anniversary, Chopard has unveiled a unique, one-of-a-kind Full Strike—the “Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Edition 13″—as a tribute to Mexican culture. Housed in a 42.5 mm ethically sourced rose gold case, the watch features a dial adorned with a skull motif, meticulously crafted from over 70 pieces of blue-dyed rye straw and hand-inlaid eggshell. A single artisan dedicated more than 160 hours to the creation of this dial. At its heart lies the in-house, manually wound L.U.C 08.01-L movement, composed of 533 parts and featuring striking gongs made of sapphire crystal. In short, this timepiece is truly breathtaking, showcasing Chopard’s exceptional mastery in both artistry and technical engineering.

The Chopard L.U.C Full Strike “Día de los Muertos” Edition 13 continues the brand’s series honoring the Mexican Day of the Dead, highlighted by this unique, engraved 18K rose gold minute repeater. Bearing the reference number 161947-5007, the Discount replica watch is powered by the L.U.C 08.01-L movement and showcases a striking blue skull dial composed of rye straw, eggshell, black lacquer, and gold. Furthermore, this piece marks the introduction of the eggshell-inlay technique to Chopard’s artisanal workshops.

The Full Strike movement itself was not developed specifically for this edition; rather, it remains a cornerstone of Chopard’s collection of high-complication timepieces. The manual-winding minute repeater movement made its debut in 2016 and went on to win the “Aiguille d’Or” (Golden Hand) Grand Prix at the 2017 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. This 13th iteration retains the movement’s integrated sapphire crystal and gongs, while introducing new decorative techniques to the dial, the engraved case, and certain components of the striking mechanism. This release coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Chopard Manufacture, established in Fleurier in 1996. A testament to the brand’s vertical integration, both the mechanical movement and the intricate marquetry were crafted entirely in-house; the dial alone required 160 hours of meticulous work by a single artisan.

Case and Dial
Rather than relying on a simple painted surface, this skull-themed timepiece is built upon a rose gold dial base. The deep-blue skull is composed of over 70 carefully selected pieces of rye straw—each individually split, flattened, and arranged by hand. Sourced from France, the straw pieces are oriented in varying directions, allowing adjacent segments to catch the light differently. This interplay of textures creates a segmented pattern across the blue expanse, transcending a reliance on color variation alone. replica watches online

Fragments of white eggshell define the skull’s teeth and the triangular details surrounding the eye sockets. Each fragment is cleaned, dried, and crushed by hand before being assembled, lacquered, and polished. The centers of the eye motifs feature a greater concentration of black lacquer, while the edges are composed of densely packed eggshell fragments, resulting in a lighter hue. This contrast is achieved not through a uniform painted border, but through the precise density and placement of the inlaid materials.

A hand-engraved rose gold mustache spans the lower half of the skull, featuring a satin-brushed finish and the raised “L.U.Chopard” signature. Fine, chased lines radiate around the skull, echoing the orientation of the straw marquetry and extending outward onto the case. A black, spade-shaped nose, bright, eggshell-colored teeth, and exposed mechanical components on the left side divide the dial into distinct decorative and mechanical zones. Despite the striking skull motif, the central hour and minute hands remain clearly distinguishable from the displays for the striking mechanism and power reserve.

The case measures 42.50 mm in diameter and 11.55 mm in thickness. The rose gold bezel, case flanks, and 8.80 mm crown are all adorned with intricate engravings, while a transparent, polished case back offers an unobstructed view of the movement in action. The sapphire crystal features an anti-reflective coating, with a railway-style minute track engraved directly onto the crystal itself rather than on the dial beneath it. A central, gold-plated hand—styled like a fusée-and-chain mechanism component—indicates the minutes, while two gold-plated dauphine hands point to the concentric displays for the striking mechanism and power reserve, positioned at 2 o’clock.

Movement
The manually wound L.U.C 08.01-L is an in-house developed minute repeater movement, comprising 533 components and 63 jewels. With a diameter of 37.20 mm—filling much of the 42.50 mm case—the movement measures just 7.97 mm in thickness. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a 60-hour power reserve. The balance wheel features a Phillips overcoil and utilizes Chopard’s patented variable-inertia design. replica watches Shopping

The most notable acoustic feature of this timepiece is its integrated sapphire crystal: the gongs are crafted as a single piece with the crystal, eliminating the need for screws, solder, or adhesives to join them. When the gongs are struck, the sapphire crystal acts as a resonant surface, transmitting vibrations directly outward. The minute repeater function—capable of striking the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand—is engineered to minimize silent pauses between the various stages of the striking sequence. This follows the same fundamental acoustic principle as the first “Full Strike” watch, introduced in 2016.

Chopard has also incorporated several safety mechanisms for the minute repeater function. A patented clutch-lever system locks the striking mechanism while the movement gathers the necessary data for the chime, preventing unnecessary energy loss. An independent activation system allows the pusher to be pressed regardless of whether a striking sequence is already underway, while a dedicated ratchet-driven device ensures that the hours, quarters, and minutes are chimed in continuous succession. These mechanisms are among five patented technologies associated with this movement.

Two power-reserve indicators, positioned at 2 o’clock, distinguish between the power reserved for timekeeping and that reserved for the striking function. This distinction is crucial for a hand-wound minute repeater, as it allows the watch to display the remaining running power independently of the energy consumed by the chiming mechanism. The small mechanical aperture on the left side of the dial is not for an additional time display; rather, it reveals the movement components beneath the decorated dial.

In this 13th iteration, the striking hammers, the ratchet bridge, and the inertia governor have been treated with a blue CVD coating, extending the blue aesthetic of the dial to the striking mechanism itself. On the case back, the mainplate and bridges feature a metal-mesh motif, with the bridges further embellished with Côtes de Genève (Geneva stripes). The timepiece bears the Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal)—a certification that mandates specific standards for the finishing and construction of both the movement and the watch, as well as requiring that it be crafted within the Canton of Geneva. This is distinct from the awards previously bestowed upon the “Full Strike” design in 2017. wholesale fake watches

Strap
This timepiece is paired with a hand-stitched, cognac-brown alligator leather strap, which creates a striking contrast against the blue, straw-toned dial featuring a skull motif. The visible stitching on the strap complements the warm hues of the leather, and the strap is finished with a matching-tone lining. It is secured between rose gold lugs, which are adorned with intricate, hand-engraved patterns.

Chopard has fitted the watch with an 18K rose gold folding clasp, also featuring hand-engraved details that echo the craftsmanship found on the case. This design extends the metalwork artistry to the strap’s hardware, avoiding the use of components made from other materials. The brown leather harmonizes with the engraved rose gold while providing a bold contrast to the blue, straw-toned dial.

This L.U.C Full Strike “Day of the Dead” (Día de los Muertos) special edition—reference 161947-5007—is available upon request from Chopard. It is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, with its gold engravings and mixed-material inlays created exclusively for this specific watch.

Technical Specifications
Case
Diameter: 42.50 mm; thickness: 11.55 mm; 18K rose gold; hand-engraved bezel and case sides; 8.80 mm hand-engraved rose gold crown; anti-reflective sapphire crystal; hand-engraved, polished exhibition case back. Movement
In-house, manually wound L.U.C 08.01-L minute-repeater movement; 533 components; 37.20 mm in diameter; 7.97 mm thick; 63 jewels; frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz); 60-hour power reserve; balance spring with a Phillips terminal curve; patented variable-inertia balance wheel; monobloc sapphire crystal and gongs; blue CVD-treated striking mechanism components; mainplate and bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève (Geneva stripes); Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal) certification; central hour and minute hands; concentric power reserve indicators for the movement and the striking mechanism, positioned at 2 o’clock.

Dial
18K rose gold, hand-engraved with a satin-brushed finish, featuring blue straw marquetry, eggshell marquetry, and black lacquer; skull motif; gilded, fusée-style hour and minute hands; gilded dauphine-style power reserve hand; minute track engraved on the sapphire crystal.

Strap
Hand-stitched cognac-brown alligator leather with a matching lining; 18K rose gold hand-engraved folding clasp.

Reference Number
161947-5007