Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike Rings in Mastery
Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike at life in classic
Chopard has long been one of the modern standard-bearers for chiming wristwatches, and its latest creation, the L.U.C Grand Strike, reads like a manifesto of everything the maison has learned. It unites a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater with a 60-second tourbillon that features hacking seconds, all inside a freshly developed movement boasting two of watchmaking’s most respected certifications. This is Chopard’s most ambitious chiming watch yet—and it shows.
The case, crafted from 18-carat ethical white gold, measures 43mm in diameter and 14.08mm in thickness. It carries the elegant, softly stepped silhouette that has become a hallmark of the brand’s high complications. Chopard’s signature crown-integrated pusher still triggers the minute repeater, but the Grand Strike adds a discreet sliding switch on the caseband to select passive chiming modes: grande sonnerie for striking the hours and quarters, petite sonnerie for the hours only, or silence. Regardless of the setting, the minute repeater remains on demand at a press of the crown pusher. Quick-change alligator straps in grey or deep blue complete the package, and an exhibition back offers a full view of the mechanism.
The front of the watch is deliberately open, giving the stage to the new hand-wound caliber L.U.C 08.03-L and its 686 components. Bridges and plates in warm German silver provide an inviting contrast to the polished steelwork, while the architecture keeps the important information clear. A small aperture under the twelve o’clock position displays the current striking mode—“P” for petite, “G” for grande, “S” for silent. To its right, a pair of indicators tracks the reserves of two independent barrels: one for timekeeping, the other dedicated to the strikework. Expect 70 hours for the going train and a minimum of 12 hours of autonomy when the grande sonnerie is engaged.
At six o’clock, a small seconds hand sits atop a one-minute tourbillon. Unusually, the tourbillon can be stopped for precise setting when the crown is pulled—a rare and technically demanding feature in such escapements. Even without a printed seconds track, the inclusion underscores Chopard’s drive for precision and control in a watch otherwise devoted to musicality.
That musicality is where Chopard stakes out its unique voice. The Grand Strike’s hammers are visibly poised around ten o’clock, but the real innovation lies in the gongs: they are made of sapphire and formed as a single piece with the watch’s crystal. This monobloc concept, first honed by Chopard in earlier Full Strike models, allows sound to travel directly through the crystal and radiate outward without passing through additional case materials. The result is a chime notable for its volume and purity, with a timbre that is both crystalline and resonant. The crystal itself carries a finely engraved minute track, a functional flourish that also hints at the sonic role it plays.
Behind the scenes, the movement consolidates a decade of Chopard’s research into striking safety, energy management, and reliability. Five newly filed patents debut here, alongside five more drawn from prior breakthroughs. Many of these protections are designed for worry-free operation: switching modes or activating the chiming mechanisms won’t endanger the movement, even if attempted at inopportune moments. Other solutions improve efficiency, reducing the torque needed for the sonnerie and preventing partial or incomplete chimes. The net effect is a grand complication you can actually use.
Finishing and certification meet the highest benchmarks. The L.U.C 08.03-L carries the Poinçon de Genève, a seal that guarantees both artisanal finishing and construction quality. It is also chronometer-certified by COSC—tested, notably, in petite sonnerie mode. Chopard points out that this mode can be more demanding since it requires actively suppressing the quarter strikes, a testament to the movement’s energy management and stability. The technical specs round out the picture: manual winding, 4 Hz frequency, 67 jewels, and a movement diameter of 37.2mm with a thickness of 10.14mm.
Taken together, the Grand Strike feels less like a single reference and more like the culmination of a line—an arc that began with the hourly chiming Strike One, matured through successive Full Strike minute repeaters and tourbillon variants, and now arrives at a comprehensive symphony. The sapphire gongs, integrated crown pusher, and hacking tourbillon give the watch a distinctly Chopard identity amid the small, rarefied circle of grande sonnerie tourbillon makers.
At CHF 780,000, available now and not limited, this is a statement piece aimed at collectors who value both horological pedigree and fresh thinking. It is an object meant to be heard as much as seen, inviting its owner to experience time not just by reading it, but by listening to it unfold.
