Chopard L.U.C XPS Azur – Cannes Red Carpet Edition 2019

Chopard capitalises on its role as the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival (14-25 May) and launches an azure version of its ultra-thin L.U.C XPS gent’s model. Dressed for the red-carpet event, the L.U.C XPS Azur dons a handsome blue suit and comes in an 18k ethical gold case. Limited to just 10 pieces, the watch bears its very own accolades: the chronometric performance of the movement is COSC certified and the overall quality and finishes of the watch are endorsed with the Poinçon de Genève seal.

Red carpet flair

Since Chopard became an official partner of the glamorous event devoted to cinema in 1988, Caroline Scheufele’s high jewellery creations and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s most elegant dress watches have accompanied the world’s biggest stars down the red carpet. Last year, Chopard presented men with a L.U.C XPS 1860 edition with a flamboyant red guilloché dial and diamond hour markers. For 2019, the brand adopts the same top-of-the-line L.U.C XPS 1860 model with its thin profile, double certification (COSC and Geneva Seal) and limited edition production.

The 40mm case is made from 18k ethical white gold and has a height of just 7.20mm allowing the watch to slide elegantly under a cuff. A relatively discreet case, the star of the show is the blue hand-guilloché dial that evokes the colours of the Mediterranean, the backdrop to the Cannes Film Festival. The dial reveals a series of textures: the central part of the dial is beautifully decorated with a guilloché radiating wave motif that emanates from the L.U.C logo at 12 o’clock; the recessed small seconds counter at 6 o’clock displays a concentric pattern; while the chapter hour ring is sunburst with a satin-brushed finish. Similar to last year’s red-carpet edition, the hour markers are baguette-cut diamonds and the hands, as is standard with most L.U.C watches, are stylised Dauphine hands. Naturally, there is not a single trace of luminescence on this model. The minutes track, the three markers on the small seconds counter and the brand name and model in the cartouche are a golden sandy colour.

Calibre L.U.C 96.01-L

Below deck is Chopard’s base movement, the same one that made its debut on board the first L.U.C model of 1996. Visible through the sapphire glass caseback, the movement is equipped with a 22k yellow gold micro-rotor and two barrels (Chopard Twin^® technology) ensuring approximately 65 hours of autonomy. The movement is just 3.3mm thick and its remarkable precision is certified by COSC. The artisanal finishes have also earned the watch its Poinçon de Genève hallmark. An Haute Horlogerie creation, all the parts display a high degree of craftsmanship with chamfered bridges decorated with thick Geneva stripes, polished angles and circular graining on the mainplate. The caseback also features the corresponding number/10 of the watch.

Price and availability

A limited edition of just 10 pieces, the watch comes with a hand-stitched black alligator strap and 18k white gold pin buckle and retails for CHF 37,800. More details on chopard.com.