Chopard: Day of the Dead and Watchmaking

Skulls as the main decorative theme.

Chopard has done some serious stylistic exploration this fall, focusing on themes from Mexico's Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). They’ve introduced three models in one go: the 25-piece L.U.C Skull One Calavera Pop Art plus two unique pieces.

L.U.C Skull One Calavera Pop Art is a surprisingly bright and colorful interpretation of the main calavera skull symbol of Día de los Muertos, reminiscent of work by Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein. Concealed under this almost screaming illustration is the ultra-thin automatic L.U.C 96.53-L movement with a micro-rotor made of a tungsten alloy.

This movement assembled at Chopard Manufacture workshops in Fleurier measures a mere 3.3 mm in height. This has allowed the case height to be kept to 7.2 mm. The 40-mm steel case is complemented by a black calfskin leather strap with lining and stitching in the colors of the Mexican flag.

Another model with a skull was created as a pièce unique for the TimeForArt charity auction, where proceeds will go towards supporting contemporary artists through Swiss Institute exhibitions, education programmes and workshops.

L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 TimeForArt Edition develops on the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25, which debuted last year as the manufacture's first jumping-hour model. L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 TimeForArt Edition allows you to tell the time by staring death straight in the open mouth — the hour counter is in the mouth of the skull.

Caliber L.U.C 98.06-L has four stacked and series-coupled barrels, so even with the jumping hour, the movement can keep running for over 190 hours. However, the model's centerpiece is its exquisite hand-engraved stylized skull motif on the white-gold dial.

The rose-gold watch case measures 40 mm in diameter. L.U.C Full Strike "Día de los Muertos" is where fine art meets the art of watchmaking. It's a new interpretation of the Full Strike — the minute repeater which earned Chopard the Aiguille d'Or prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2017.

The fresh edition of Caliber L.U.C 08.01-L has glass protecting the dial and gongs machined in one piece from a block of sapphire crystal to cap the engraved case covered in traditional Mexican motifs.

The striking mechanism is still openworked: this time the white-gold skull's left eye socket is delineated by blackened minute repeater hammers.