L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ’72

L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ‘72

One-of-a-time piece in 18-carat ethical white gold

A unique jumping hour masterpiece in Grand Feu enamel honouring Jacky Ickx

• Chopard unveils the L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ’72, a singular creation honouring legendary racing driver and Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx.
• This unique piece bearing the Poinçon de Genève cristallises an iconic moment of motorsport into miniature art enamel, made entirely in-house.
• It is powered by the L.U.C 98.06‑L calibre, a hand‑wound jumping‑hour movement (featuring Chopard exclusive Quattro stacked barrels) delivering an exceptional 192‑hour power reserve.

The story behind the legendary image

The year is 1972: a Ferrari prototype roars through Spa, Belgium, with Jacky Ickx at the wheel, etching a moment of racing history in time. Today, Chopard immortalises that instant in a timepiece in 18-carat ethical white gold. Its exceptional dial faithfully reproduces the famous image titled only Ferrari 312 PB – 1972, captured by renowned photographer Rainer W. Schlegelmilch. A pioneer of motorsport imagery whose lens has chronicled racing’s golden era since the 1960s, his scene distils the particular drama and elegance of endurance racing at Spa in those days. Endurance racing demands consistency, resilience and strategy, and in 1972, Ferrari’s 312 PB rose to the challenge. Jacky Ickx led the charge with headline wins, helping secure the constructors’ championship and affirming his place among motorsport’s greats.

A dial where time stands still, yet speeds ahead

Executed in‑house at Chopard’s Manufacture in Fleurier by a master artisan enameller, the dial is a miniature painting in Grand Feu enamel. The composition foregrounds the iconic 312 PB and Ickx’s helmet with clarity, while blurred spectators convey the impression of speed — an effect rarely seen in this medium. Every colour choice and proportion has been refined to preserve legibility on this precious canvas. As a unique piece, it also exemplifies Chopard’s bespoke service: similar enamel dials can be commissioned on request, allowing clients to personalise subject and layout within the demanding art of specialised Artistic Crafts.

Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx said: “Racing is an emotion lived at speed. This watch slows time to a moment and lets that emotion endure.”

Encased in curves worthy of the racetrack

Crafted in 18-carat ethical white gold, the case combines purity of material with contemporary elegance. Its harmonious proportions and refined contours reflect Chopard’s pursuit of timeless sophistication, while polished and satin-brushed surfaces create a play of light that accentuates its architectural finesse. A sapphire crystal case back reveals a discreet tribute to endurance racing with Jacky Ickx’s autograph, meticulously reproduced alongside the inscription ‘1000 km de Spa 1972’. More than decoration, this engraving embodies the spirit of performance and resilience — values shared by motorsport legends and Haute Horlogerie as an artform. Complementing this tribute, the perforated black calfskin leather strap with black stitching and contrasting red fixing stitch is secured by an 18-carat ethical white gold pin buckle. Its design recalls the aesthetic codes of Chopard’s Classic Racing creations, with perforations evoking the look of vintage racing gloves and steering wheel grips — originally conceived to enhance breathability and comfort during high-speed drives.

A mighty horological engine

Behind its dial beats another powerful engine, the hand-wound L.U.C 98.06-L calibre, Chopard’s jumping-hour movement first presented in 2021. Thanks to Chopard’s exclusive Quattro technology and its four mainspring barrels stacked in pairs, it delivers an impressive eight-day power reserve while maintaining remarkable slimness at just 4.85 mm. This feat of micro-engineering is akin to a high-performance machine tuned for endurance and precision yet miniaturised to wristwatch scale. The Quattro construction ensures a steady torque flow across the entire reserve, a critical factor for the instantaneous energy release demanded by the jumping-hour display. Certified by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève, the entire watch is finished to exacting standards, as seen on the movement in the form of bridges adorned in Côtes de Genève and a circular-grained mainplate.

Karl‑Friedrich Scheufele, Co‑President of Chopard, said: “The L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ’72 unites Haute Horlogerie with a page of motorsport history, hand‑painted in enamel and powered by a calibre whose autonomy and precision honour the discipline of endurance racing.”

Chopard and the automotive world

Chopard has been World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Mille Miglia since 1988, a partnership born of Karl‑Friedrich Scheufele’s passion for classic cars. What’s more, he and Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx first drove the famous rally together in 1989, forging a friendship that continues to inspire Chopard’s creations to this day.

Beyond his legendary 1972 triumph, Jacky Ickx stands as a true motorsport icon. He claimed a record-breaking six victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1969 and 1982, secured 8 Formula One wins and 25 podium finishes, and tackled the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally no fewer than 14 times.