L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Straw Marquetry Edition

L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 - Straw Marquetry Edition

Artistic crafts sublimate a renowned horological complication from the Manufacture: a jumping-hour with an eight-day power reserve

Chopard introduces two new eight‑piece limited editions of the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25, showcasing the Maison’s mastery of artistic crafts and technical innovation. These exceptional timepieces unite the Chopard Manufacture’s jumping‑hour movement with dials adorned in an intricate straw marquetry motif. The first one is presented in 18‑carat ethical rose gold with a deep-blue straw dial. The second, in 18‑carat ethical yellow gold, welcomes a natural-colour straw dial – one that has known neither tinting nor alteration, which is used in its simplest, most authentic form.

The dial of each watch is a testament to the rare craft of straw marquetry that is perpetuated by Chopard Manufacture – requiring delicate handiwork whereby organic, fragile and demanding material is manipulated. Rye straw grown in France is carefully selected, each strand is individually split with a fingernail and assembled into a handmade honeycomb motif. The latter honours founder Louis‑Ulysse Chopard, who early on adopted the bee for its symbolic virtues – a creature celebrated for industriousness and humility, whose harmonious activity evokes that of a Manufacture working together like a hive. A jumping‑hour aperture positioned at 6 o’clock ensures uninterrupted legibility while preserving the purity of the dial.

Driven by the calibre L.U.C 98.06‑L, these editions embark the much‑admired jumping‑hour complication with characteristic Chopard ingenuity. The energy required for the instantaneous hour change is supplied by the exclusive Chopard Quattro technology, which places four stacked and series-coupled barrels in series to offer an outstanding power reserve of 192 hours. This solution ensures constant energy to the escapement, stable amplitude and excellent chronometric performance. The movement remains remarkably thin at just 4.85 mm and is equipped with a balance spring featuring a Phillips terminal curve as well as a swan’s‑neck regulator allowing precise adjustment.

The rounded 40 mm case, inspired by the hunter‑type pocket watches once crafted by Louis‑Ulysse Chopard, combine contemporary elegance with traditional codes of Haute Horlogerie. Visible through the transparent case-back, the refined architecture and finishing of the movement reflect Chopard’s uncompromising standards.

Each edition proudly bears the Poinçon de Genève, one of the watchmaking world’s most prestigious hallmarks. Reserved for timepieces assembled within the Canton of Geneva, it guarantees exceptional craftsmanship for both the movement and the case.

“As Chopard Manufacture celebrates its 30th anniversary, these two new L.U.C editions stand as finely crafted chapters in the ongoing story of the L.U.C collection, whose creations unite mechanical sophistication with an unwavering respect for artistic crafts” stated Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.

30 years of Chopard Manufacture Fleurier

Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier was founded in 1996 at the initiative of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (Co-president of Chopard), with the aim of preserving traditional Swiss watchmaking know-how while integrating major innovations.  Thanks to this process of vertical integration, the workshops maintain a high level of finishing and contribute to the preservation of artistic crafts and skills.

L.U.C collection

The L.U.C collection pays tribute to Louis-Ulysse Chopard: by adopting the initials of the founder of Chopard’s first workshops in 1860, it is rooted in a heritage of tradition and innovation. Chopard Manufacture’s first calibre, the L.U.C 96.01-L, marked the debut of the collection in 1996. The following year, this ultra-thin automatic movement with a micro-rotor powered the first L.U.C timepiece: the L.U.C 1860 model, named ‘Watch of the Year’ by the Swiss magazine Montres Passion/Uhrenwelt.

Since that first calibre, all L.U.C movements have been designed, developed, and produced by Chopard Manufacture. The collection has expanded with innovative timepieces and today offers all the major complications in watchmaking. It upholds the values of certified watchmaking, combining high precision with the finest degree of hand finishing.
The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève acknowledged the excellence of the collection by awarding its most prestigious distinction, the Aiguille d’Or, to the L.U.C Full Strike minute repeater in 2017. As Chopard Manufacture Fleurier celebrates its 30th anniversary, the collection goes even further with the L.U.C Grand Strike – a grande sonnerie watch — that is its most complex timepiece ever produced.

The art of straw marquetry

Chopard Manufacture is one of the rare Maisons to practise straw marquetry internally, a centuries‑old decorative craft that requires patience, precision and a mastery of miniature composition. The process begins with rye straw sourced from Burgundy, chosen for its natural sheen. Each strand is split, flattened and cut into minuscule pieces before being assembled into a motif using a scalpel and glue. Variations in thickness, shade and orientation create depth, while a final wax coating enhances the material’s brilliance. This artisanal technique expresses the Maison’s dedication to preserving rare artistic crafts.

Chopard Quattro technology

Chopard Quattro technology is an exclusive system comprising four stacked and series‑coupled barrels, providing 1.885 metres of spring within the movement. This configuration allows for extended autonomy (up to 216 hours / 9 days) and delivers a more constant flow of energy to the escapement. Improved stability of amplitude results in enhanced chronometric performance, making it one of the most effective high‑autonomy systems in contemporary Haute Horlogerie.

L.U.C jumping‑hour

The L.U.C 98.06‑L calibre is a manually wound movement combining a traditional jumping‑hour complication with exceptional precision engineering and an impressive 192-hour / 8-day power reserve. The instantaneous jump requires a significant release of energy at the top of each hour; a challenge resolved with exclusive Chopard Quattro technology. Measuring just 4.85 mm thick, the movement integrates a balance spring with a Phillips terminal curve and a swan’s‑neck regulator for fine adjustment. Its architecture reflects both technical sophistication and refined aesthetics.

Poinçon de Genève

The Poinçon de Genève is an independent certification applied to the movement and to the entire watch. Introduced in 1886, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious distinctions in Swiss watchmaking. It imposes strict criteria regarding reliability, craftsmanship, and provenance (assembly, adjustment, and casing must be carried out within the Canton of Geneva).