Chopard Watches

The history of Swiss watch house “Chopard” began 150 years ago. So, in 2010, the watch brand “Chopard L.U.C.” (Louis – Ulysse Chopard) marks its anniversary. In 1860, Louis-Ulysse Chopard established his workshop in Swiss village Sonvillier and proudly wrote his initials L.U.C. on the front of building. In the beginning the company was focused on the manufacture of high quality limited watches. In 1912, it worked up the watch markets of Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavian countries. Travel leads to orders increase. A high quality of Chopard products favours their popularity increase. The watch house becomes the main watch supplier for Swiss Railways, popular with its punctuality. In 1937 the watch house moves to Geneva – the capital of haute horlogerie. The brand “Chopard” contrasts high quality watches of famous Geneva watch brands with its less expensive products of not lower quality. In 60s Paul-Andre Chopard, Louis – Ulysse's grandson, started manufacture of jewelry watches. The collaboration with Karl Scheufele started. Karl also manufactured watches, but in German city Pforzheim. His products were provided with Swiss movements. However, it was difficult for the watch brand from Pforzheim to compete with Swiss wrist watch manufacturers. In 1963, Karl Scheufele owned the Chopard brand and promised Chopard family to keep high quality traditions of famous watch company. In 1972, the company moved to Meyrin, suburb of Geneva. The new leadership favored the future rise of company. New workshops, equipped with modern units for manufacture of high quality men and women watches. Karl and Karin Scheufele revived the watch brand “Chopard”. In 1985, the business was expanded. Their children – Caroline Gruozi- Scheufele and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele – united them. Today there are more than 450 models of Chopard watches and jewelries, made in various styles. The watch house pays much attention to “personal approach” principle. Nowadays Chopard is one the leading Swiss watch manufacturers. Specific attention is paid to the manufacture of “Haute Horlogerie” watches. Chopard moves forward, keeping priceless experience of famous craftsmen and jewelers generations, and enjoys achievements of watch progress. An indissoluble connection between the past and the present ensures the success of Chopard watch house. The designer of watch brand offered “free diamonds”. The watch case, allowing the diamonds between two sapphire glasses move freely, was designed. The idea was offered by the designer of watch brand – Ronald Kurowski. He was inspired by picturesque water drops falling from the rock. This idea was embodied in the models “Happy Diamonds”, “Happy Sport”. Chopard designs classic collections as well as sport collections of men and women wrist watches. Karl F. Chopard strives for correspondence of L.U.C. Chopard watch manufactory with level of high quality movements. The watch series “St.Moriz” present round watches with automatic movement and 100 m water resistance, which are called a “pioneer”, breaking traditions. In 1996, the watch manufactory “Chopard” launched its first Caliber L.U.C. 1,96 with automatic micro motor movement and 65 hours power reserve. In 2001 – Caliber L.U.C.- 3,97 with barrel-shaped automatic movement, based on Caliber 1,96. Later the watch movement with hand-wound caliber 1,02 with tourbillon was presented in the context of future advance into luxury world of Swiss watch art. In 2010, the watch manufactory drew attention by its experiment with ultra high frequency lever escapements. While testing the prototypes of such devices don’t cause any problems and require lubrication. The future of watch house “Chopard” is in good hands of Chopard-Scheufele family. Caroline Scheufele, the main designer of the watch company, creates new masterpieces, enriching the company’s palette. She designed the “Pushkin” jewelry collection, which was presented in the Palace of Yusupov in Saint-Petersburg. Karl Scheufele fights for technological innovations in the manufactory of watch movements. Chopard highly values the partnership. It is a partner of “Mille Miglia” race. Its map is engraved on back case of Chopard man wrist watch “Mille Miglia 2008 GTXL Chrono”. It collaborates with Fund of Jose Carreras – the watch model “L.U.C. Twin Jose Carreras”. The Chopard brand also produces the jewelry collection of wrist watches - High Jewellery, accessories (pens, bags, belts, silk handkerchiefs and ties, sunglasses), perfumes. The wrist watch cases are crafted in steel, titanium, pink gold (18 carats). The watches are provided with natural leather straps or metal bracelets. The hands are treated with superluminova, thanks to which they can be seen in the dark. The watch manufactory “Chopard” produces the collections of men and women classic watches, as well as sport watches with complicated watch functions. It issues the limited watch series (e.g. L.U.C. Chopard Tourbillon Tech Twist with open tourbillon in a number of 10 pieces). Wearing such accessories, you can feel yourself as a unique person. In 2010, Chopard didn’t only mark its 150th anniversary, but it marked 150 years of perfection, which it had been striving for. High quality, creativity, innovations, independence are credo of the brand. The collections of Chopard: CLASSIC RACING (Classic Racing, Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, Jacky Ickx Editio ,Mille Miglia GT XL) -L.U.C. -LADIES COLLECTION (Animal Word, Imperial, Happy Sport, Happy Diamonds,Happy Spirit, Happy Sport , Ice Cub, La Strada, Ladies Classic, Two o Ten, Your Hour) -ELTON JOHN. You can buy Chopard watches in its boutiques all over the world.