Chopard’s prized Urushi series just acquired a horsey new addition. 2014 being the year of the Horse as per the Chinese Calender, the brand has honored it with L.U.C XP, an extremely refined ultra-thin model.
Incidentally, it reinvents the traditional Japanese art of lacquer painting. The extremely elegant watch will launch in 2014. The dial of this special Maki-e art L.U.C XP Urushi Edition is adorned with a horse motif using the Urushi technique of lacquering. The case is 18kt rose gold and the timepiece is graced with gilt dauphine-type hour and minute hands. The watch body is very slim, measuring 39.5 mm in diameter and 6.8 mm in thickness.
It is powered by a by a mechanical self-winding movement, L.U.C Calibre 96.17-L, that runs on 65-hour power reserve and is hand decorated by the House artisans. It features an off-centered micro-rotor and Chopard’s Twin Technology or two stacked barrels. The bridges are adorned with Côtes de Genève decoration.The watch is mounted on a hand-sewn black alligator with an 18kt rose gold pin buckle and is water resistant to 30 meters.
Even the box is a dedicated spectacle, decorated using Urushi techniques. Black on the outside and Maki-e gold on the inside, it comes complete with a silk fastening cord and is shaped like an octagon, the oriental symbol of happiness.
