Chopard Imperiale Silver Dial Steel and Rose Gold Automatic Unisex Watch 388531-6004

The Happy Sport collection as born in 1993 from an idea dreamed by Caroline Scheufele, Chopard Co-President and Artistic Director: to create a sporty ladies' watches featuring an unusual association of steel and diamonds. The latter were to be mobile just like those of the Happy Diamonds watches that were first introduced in the 1970s. It was in 1976 that Chopard designer Ronald Kurowski developed a procedure making it possible to have diamonds moving freely across a watch dial - an idea inspired by a watching the sparkling drops of a waterfall. Convinced that diamonds needed to be released from their settings in order to shine as brightly as possible, he created the Happy Diamonds watch, consisting of a dial topped by two sapphire crystals between which diamonds could whirl and twirl in complete freedom. This invention was honoured with the Golden Rose of Baden-Baden, comparable to a jewellery-making "Oscar" award and attributed by German industry professionals.

While the first Happy Sport watch launched in 1993 featured a pure, classic style with its white dial, its Roman numerals and its minutes track randomly circled by seven round mobile diamonds, the many models that have followed over the course of more than 20 years illustrate the range of Chopard's creativity. Materials, shapes, colours, gemsettings and complications: Happy Sport models offer a kaleidoscope of daring, precious or playful variations, matched by an array of pretty names.

"A thousand and one variations"

In 1996, the Happy Beach, with its ocean colour and plastic strap, accentuated its aquatic look with three colourful little fish taking the place of the moving diamonds, whereas the Happy Sport Be Happy boldly combined a plastic case with diamonds. These models were quartz driven as indeed were all such models until 2013.
The Happy Sport La Vie en Rose launched in 1998 was luxuriously adorned with pink and white diamonds; motorsports joined the party in the Happy Sport Chrono Racing with its vibrant red colour; the "Cannes" model in 2005 was a reminder of Chopard's stature as official partner of the Film Festival and maker of the Palme d'Or; 2007 saw the arrival of a square case with the Happy Sport Square Medium; in 2008, black and white stripes enlivened the graphic lines of the Happy Sport "Zebra-Striped"; Chopard's 150^th anniversary in 2010 was marked by a deep blue model with a numeral-free dial swept around by three diamond stars; and in 2010, the Happy Sport Oval enriched the collection with an additional case shape.

Finally, for the 20^th anniversary of the collection in 2013, Chopard presented the Happy Sport Medium Automatic 36 mm, the first in the range to feature a mechanical movement. In addition, given that the sheer number of different elements created since 1993 can be combined in an infinite number of ways, an online application was introduced to enable everyone the opportunity of designing their very own watch by choosing the case, bezel, dial, moving diamonds and strap. Commenting on the launch of the Happy Sport app, Caroline Scheufele said: "We are celebrating the 20^th anniversary of this watch this year and it can now be personalised. It's an affordable luxury watch and women rarely have the opportunity to get a one-of-a-kind model in this price range."

The following year, the collection entered the world of Haute Horlogerie and Haute Joaillerie with the Happy Sport Tourbillon Joaillerie, entirely gem-set, driven by a L.U.C tourbillon movement produced by Chopard Manufacture and bearing both COSC and Poinçon de Geneve certifications. An exclusive and less affordable luxury…

And in 2015?

This year, the return of the trend towards small ladies' watches has been confirmed and the Happy Sport is no exception. Its 2015 interpretation come in several materials - steel, two-tone or pink gold - but a single 30 mm size. While smaller than the first mechanical model released in 2013, it nonetheless houses the same self-winding calibre as its predecessor. This movement powering central hours, minutes and seconds hands beats at a rate of 28,800 vph and has a 40-hour power reserve. The silver-toned dial featuring a central spiral guilloche motif is punctuated by four delightfully curved Roman numerals that are gilded or rhodium-plated according to the case versions. It naturally also welcomes five moving diamonds dancing in step with wrist movements and echoed by a blue sapphire on the watch crown, as well as a gem-set bezel on some variations. These models are fitted with a choice of steel, two-tone or pink gold bracelets, or an alligator leather strap.

The Happy Sport 30mm Automatic 2015 collection is crowned by a white or pink gold jewellery version entirely adorned with diamonds and graced with a mother-of-pearl dial as well as a full-set bracelet.