Chopard - Fleurier Ebauches
WORLDTEMPUS - 5 March 2012
Fleurier Ebauches saw the light of day in 2007 thanks to L.U.C.'s need for as ebauches. This move not only increased Chopard's verticalization, but also opens doors to the continued prospect of exciting developments that one may not have necessarily anticipated.
The name Fleurier Ebauches is in fact a nod to the rich watchmaking history of the town where Chopard deposited its first factory expressly created for making movements. The current Chopard Manufacture building at number 20 on Rue des Moulins once housed Fleurier's Fabrique d'Ebauches, which was in business between 1920 and 1932.
The original goal of Fleurier Ebauches was to supply movement blanks to the Chopard group, thus increasing the production of mechanical Chopard watches, particularly in the brand's sports watch segment. By 2014, the aim is to reach a production rate of 12,000 units per year.
The Fleurier ebauche
At Baselworld opening on Thursday, Fleurier Ebauches Caliber 01.04-C launches within a timepiece from the Classic line: an elegant, understated 38 mm gold Belle epoque-style timepiece called Classic Manufactum. This caliber is an automatic three-handed movement with instantaneous date change and hacking seconds boasting more than 60 hours of power reserve and beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph.
L.U.C. makes a show
The L.U.C Lunar One Grande Complication model, a perpetual calendar with an orbital moon-phase display, is the first model to launch exhibiting the line's new aesthetic: the 43 mm case in 18-karat rose gold is more curvaceous than its predecessor with polished and satin-brushed lugs that have been entirely redesigned and a slenderer crown. Endowed with 70 hours of power reserve, Geneva Seal-stamped automatic Caliber L.U.C 96.13-L drives an incredibly elegant perpetual calendar.
Additionally, a full-set Imperiale tourbillon powered by hand-wound L.U.C. Caliber 02.14-L makes its debut this week at Baselworld. The caliber, outfitted with the L.U.C. Quattro technology - meaning there are two sets of stacked, serially operating spring barrels - is good for 216 hours (9 days) of energy. The 42 mm 18-karat white gold case is fully snow-set with baguette- and briolette-cut diamonds in addition to brilliant-cut diamonds of varying diameters.