Collector interest in high-complication luxury watches continues to grow, yet options in the chiming watch category are often seen as stagnant. New luxury watch models rarely introduce meaningful innovation, while expectations for acoustic quality and mechanical safety keep rising. In this situation, making a purchase decision is not straightforward. Collectors want genuine innovation, not a repetition of older constructions.
The launch of the Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike answers that need. It is not merely a successor to the Full Strike, but a new step in developing a chiming timepiece that combines grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, minute repeater, and tourbillon in a single construction.
New Position in Chopard’s High-Complication Portfolio
The Grand Strike is not a reinterpretation of previous models. This edition marks Chopard’s entry into a level of production only carried out by a few renowned maisons. Its calibre required more than 11,000 hours of internal research and incorporates 10 technical patents. Five of these are completely new to this model.
COSC and Poinçon de Genève certifications further reinforce performance consistency and the brand’s standards of finishing. Chopard tested the sonnerie activation up to 62,400 times to simulate five years of use within three months.
Movement Architecture: L.U.C 08.03-L
The L.U.C 08.03-L calibre consists of 686 components. Its construction prioritizes an open dial layout, allowing elements such as the governor, hammers, and gear train to be clearly visible from the front. The one-minute tourbillon is positioned at six o’clock, equipped with a stop-seconds system for precise time setting.
The calibre uses two independent barrels: one for the timekeeping function with a 70-hour power reserve, and one for the striking mechanism with a minimum of 12 hours of power reserve in grande sonnerie mode.
Sapphire Monobloc Acoustic Technology
The main advantage of the Grand Strike lies in its gong construction, built as a single unit with the sapphire crystal. This design directs vibrations outward without losing energy through the case. Its square-profile gong produces richer and more stable resonance.
Chopard also added several safety mechanisms. The minute repeater cannot be activated when the crown is pulled out. The crown cannot be pulled out when the chiming mechanism is in operation. The mode can be changed even while the chiming is active without risk of damage.
Sonnerie Functions and Operation
The Grand Strike offers three modes:
- G: grande sonnerie
- P: petite sonnerie
- S: silence
The mode indicator is placed at twelve o’clock. The minute repeater is activated through a pusher integrated into the crown, while the mode selector sits on the right side of the case.
In grande sonnerie mode, the hours and quarters chime automatically. In petite sonnerie, the hours chime every 60 minutes and the quarters every 15 minutes. Silence mode disables automatic chiming, and the minute repeater only activates when requested.
43 mm White Gold Case with New L.U.C Aesthetics
The 43 mm case is crafted from ethical white gold. Its proportions follow the latest L.U.C design language, featuring a curved bezel, precisely integrated lugs, and a finely textured crown. Both sides of the movement are visible through sapphire crystal.
The model comes with two interchangeable alligator straps, each fitted with a white-gold folding clasp.
This watch is expected to be produced in only two units per year. The official price is CHF 780,000 or approximately SGD 1,618.
The Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike sets a new direction for the development of modern chiming watches. This release strengthens Chopard’s position as a manufacturer capable of uniting complex research, acoustic innovation, and haute horlogerie finishing in a single configuration.
