Chopard: Inspirations from Japan - Artistic Crafts in Time

A poetic dialogue between Swiss horology and Japanese artistry.

In the world of haute horlogerie, few names resonate with the same quiet authority as Chopard. This year, the Maison turns its gaze eastward, unveiling Inspirations from Japan – Artistic Crafts in Time: a captivating series of L.U.C timepieces that pay tribute to the profound artistry and spiritual heritage of Japan.

For Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chopard’s Co-President, the connection runs deep. For more than four decades, his personal bond with Japan has evolved from admiration to artistic collaboration — a relationship rooted in respect for the nation’s devotion to perfection. In Japanese craftsmanship, he found a kindred spirit: an unwavering pursuit of excellence through patience, discipline, and grace.

The result is an exclusive collection that unites the precision of Swiss watchmaking with the soul of Japanese tradition, expressed through Chopard’s most refined L.U.C creations. Each piece is not merely a watch — it is a meditation in miniature, where ancient savoir-faire meets the heartbeat of contemporary design.

L.U.C Full Strike Spirit of the Warrior

In a powerful ode to the samurai spirit, Chopard presents the L.U.C Full Strike Spirit of the Warrior — a singular masterpiece that fuses moral philosophy with mechanical brilliance. Every engraved motif, every polished surface, speaks to the honor and discipline of the Japanese warrior. Beneath its striking artistry lies the hand-decorated L.U.C 08.01-L minute repeater movement, celebrated for its crystal-clear chime and the Poinçon de Genève hallmark. It is not simply a watch that tells time — it tells a story of valor, restraint, and spiritual strength.

Each model is a convergence of East and West — the meticulous patience of enamelwork meeting the technological brilliance of Chopard’s Quattro Calibre 98.06-L, boasting an eight-day power reserve. Presented in 18-carat ethical gold, these limited editions of just eight pieces each are radiant tributes to resilience, introspection, and the eternal circle of renewal.

L.U.C XP Urushi Ukiyo-e

In a breathtaking homage to the art of Urushi lacquer, Chopard reveals the L.U.C XP Urushi Ukiyo-e. Its dial depicts Mount Fuji, immortalized in the serene lines of Katsushika Hokusai, crafted by hand using the ancient maki-e technique. Each stroke of lacquer, fleck of gold dust, and layer of polish speaks of timeless patience.Encased in 18-carat ethical yellow gold, it houses the L.U.C Calibre 96.41-L — an ultra-thin marvel with a 22-carat gold micro-rotor and a 65-hour power reserve. Limited to just eight pieces, it captures the delicate balance between nature and eternity.

L.U.C Quattro Spirit Enso, Samurai Last Stand & Meditating Daruma

Three timepieces, three philosophies — all connected by Chopard’s jumping-hour movement and the mesmerizing mastery of Grand Feu enamel.The L.U.C Quattro Spirit Enso, Samurai Last Stand, and Meditating Daruma reinterpret Japanese iconography through the delicate hand of a single artisan working within Chopard Manufacture.

L.U.C XP Nihontō 

Inspired by the forging of the legendary Japanese sword, the L.U.C XP Nihontō reveals a dial born from damascened steel, recalling the sacred Tamahagane of the samurai era. Its layered surface — composed of up to 160 sheets of steel — creates hypnotic, wave-like patterns that evoke both fire and impermanence.This 25-piece limited edition is powered by the L.U.C 96.41-L movement, graced once again by the Poinçon de Genève. It is a dialogue between steel and silence — a tribute to strength refined through restraint.

L.U.C XP Sakura by Night

Finally, the L.U.C XP Sakura by Night captures a fleeting vision of cherry blossoms beneath the moonlight. The dial, an exquisite composition of guilloché, mother-of-pearl, translucent lacquer, and openworked gold, glimmers softly, evoking petals floating in the dark. Diamond accents lend it celestial radiance, while beneath lies the L.U.C 96.23-L movement, decorated with Fleurisanne engraving on white gold bridges and a micro-rotor.An eight-piece limited edition, it is the embodiment of Chopard’s philosophy: beauty born of impermanence, art shaped by time.

A Meeting of Worlds

Through this luminous series, Chopard celebrates more than fine watchmaking — it celebrates the meeting of cultures, philosophies, and artistic lineages. Each L.U.C timepiece becomes a vessel of dialogue between Swiss precision and Japanese spirit, between the mastery of the hand and the poetry of the soul.

In these watches, time is not merely measured — it is contemplated.