Within the value system of the L.U.C. collection, elegance is not merely an aesthetic approach. It encompasses rectitude, ethics and respect for the causes that preserve our living environment. Chopard has been pursuing its Journey towards Sustainable Luxury through numerous initiatives, since 2013, and with the L.U.C XPS Spirit of Nature unveils a new timepiece that matches words with actions.
 

Read like a gentle breeze blowing through the foliage of an oak-lined avenue, time becomes a delight on the dial of this new model, available in a 100-piece limited edition. Achieved with stamping, this rarely used leaf pattern evokes the strength of the tree and the value of Earth's creations.
 

Echoing the ode to nature embodied by this precious new object, the L.U.C XPS Spirit of Nature is carved from a block of ethical ‘Fairmined’ certified gold. This is mined responsibly in artisanal mines, in which miners and the environment are properly treated, and to which Chopard pays a special premium. To date, Chopard is the world's largest purchaser of ethical ‘Fairmined’ certified gold. Since 2018, the Maison has extended the use of gold from responsible sources – including ‘Fairmined’ certified gold – to all its watch and jewellery production.

Because ethics and aesthetics cannot be combined without the additional charm of technique, L.U.C XPS Spirit of Nature is equipped with an ultra-thin L.U.C 96.12-L calibre, enabling the watch to measure just 7.2 mm thick. Finished according to the highest standards of Chopard Manufacture, this movement is wound by an engraved 22-carat gold micro-rotor, which supplies two stacked barrels in accordance with the patented Chopard Twin Technology. Together these guarantee a running time of 65 hours.
 

In addition, the L.U.C 96.12-L calibre beats with certified precision, a personal requirement of Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, who is committed to the chronometric accuracy of L.U.C. models with small seconds displays – such as L.U.C XPS Spirit of Nature –all certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Control (COSC).

A careful selection process has been applied to the strap of the L.U.C XPS Spirit of Nature to ensure it is environmentally friendly. Made of alligator leather certified by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) designed to protect endangered wildlife species against over-exploitation through trade, this has been subjected to an all-vegetable tanning process, based on the bark of trees such as oak or hazelnut, and is of course chromium-free.
 

Biodegradable tannins such as these produce more natural tones, which acquire a patina over time. The deep green shade on the visible side of the strap, and cognac-coloured lining are enhanced by dark green topstitching on both sides.