Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Ukiyo-e

The L.U.C XP Urushi Ukiyo-e timepiece represents an encounter between Swiss watchmaking excellence and ancient Japanese art. Issued in an eight-piece limited edition, this exceptional creation depicting Mount Fuji pays tribute to a work by Japanese master woodblock printmaker Katsushika Hokusai. Its unique dial is handcrafted by a master lacquerer using the traditional maki-e technique. Mount Fuji rises like a sacred entity in the very heart of Japan, with its perfect silhouette, visible from hundreds of kilometres away, epitomizing the power and stability of Mother Nature. It is the symbol of the nation, its identity and its culture. It was this legendary mountain that the great master of Japanese woodblock printmaking, Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), chose as the central subject of his most famous series: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. This series of prints revolutionized the art of ukiyo-e with its bold compositions and its ability to capture the essence of Japan through variations in light, seasons and perspectives. Among them, Tago Bay depicts a dynamic maritime scene: junks (traditional East Asian sailing ships) battle the currents of the bay, a fisherman casts his net into the waves, while the serene and immovable Mount Fuji dominates the scene from the background. This work was chosen to adorn the dial of the L.U.C XP Urushi Ukiyo-e model, on which Mount Fuji is placed in the upper section, away from the movement of the hands to ensure moments of pure and timeless contemplation. The remarkably refined case in 18-carat ethical yellow gold houses the L.U.C Calibre 96.41-L, featuring a 22-carat gold micro-rotor and a 65-hour power reserve. This superb creation illustrates a vision of watchmaking based on masterful craftsmanship, exquisite skills and a quest for perfection.