Chopard L.U.C XP Nihontō

At the confluence of Swiss Haute Horlogerie and Japanese craftsmanship, Chopard unveils a limited edition of 25 L.U.C XP Nihontō timepieces. Paying vibrant tribute to the ancestral art of Japanese sword-making, the dial of this exceptional creation is sculpted from damascened steel using a method inspired by Tamahagane, the traditional steel used for nihontō (Japanese swords). Produced from sponge iron heated to over 1000°C, this rare material is then selected, stacked and welded by hammering, layer after layer, in a demanding forging process. More than just a weapon, a sacred sword is considered the soul of the samurai – and Tamahagane thus becomes the physical incarnation of a philosophy based on honor, loyalty, discipline and courage. It takes years of mastery to craft nihontō. Crafted at the Corcelles forge in Neuchâtel by an artisan who has devoted several decades to mastering Japanese forging techniques, this dial contains between 120 and 160 layers of steel, each of them bearing the memory of fire and movement. The resulting moiré patterns (waves and undulations) evoke the flowing lines of sacred swords. Its refined aesthetic is complemented by the precision of the ultra-thin L.U.C 96.41-L movement, featuring a 22-carat gold micro-rotor and a 65-hour power reserve. Bearing the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, this creation embodies the excellence of the Chopard Manufacture, which masters the full range of watchmaking skills in-house and is committed to preserving artistic crafts. A rare work of art blending ancestral craftsmanship with contemporary innovation.