Chopard L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon

In the horological world, the fusion of gold and lacquer is rarely seen and even less frequently mastered. The L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon is an artisanal expression of luck and prosperity which marks the Chinese zodiac cycle. The dragon was the earliest creature to appear in Chinese myths and legends, representing imperial authority, wealth, fertility and auspiciousness. The new Year of the Dragon starts on February 10^th 2024. 

According to tradition, the legendary first Emperor of China, Huangdi – who reigned from c.2700-2600 BCE – incorporated various creatures in his coat of arms as he conquered neighbouring tribes and was the one who ultimately created the image which would become the forerunner of the Chinese dragon we know today. 

Greatly inspired by these traditions, Chopard’s L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon boasts a 39.5 mm ethical 18-carat rose gold case, while the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L calibre with micro-rotor ensures that a slender profile of just 6.80 mm can be maintained. It mingles technical savoir-faire and artistic flair delivered by Chopard Manufacture. Its dial is a piece of art, skilfully decorated with Urushi lacquer, gold powder and mother-of-pearl inlays. For the 12^th year running in the Chopard Urushi story, the dial has been hand-crafted in Japan by a world-renowned artisan specialising in the Maki-e technique.