Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike Watch Review
Today, at Dubai Watch Week 2025, Chopard unveils the L.U.C Grand Strike, the brand’s ‘most complicated chiming watch to date’. As Chopard Manufacture celebrates nearly 30 years of crafting exquisite timepieces, it demonstrates its highly impressive technical capabilities. This latest exemplar of Haute Horlogerie, the result of more than 11,000 hours of research and development, features a tourbillon, minute repeater, grande sonnerie and petite sonnerie. According to Angus Davies, this extraordinary watch serves as a lasting legacy for all those individuals involved in its creation.
Image – Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike
Chopard Manufacture (1996)
Chopard Manufacture opened its doors in 1996 and shortly after, it unveiled its inaugural movement, the L.U.C 1.96 ( L.U.C calibre 96.01-L). The following year (1997), this self-winding movement featured within a new watch, the L.U.C 1860, a sublime creation bearing the prestigious Poinçon de Genève. Blessed with refined finishing, restrained proportions and classical styling, the watch continues to proffer eye-appeal almost 30 years later.
Since it was founded, Chopard Manufacture has produced an impressive body of work, drawing on the skills and expertise of its workforce. It’s a legacy which every member of staff should be proud of. However, one thing is clear: Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, along with several members of his team, have never rested on their laurels. On the contrary, they have continuously sought to make watches, some imbued with innovative technology, that push the envelope of Haute Horlogerie. Indeed, the Maison has repeatedly employed avant-garde materials, including cases formed of sapphire crystal and movements featuring silicium components.
The Swiss marque has shown itself to be both highly ambitious and incredibly versatile, conceiving watches endued with a variety of complications such as chronographs, worldtimers, perpetual calendars, etc. But most of all, it has gained an enviable reputation for crafting some of the finest chiming watches on the market.
Image – Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike
Chiming watches
Thumb through the annals of watchmaking history and you will see that both Edward Barlow and Daniel Quare are credited with inventing the quarter repeater, although it was Quare who received a patent for the mechanism in 1687. This complication chimes hours and quarters on demand. The half-quarter repeater, chiming hours and half-quarters, arrived some years later.
The minute repeater, a complication often coveted by watch aficionados, is widely believed to have originated in Germany (circa 1720). Using a slide on the side of the case, the owner can actuate a chiming sequence comprising hours, quarters and minutes.
Grande Sonnerie (grand strike)
Around 1850, Patek Philippe produced the first ‘grande sonnerie’ pocket watch, the ultimate chiming watch. When a grande sonnerie is activated, the watch will chime throughout the day, indicating the hours (low pitch note) and quarter hours (high pitch note) ‘en passant’ (in passing).
To mitigate energy consumption, the watch can also be set to the ‘petite sonnerie’ mode. In this mode, only the hour is chimed on the hour with just the quarters being struck in between (15, 30 and 45 minutes). Alternatively, the watch can be set to ‘silent’ when absolute quiet is essential eg when sleeping. More often than not, a Grand Sonnerie is also equipped with a minute repeater.
Philippe Dufour unveiled the first Grande Sonnerie wristwatch in 1992. The legendary watchmaker miniaturised the remarkably complex mechanism, previously the preserve of pocket watches, and housed it within a case measuring just 42.94 mm in diameter.
Image – Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike
Chopard x chiming watches
Chopard’s first foray into the world of chiming watches took place in 2006 with the release of the L.U.C Strike One. This model features a single steel gong, fringing the dial, along with a lone hammer positioned at 12:30. With the watch set in the strike position, indicated with a quaver symbol on the dial, the hammer strikes the gong every hour, on the hour. The striking mechanism can be disabled, a useful feature when visiting a library! Measuring a modest 40.5 mm in diameter, the watch proves eminently wearable. Moreover, in common with all Chopard L.U.C models equipped with a seconds indication, the L.U.C Strike One is COSC-certified. This latter detail is worthy of note as many chiming watches quaff energy, potentially compromising precision. Interestingly, the L.U.C Strike One is equipped with twin barrels, delivering a power-reserve of approximately 65 hours.
In 2016, Chopard reimagined the minute repeater with the unveiling of the L.U.C Full Strike. This model eschewed conventional steel gongs, instead employing a highly innovative sapphire crystal gong. The sides of the sapphire gong are stepped and feature a flat surface, rather than the customary round cross-section typical of conventional steel gongs. With the sapphire monobloc technology, the sound is driven towards the exterior of the watch and is not dissipated by the movement or case. The resultant chimes are highly audible, crisp yet rich.
Beyond its dulcet tones, this watch is blessed with a prepossessing appearance, revealing many of its intricately shaped components. The hammers are freely shown and accompany the chiming soundtrack with a spectacular visual performance.
Where the case material sometimes alters the quality of the sound produced, no such issues afflict a watch featuring a sapphire crystal gong. In fact, whether the case is formed of gold, titanium, sapphire crystal or platinum, a sonorous recital is guaranteed. The L.U.C Full Strike also comes with the independent reassurance of COSC certification and bears the prestigious hallmark of the Poinçon de Genève. The brilliance of the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike was recognised by a jury of experts at the GPHG (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) back in 2017 when the watch won the ultimate prize, the ‘Aiguille d’Or’.
The L.U.C Strike One mentioned above has been updated and is now equipped with a sapphire crystal gong. In 2022, the Maison united two high complications, a minute repeater and a tourbillon, again using its proprietary sapphire crystal gongs.
Image – Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike
Now, Chopard has chosen to go even further in its quest to create the ultimate chiming watch, unveiling its first Grande Sonnerie. However, this being Chopard, the Manufacture has also added a tourbillon, a clear demonstration of the company’s ambition and ability.
Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike – introduction
Having met Karl-Friedrich Scheufele on many occasions, I can attest he’s both an astute businessman and an avid watch collector. Indeed, Chopard Manufacture plays host to the L.U.CEUM, a private museum containing numerous historic clocks and watches. With a keen appreciation for historical timepieces, especially their design and craftsmanship, Mr Scheufele has always sought to craft contemporary watches imbued with the same attributes.
Having decided to create a Grand Sonnerie, Mr Scheufele assembled a team of highly talented individuals to make his dream a reality. It required more than 11,000 hours of research and development before the Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike was realised. The specification of the watch includes ‘ten proprietary technical patents – five of which were newly developed for this timepiece – making it the most complex watch ever created by Chopard Manufacture.’
Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike – dial
The L.U.C Grand Strike forgoes a conventional dial to reveal a multitude of components usually hidden from view. Facetted dauphine-fusée hands, formed of 18-carat ethical white gold, enunciate the hours and minutes, while a chemin de fer, engraved on the sapphire crystal, frames the scene.
The tourbillon, located at 6 o’clock, is secured with a stainless steel bridge that’s mirror-polished to a resplendent gleam. A white gold small seconds hand sits atop the tourbillon cage, indicating the running seconds. As L.U.C convention dictates, the presence of a seconds indication means the L.U.C Grand Strike is subject to the scrutiny of COSC. The timepiece features a stop-seconds function, allowing the wearer to synchronise the timepiece with a reference clock/watch.
The model is equipped with two barrels, one for the time indications and the other for the strikework. The available power held within these barrels is shown on a concentric display at 2 o’clock. A strikework mode indicator shows whether the watch is in Grande Sonnerie (G), Petite Sonnerie (P) or silent mode (S). A centrifugal governor, located at 8 o’clock, spins during the chiming sequence, ensuring the cadence of each strike is of uniform length.
However, in my opinion, the most enchanting aspect of this watch is the movement’s choreographed dance, performed during the aural recital. ‘Levers descend, cams extend and racks advance’ before the hammers strike the crystal gongs and the musical recital begins.
Image – L.U.C Caliber 08.03-L (the chime system)
Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike – case
The L.U.C Grand Strike is housed in a 43 mm bassiné case formed of 18-carat ethical white gold. The highly polished bezel is concave, gently swooping down towards the case middle. The curved sides of the case are endowed with a vertical satin-brushed finish, save for the integrated strikework pusher which is presented in highly polished form.
Upholding fine watchmaking practice, the lugs are welded to the case. This allows the Manufacture to imbue the lugs with beautifully defined contours. The caseback is highly polished and incorporates a pane of sapphire crystal affording views of the hand-wound movement, the calibre L.U.C 08.03-L.
The crown is a multi-talented performer. In addition to being used for adjusting the hours and minutes, hacking the seconds and energising both barrels (by turning the crown clockwise/counterclockwise), it also features an integrated strikework pusher, allowing the wearer to activate the minute repeater. Chopard has expended much energy to ensure the L.U.C Grand Strike performs flawlessly again and again. For instance, the crown-pusher has been tested ‘3000 times to ensure the movement can stand up to prolonged use.’
The sapphire crystal is carved from a boule of monocrystalline aluminium oxide. This incredibly hard material, surpassed only by diamond on the Mohs scale, is challenging to work with; hence, great care is needed when processing the material. When a watch case is made of sapphire, it is extensively polished to a resplendent gleam. However, with the sapphire monobloc, the polishing is mainly restricted to the upper surfaces. This is because the Maison does not wish to alter the sound by polishing the flanks of the sapphire. In fact, the artisans at Chopard Manufacture exercise great care when polishing the crystal not to compromise its acoustic qualities.
Prospective purchasers have a choice of two interchangeable straps: a hand-sewn grey alligator leather strap with grey alligator lining, or a hand-sewn blue alligator leather strap with blue alligator lining. The watch secures to the wrist with a polished and satin-brushed 18-carat white gold folding clasp, engraved with the L.U.C logo.
Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike – calibre L.U.C 08.03-L
At the heart of this horological tour de force sits the calibre L.U.C 08-03-L. Comprising 686 movement components, it is ‘the most complex watch created in the history of the Manufacture.’ As previously stated, the model features ten patents, including security mechanisms. Some minute repeaters produced by rival marques have been damaged as a consequence of the wearer adjusting the time during a sequence of chimes. Rest assured, the Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike has this covered.
When the watch chimes, there is a welcome absence of mechanical noise. No annoying buzzing or whirring, just a crystal clear recital. Consider the chime, 34 components awaken within 0.03 seconds and orchestrate the performance of hammers and gongs.
Assuming the watch is fully wound, the ‘sonnerie barrel provides 12 hours of uninterrupted function when in the chime-intensive grande sonnerie mode.’ The main barrel, powering the time indications, will run autonomously for 70 hours.
Image – Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike – fitting the inertia flywheel (centrifugal governor)
Recently, I spoke to Florent Zufferey, ‘Constructeur Mouvements’ at Chopard, the gentleman responsible for many of the L.U.C Grand Strike’s patented inventions. I was amazed to hear about the exhaustive testing of prototypes. For example, the in-house testing of the L.U.C Grand Strike ‘involves 62,400 activations of the sonnerie (half in each sonnerie mode) in an accelerated process that simulates five years of wear in just three months.’
I also had the opportunity to enquire of Monsieur Zufferey about fine-tuning the sound. With conventional steel gongs, the Master watchmaker gently files the gongs to achieve the desired sound. However, with the sapphire monobloc, the gongs are not adjusted, instead the tension of the hammers are fine-tuned to achieve the perfect sound. It seems Chopard has thought of everything!
The Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike repeatedly seduces the purist with its ultra-desirable specification. For example, the bridges and mainplate are formed from German silver (aka maillechort). This hard alloy of copper, nickel and zinc is not liable to corrode, obviating the need for plating. However, its use requires the watchmaker to exercise great care at all times. A momentary lapse in concentration can result in a fingerprint being left on the surface of the material. If the part is not removed and thoroughly cleaned, that trace of human contact will ultimately develop into an unsightly mark. However, the reason why German silver is highly prized by watch collectors is that it acquires a beautiful patina over time.
The bridges are adorned with Côtes de Genève motif and enriched with gleaming anglage. The jewels and screws reside in polished sinks, the mainplate is decorated with perlage and there are no traces of machining to be seen. Lastly, the L.U.C Grand Strike meets all of the onerous requirements of the Poinçon de Genève.
Closing remarks
Recently, I attended a small gathering where Chopard unveiled the L.U.C Grand Strike. The presentation was accompanied by a press release, comprising 11 pages. Although I have written about watches for many years, I have never received such an abundance of information; a telltale sign that this model brims with a multitude of features. Indeed, despite my best endeavours, I have probably omitted one or two details; mea culpa!
By its own admission, Chopard states this timepiece is its most complicated chiming watch to date. There seem to be few areas that have not been exhaustively considered. Having listened to it chime, I was struck (pun intended) by its incomparable sound. Warm, crystal clear with a welcome absence of metallic clatter or abruptness, it is the sweetest chiming watch I’ve ever heard.
As a fiftysomething, I can see my 60th birthday looming large and often contemplate what my legacy will be. I reflect on Reuben’s art, Mozart’s concertos and, as you would expect of a watch obsessive, Breguet’s many inventions. There is a sad realisation that my existence will leave no mark on history. I will forever remain envious of those gifted Master watchmakers and artisans who create peerless expressions of Haute Horlogerie; the brilliance of their work will continue to shine long after their passing.
The Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike is the Swiss brand’s magnum opus and stands as a testament to the talented individuals involved in its creation; a legacy that should be respected.
Further reading
https://www.chopard.com/en-gb/
Technical Specification
- Model: Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike
- Reference: 161994-1001
- Case: ethical 18-carat white gold, diameter 43 mm, height 14.08 mm, sapphire crystal to front and exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon cage, grande sonnerie and petite sonnerie, minute repeater, strikework mode indicator, concentric display of the watch and strikework power reserves at 2 o’clock, stop-seconds function
- Movement: Chopard L.U.C calibre 08.03-L, hand-wound movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 67 jewels, power reserve of 70 hours, chronometer-certified (COSC), Poinçon de Genève
- Strap: interchangeable straps offered in hand-sewn grey alligator leather with grey alligator lining, or hand-sewn dark blue alligator leather with dark blue alligator lining. Folding clasp in polished and satin-brushed 18-carat ethical white gold, engraved with L.U.C logo
- Price: CHF 780,000 (RRP as of 19.11.2025)