Chopard Happy Sport Lepidolite Watch Review
The famous dancing diamonds of Chopard animate the dial of a new limited-edition Happy Sport model featuring a lepidolite dial. Meehna Goldsmith, wordsmith extraordinaire, begins by exploring the Genevan marque’s fondness for freely moving diamonds before examining a new timepiece for 2025, dressed in arresting shades of lilac.
Happy Diamonds – Ronald Kurowski
Happiness is a powerful emotion in creating a satisfying and fulfilling life. According to scientific research, experiencing happiness can contribute to improved relationships and mental and physical well-being. In addition, it can lead to better social connections, improve job satisfaction and enhance longevity. With all these attributes, who wouldn’t want to feel happy?
Inspiration for happiness can come from many places, including nature, music, acts of gratitude, creativity and self-expression. I dare say it can also come from a diamond or two. Debasish Mridha, a Bangladeshi American physician, poet, philosopher and philanthropist, said, “Joy is a diamond in the heart that shines through the eyes.” And so it was in 1976 for Ronald Kurowski, Chopard’s decorator and designer.
While walking through the Black Forest, Kurowski came across sunlight reflected off a waterfall. Delighted by the rainbow of colours in the droplets, he wondered how he could translate this playful display into an enduring experience. His idea was to place moving diamonds between two sapphire crystals, setting each stone in a gold bezel with a bevelled base, enticing them to freely spin around the dial.
The very first Happy Diamonds watch debuted that same year as a one-of-a-kind piece. It was entered in the Golden Rose of Baden-Baden competition, where it won the top award. Upon first laying eyes on Kurowski’s novel concept, Karin Scheufele exclaimed, “These diamonds are happier because they are free”. At the time, Karin and her husband, Karl Scheufele III, managed the company on a day-to-day basis before passing the mantle to their children, Caroline and Karl-Friedrich.
Originally designed for men, the Happy Diamonds watch took the form of a tonneau-shaped case in gold with a cluster of 30 diamonds twirling around the black backdrop of the dial. Little did Chopard know that the public reception would be so enthusiastic that customers would demand their own Happy Diamonds watch. Ultimately, the watch became a best seller and is now considered a signature of the brand.
A clown featuring Happy Diamonds (1985)
In 1985, the Happy Diamonds watch inspired a teenage girl to create a sketch of a clown with a tummy replete with a combination of 6 floating diamonds and coloured stones. That girl was Caroline Scheufele, daughter of Karin and Karl. This whimsical clown soon became the brand’s mascot and also marked the beginning of the Maison’s move towards making jewellery. Caroline Scheufele, now co-president and artistic director of Chopard, became the heart and soul of the Maison’s modern and elegant aesthetic that continues to hold a tantalising glamour.
Chopard Happy Sport (1993)
In the early 1990s, Caroline further expanded upon the Happy Diamonds concept by designing a watch that brought the ballet of diamonds above the watch dial instead of encircling it. Introduced in 1993, the Happy Sport watch was the first model to combine diamonds with stainless steel. It was presented on a ‘pebble’ link bracelet and dressed up with cabochon-cut sapphires on the lugs and crown, perfectly embodying the freedom and independence of women of the era.
Chopard Happy Sport Lepidolite (2025)
Throughout the years, the iconic Happy Sport watch has gone through many iterations and splashes of colour. This year marks the introduction of the free-twirling diamonds paired with a lilac-hued lepidolite stone dial, further expanding Chopard’s use of stones in its collection, such as opal, malachite and tiger’s eye. Some people believe stones are imbued with emotion, and the natural stone lepidolite symbolises serenity and calm. Lepidolite possesses a natural scaly texture that reflects a spectrum of purple colour. To highlight these colours, the watch features an amethyst set in the crown and is finished off with a lilac alligator leather strap secured with an 18-carat gold pin buckle.
Crafted in ethically sourced 18-carat gold, the 33 mm case of the Happy Sport Lepidolite follows the principles of the harmonic golden ratio and is crowned with a bezel emblazoned with diamonds. Gilded Roman numerals sit adjacent to a white minute track and collaborate with cone-shaped gilded hours and minutes hands to keep time. A gilded baton-type central sweep-seconds hand glides round the dial, completing the tally of functions. Inside the case beats the in-house manufactured Chopard self-winding 09.01-C that also adheres to the golden ratio. The movement is attractively finished with Côtes de Genève adorning the oscillating mass and bridges. It has a 42-hour power reserve and can be seen ticking through the sapphire case back.
The Chopard Happy Sport Lepidolite, a limited edition of 25 pieces, provides a dramatic theatre for dancing diamonds to sparkle and play. It’s a striking addition to the collection that’s sure to bring a smile to your lips. Does anyone care to dance?
Further reading
https://www.chopard.com/en-gb/
Technical specification
- Model: Chopard Happy Sport Lepidolite
- Reference: 275378-5010
- Case: Ethical 18-carat rose gold, diameter 33 mm, height 10.98 mm, water resistance 3 ATM (30 metres), sapphire crystal to front and exhibition case back
- Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds
- Movement: Chopard Calibre 09.01-C, self-winding movement, frequency 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz), 27 jewels, power reserve 42 hours
- Strap:glossy lilac-toned alligator leather strap fitted with a pin buckle in ethical 18-carat gold
- Price: £26,700 (RRP as of 15.5.2025)