Chopard Imperiale White Gold Watch review
Chopard Imperiale White Gold (Ref. 385392-1001), garnered many admiring glances on the first day of Watches & Wonders 2024. This feminine watch, housed in 18-carat white gold, showcases the Geneva-based firm’s extraordinary artisanal prowess.
Chopard Haute Joaillerie
Chopard is renowned for its high jewellery collection. Refined and elegant, it never ceases to amaze with exciting designs and riveting use of gems. The collection never plays it safe, pushing the boundaries to engender exquisite and unique pieces. Since 1998, the Maison has been the Official Partner of the Cannes Film Festival, a place where dreams and imagination flourish. Each year, Chopard unveils the Red Carpet Collection, gracing the stars in stunning creations. The mastermind behind this collection is Caroline Scheufele, the Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard.
Chopard Imperiale depuis 2010
Scheufele brings the same invigorating and fanciful creativity to the Imperiale timepiece collection, one specifically conceived with women in mind. The timepieces take inspiration from modern-day women who light up the world through their splendour and pioneering spirit. The Imperiale collection debuted in 2010 in the city of Venice, known for its historical significance. A city rich in the arts and culture, it’s traditionally known as La Serennisima, which means ‘the most serene’.
Chopard Imperiale White Gold dial
The latest Imperiale to join the collection offers a piece whose visage arouses wide-eyed wonder. The dial appears like a lovely portrait on the wrist, drawing the viewer into its mesmerising orbit. Using an intricate marquetry technique, the three-dimensional design is set against a lush blue-green enamel background. Floating above ‘white gold decorative fillet’ frames are white enamel leaves. Nestled within the leaves are flowers composed of pink mother-of-pearl with a fiery diamond centre. Winking Padparadscha sapphires add bright flashes of colour, the composition resembling a lovely lily pad. Indicating the time are rhodium-plated, open-worked, dagger-shaped hour and minutes hands, a hallmark of the Imperiale collection.
Image – ©Patrick Csajko
Chopard Imperiale White Gold case
The 36 mm case isn’t just there to cradle the dial, it’s a work of art in itself. Forged of ethically sourced 18-carat white gold, its bezel, lugs, cabochons and crown are set aflame with diamonds. Chopard is a leader in the use of ethically sourced gold, which minimises damage to the environment and provides safe working conditions and fair pay. In addition to the hands, you’ll notice the lotus-flower crown as well as lugs reminiscent of ancient columns, both of which are emblematic aesthetic codes of the Imperiale collection.
Chopard calibre 96.17-C
While many women’s timepieces focus exclusively on the dial, the Imperiale is much more than just a beautiful face. The mechanics driving this kinetic piece of art are equally impressive. A full-fledged manufacture, Chopard constructs and assembles every component of its timepieces (and jewellery) from soup to nuts. For this rendition of the Imperiale, Chopard chose the calibre 96.17-C, which is on view through the sapphire case back. Comprised of 167 components and a mere 3.30 mm in height, the movement packs a lot of punch and can run autonomously for 65 hours.
Chopard achieves this generous power reserve through the use of its Twin Technology, based on two stacked barrels and a micro-rotor. The addition of a second barrel not only increases the stored energy, but also releases a more consistent power supply through the gear train, leading to better precision.
The automatic Chopard calibre 96.17-C features a micro-rotor formed of tungsten. In most cases, a semi-circular mass sits above the movement, increasing its thickness and sadly blocking views of the movement decoration. However, a micro-rotor sits flush with the movement bridges, mitigating thickness as well as affording superior views of the finishing. It might seem obvious to incorporate a micro-rotor due to its aesthetics, but the engineering required is quite sophisticated, hence only a few brands have been able to pull it off. Returning to the matter of finishing, the mainplate glimmers with perlage and the bridges are embellished with Côtes de Genève motif.
Chopard Imperiale White Gold – closing remarks
The Imperiale is a stunning achievement from a mechanical and artistic perspective. It manages to be bold and avant-garde while maintaining a graceful femininity. It’s a perfect reminder that time is precious and we should savour each beautiful moment.
Further reading
https://www.chopard.com/en-gb/
Technical specification
- Model: Chopard Imperiale in ethical 18-carat white gold
- Reference: 385392-1001
- Case: 18-carat white gold, diameter 36.0 mm, height 10.38 mm, water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes
- Movement: Chopard 96.17-C automatic movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 29 jewels, power reserve 65 hours
- Strap: seamless alligator leather strap in blue-green. Buckle in ethical 18-carat white gold set with diamonds
- Price on application. Boutique exclusive