Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold Watch Review
A long-standing partner of the Cannes International Film Festival, Chopard has had a continuous presence on the red carpet since 1998. Headquartered in Geneva, the marque is synonymous with luxury and glamour. At Watches & Wonders 2026, the Maison unveils a new pulchritudinous creation, the Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold featuring a deep black onyx dial.
Image – ©Fédéral Studio
Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold – introduction
I’ll take an elegant cocktail party over a sit-down dinner any day. I love the choreography of the waiting staff moving with precision, glassware catching the light. The wines and spirits are specifically curated to enhance the dainty hors d’oeuvres that look like sculptures but taste like pure indulgence. The new Chopard L’Heure du Diamant is right at home in this environment. Emblazoned with 4.40 carats of diamonds, the bezel of the 18K white gold cushion-shaped case frames the black onyx dial and feels like it’s being served up on a tray.
Chopard – fusing horology and jewellery for generations
Chopard has been combining the art of horology and jewellery since Karl Scheufele I earned the moniker ‘Master of Jewellery Watches’ in the early 1900s. Around this time, the idea of an ornamental watch was just being explored. By the time the 1960s and 1970s rolled around, Chopard had established an identity in the field. It experimented with ornamental hard stones such as onyx, malachite and lapis lazuli, treating the dial as a canvas and not just a functional surface. These particular watches in Chopard’s catalogue could be described more as objets d’art than timing instruments.
Chopard L’Heure du Diamant – V-shaped prongs
The modern L’Heure du Diamant collection draws inspiration from the design language of a 1970s Chopard jewellery watch. What makes the diamonds radiate with their signature halo effect is the crown-setting technique. Developed by Karl Scheufele III in the early 2000s, it reduces visible metal using V-shaped prongs, elevating the diamonds, allowing for maximum light penetration.
Chopard L’Heure du Diamant – a cushion-shaped case
Over the past 50 years, Chopard has experimented with different case silhouettes, such as cushion, octagonal, oval and heart-shaped. The L’Heure du Diamant offers the restrained lines of a cushion-shaped case, which was a big style trend in the 1910s-1930s. It was one of the first shapes that veered away from the round pocket-watch, so it is imbued with tradition while still having a modern edge. It’s softer and has more fluidity than a square housing and more distinction than a round case.
Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold – onyx dial
The rich black onyx dial showcases Chopard’s expertise with ornamental stones. Formed by nature, each dial, cut from a variety of chalcedony, is unique. Its highly polished surface lends a sense of depth and control, long associated with strength and protection. At 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, brilliant-cut diamonds mark the indexes, while 18K ethical white gold hour and minute hands trace the passage of time. Set with diamonds themselves, they introduce a subtle bit of movement and shimmer against the dial’s inky stillness. Carrying that same sense of controlled contrast, the crown, again in 18K ethical white gold, is set with a briolette-cut diamond. As the hallmark of the collection, the bezel ignites with 4.40 carats of diamonds, casting a radiant halo of light.
Chopard 09.01C self-winding movement
Many jewellery watches feature quartz movements, but Chopard finishes strong by powering the L’Heure du Diamant with the in-house Chopard 09.01C self-winding movement with a 41-hour power reserve. As a manufacture, Chopard produces the majority of its movements in-house.
Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold – strap
To match the dial, the L’Heure du Diamant straps to the wrist with a black alligator leather strap that has an ethical white gold 18K buckle, again set with diamonds.
Closing remarks
Like an exquisite hors d’oeuvre, L’Heure du Diamant invites pause and consideration. But where those moments vanish almost as quickly as they arrive, L’Heure du Diamant endures, preserving that sense of composition and indulgence long after the evening fades. A fleeting pleasure, made permanent.
Further reading
https://www.chopard.com/en-gb/
Technical specification
- Model: Chopard L’Heure du Diamant 18-carat ethical white gold
- Reference: 13A386-1109
- Case: Ethical 18-carat white gold, diameter 30.50 x 30.50 mm, height 9.30 mm, water resistance 3 ATM (30 metres), sapphire crystal to front
- Functions: hours, minutes
- Movement: Chopard Calibre 09.01-C, self-winding movement, frequency 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz), 27 jewels, power reserve 42 hours
- Price: £64,800 (RRP as of 14.4.2026)