Chopard

Exploring pre-LUC era Chopard watches with only Google as your friend is often a frustrating, thankless task. Yet patience occasionally does get rewarded and I recently discovered a very interesting, limited edition (apparently only 25 were made), WG split seconds chronograph from the 1990s - namely the 34/1243.


From: eBay

Finding details on it has been a fairly fruitless task so far, though. A size of 38mm, WG as a material and the production numbers being all the details I managed to find out (anyone knowing more - please do chip in!).

Not sure who the movement was made by but seems to have a column wheel and a vertical clutch - does the picture help in identifying it?


From: eBay

Would love to find out more of course, and wondering if there is literature on pre-LUC era Chopards out there...

Thanks for viewing!

I though 25 were in platinum...so maybe 25 in WG as well...nice timepiece with a fantastic movement....double column wheel FP 1186...here a picture of almost the same movement on the Omega De Ville Rattrapante I had....

That's what makes this place so great - so many knowledge, friendly people around to help out with every question

Ever seen the Chopard live?

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I wonder if it was easier making them with third party components than having to adapt / develop in-house movements as they do these days...

Not that they are anything but on a roll at the moment

During that period, for all the big brands, was easier to use ebauche....we are talking about quality movements anyway...FP, JLC, Lemania etc etc were mostly used...I think this 1186 was only 6.9mm of height..the thinnest split second caliber...amazing!!!

Read recently that Chopard looked at buying either Lemania or Minerva before deciding on creating their chronograph movements in-house. Would have been a different direction had they decided on one of the two...

We don't know this...I am personally opened to innovations but, when I look at those movements used in the past, I get a bit "romantic"...

Of course also always the question what one makes out of such taken over companies. As a very happy owner of a LUC Chrono One I am also content with the path they have chosen

I saw the rose gold black dial version in person, lovely dial, not a big fan of the hands, but the dial and numerals are gorgeous and the 1185 base allowed it to be quite thin. I believe MSRP was close to $30,000 USD at the time!

I managed to find one picture of the RG version but it was very low resolution. And as you say, the movement allows it to be very classically sized, which is a plus.

Thanks for sharing your first hand experience!

Hello KMII,

I think it was Lemania which they thought about buying? Can't remember for sure where I have it from, but maybe it was MTFs interview with KFS?

This one really is an interesting find in the Chopard's almost hidden history that even Google can hardly uncover. Thanks for your efforts and making it more visible.
I am actually also catching up to find out more about Chopards with Lemania movements.

The WG looks like a wonderful création. Hopefully all numeral are applied and I really like the Breguet style. Isn't it such a harmonic watch? Just look at the words chronographe, rattrapante and automatic as well as hours and minutes. Pure harmony.
In this case I am actually a little bit sad about the date window. Normally not often an issue for me.
The classic font used for Chopard together with the Swiss Made Depuis 1860 are further remarkable highlights to me. The latter is interesting as we still see it on some LUC watches from today's time, don't we?

As already confirmed, this is some sort of FP movement. I have an FP in my GPMH even though mine is already LUC era and maybe even a little bit more finished on movement side.

Thanks and let's hope we get more knowledge gathered in this thread about this piece.

Best regards,
Kolosstt

Did not know that the GPMHs use FP movements, too - thought they used ETAs

I agree with your assessment fully and find that it is a very balanced watch. Could imagine it with different hands but it works well as is Looks like many design elements were later recycled into the Chrono One, so I may be somewhat partial

As for Lemania Chopards, MTF has the ultimate one, I guess

You are right, his RG with tachymeter and pulsation scale is fantastic Lemania driven Chopard. But there are other I believe.

I forgot about the square pushers on the model you revealed to us. Ever seen this on any other Chopard chronograph?

The very early GPMH use FP. Later and up until today, these are ETA indeed. Who know when Fleurier Ebauches will be ready for them, too.

Regards,
Kolosstt

Here:





And you're right, MTF does have many ultimate Chopards

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GPMH is the acronym for???..thanks..Alex

Stay tuned as I'll post a Saturday pic later today.

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In addition to Mille Miglia and Superfast