Chopard’s Alpine Eagle collection is a modern re-interpretation of the 1970s St. Moritz, the first timepiece that was created by (now Co-President of Chopard) Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. One of the core collections in Chopard’s men’s watches, the Eagle Collection features a variety of complications, from the standard three-hander to the tourbillon, chronograph, and high-frequency (8hz) timepiece.
This latest update to the Alpine Eagle collection see’s the brand unveil a new dial colour for the 41mm three-hander model. The Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition is a 100-piece timepiece with a pure “SHIKKOKU” dial. A host of colours exist for the Alpine Eagle already, ranging from the Aletsch blue, pitch black, and Bernina grey to the Monte Rosa pink. This is however the first time the Alpine Eagle is presented in a monochrome look, where the colour of the dial is carried out to the rest of the elements and functions on the dial.
The Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition is presented in a 41mm Lucent Steel™ case. This is not new to this model as most of the watches in the Alpine Eagle collection is offered with this, however, it is a metal that is exclusively designed by Chopard. Lucent Steel™ uses a sustainable design approach to creat steel, as it is made from 80% recycled material. Lucent Steel™ has an anti-allergenic composition which makes its properties similar to that of surgical steel and therefore highly dermo-compatible. Thanks to its material composition, it is 50% more resistant to abrasion and also has a unique hardness.
Matching the technical attributes of this material is aesthetic appeal. Lucent Steel™ has a crystal structure that boasts superior homogeneity, which enables the material to produce shimmering effects. In other words, the case shines beautifully under light and at different angles. The bracelet flows with the case design and finishes and is also made from Lucent Steel™ material to provide a technical feat of execution and style.
Nature is the muse for Chopard’s Alpine Eagle dial. The dial is embellished with a sunburst motif and has a pattern that is inspired by the iris of an eagle. Other subtle details are present on the dial which refer back to the eagle and its appearance. For instance, the counterweight on the second hand is shaped like an eagle’s feather, while the whole design of the second-hand takes on the form of an arrow.
The “SHIKKOKI” dial colour has been inspired by a palette of natural colours, and it brings about beautiful lacquerware coatings which are true to Japanese culture and its ancestral crafts. SHIKKOKU is considered to be one of the darkest shades of black, although Ventablack may have the title for the darkest black available today. SHIKKOKU is also attached to a lot of zen characteristics and is a symbol of nature, profound mystery and also tranquillity.
The hour indices, hour, minutes and seconds hands have all been done in tone-on-tone black, which matches the dial beautifully. With these elements on the dial providing a monochrome look to the watch, it really lets the iris eagle eye pattern stand out. This does not mean however that the readability of the dial is hindered, as Chopard have used grey Superlumi-Nova on the indices and hands, which lets it stand out in a subtle way in what is otherwise a full black dial.
Chopard has used their 01.01-C self-winding movement which has featured in other Alpine Eagle 41mm models. This particular movement has been redesigned so that the date mechanism is removed, which opens up the dial to a more minimalistic look. The movement can be viewed from the case back, however, the glass is tinted which mimics the grey monochrome appearance you see on the dial. The movement is able to provide a power reserve of 60 hours, and it also comes with a stop-second function which allows the wearer to set the time to the nearest second.
Overall, we like the look of this new Chopard Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition. Comparing it to the rest of the Alpine Eagle models, this timepiece stands out because of its full monochrome dial, against what is an otherwise colourful collection. This allows for the dial pattern to be more noticeable as well, although the existing blue dial variant of the Alpine Eagle 41mm does a great job of this too. The final touch to this limited series model is the case and bracelet being made from Lucent Steel™, providing a contrasting shining effect on an all-black dial.
Reference: 298600-3021
Specification
- Case: 41.0 mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel (Lucent Steel™)
- Dial: “SHIKKOKU”
- Crystal: Slightly domed sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
- Movement: CHOPARD 01.15-C
- Power reserve: Minimum 60 hours
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with clasp (Lucent Steel™).
