As we gear up to the raft of releases at Baselworld, Chopard is one watchmaker that won’t be lost in the clamouring crowd of new watches. They’ve pulled out their horological big guns in the form of their new L.U.C. Flying T Twin, the manufacture’s first ever flying tourbillon.

Chopard’s L.U.C collection has always been the brand’s haute horology showcase; it’s where the serious watchmaking gets done. So, it’s not too big a surprise to see something as rarefied as a flying tourbillon finally join the L.U.C. stable. What is surprising though is just how beautiful it is.

The ultra-thin 40mm case is pure elegance, helped a little by the Fairmined nature of the gold. Not that the production of gold ever really keeps us up at night, but it’s still good to know that here that precious metal is 100% ethically-sourced. In thickness, the case measures an insanely-slim 7.2mm. That’s exceptionally thin for an automatic, let alone a flying tourbillon.

The tourbillon itself is far more refined than its non-flying counterparts. Because it’s supported from beneath rather than above, Chopard has managed to do away with the industrially-styled bridge that normally holds it. That in turn grants an unimpeded view of the tourbillon carriage itself and really makes the dial that bit more elegant.

Not that it needs too much help. The solid gold dial has been galvanised into anthracite grey, before being hand-guillochéd with a cool honeycomb pattern. The chapter ring is snailed instead for a subtle difference in texture and finished with hand-gilded arrowhead indexes. It’s stunning.

Inside, the calibre 96.24-L movement is an evolution of Chopard’s previous ultra-thin work, complete with their signature Twin technology, which stacks two barrels for an impressive 65-hour power reserve. The movement too has been immaculately finished with Côtes de Genève stripes, just another reason the watch has been awarded the Poinçon de Genève – the Geneva seal of quality.

Finished on a simple, black alligator strap, the Flying T Twin is a watch we’ll be making a beeline for at Baselworld. It might be the only chance we get; the watch is a limited edition of 50, and they’re going to go fast.

Price & Specs:

Model Name: Chopard L.U.C Flying T Twin

Ref: 161978-5001 Case/Dial: 40mm diameter x 7.20mm thickness, 18k ‘Fairmined’ rose gold case, honeycomb guilloché dial Movement: Calibre L.U.C 96.24-L, automatic winding (COSC chronometer-certified)

Frequency: 28,800vph / 4Hz Power Reserve: 65h

Water Resistance: 30m Price: € 109,000, limited Edition of 50 pieces



For more information visit Chopard’s website.