Chopard LUC Twin: First Ever Video & Deep Dive Discussion

Chopard LUC Twin 39mm
Ref: 161880-0001
Case Style 16/1880

This video is unsponsored and contains my personal opinions.

TLDR:
- While it is from another time, the LU Chopard Twin represents some of the best aspects of Swiss horology, and while it may be slightly down tuned from its modern or Geneva seal certified siblings, the Twin can still be found for sale at a typical asking price of just $6,000 USD, less than half the ask for the Quattro 1926. That is an absolutely absurd value, and it blows me away what the market will currently spend on a mediocre steel timepiece while these and others like them lament on various sales platforms.
- LUC as a Brand is one of the best in Horology presently IMO and my after-sales experience with four different watches has been excellent; Shout out Bolduc Canada!
- If you want the best, you want something elegant but fun, and you want the very best value for your dollars, you answer is going to be a LU Chopard.
- Now hold onto your watches, and let’s dive into this

History:
- GPHG notes a release year of 2004 (GPHG, April, 2004) and provides a comprehensive list of specs for the specific watch and the caliber 4.96 movement.
- How long this model ran for is unknown to me but based on LUC’s history I suspect it ran until 2010 at the outer most estimate.
- This second generation of LUC watches abandoned the traditional 36mm cases for 38 & 39mm options, adopted more avantgarde dial styles, and saw a proliferation of cal 3.96 and 4.96 movements enabling broader sales by lowering the production requirements that assembling the Geneva Seal equivalent cal 1.96 demanded. While the finishing standards were lesser and some of the parts were different for the non-Geneva Seal cal 96 movements, they represented and continue to represent extraordinary value, quality, and reliability at a lower point of entry.
- This example is one of the very first examples and assembly was completed and was exported to market in 2004” (Bolduc Watches & Services Inc., 3 March, 2023). It also “received a Complete Service at the Chopard USA workshop in 2011,” along with one again on 27 June, 2023, by Bolduc Watches & Services, the regional authorized service center in Mississauga, Canada.

Dial
- The dial is comprised of three cut discs. The largest outer disc features a sunray motif prominent for the era, seen in both the LUC dress watches and their Pro One sport line. From what I have read, to achieve this Chopard stamped, cut, and finished the discs (Monochrome Watches, 13 May, 2022).

Movement
LUC models are as one should expect COSC certified but the brand does offer a very limited range of, en francis la Fondation Qualité Fleurier (FQF), or Fleurier Quality certification as an in-house alternative to the Geneva Seal that sets out specific terms for finishing, materials, accuracy 0 to +5 seconds, and robustness (Chopard, n.d.).

Definitions:
(Bolduc Watches & Services Inc, 3 March, 2023)
BASIC SERVICE - comprises de-casing/re-casing of movement, ultrasonic cleaning of case (and bracelet if applicable), replacement of all seals and gaskets, replacement of battery (if applicable), minor adjustment for time-keeping if needed, Water-Resistance test (if applicable), all functions tests and controls.
CTR (Complete Service) - comprises the BASIC SERVICE in addition to complete disassembly of the movement, washing of mechanical components, assessment and replacement of damaged/worn sundry parts if required, reassembly and lubrication of movement as per factory specifications, complete adjustment of balance and escapement as needed.
REFINISHING - comprises the reconditioning of the case (and bracelet if applicable) or jewellery. This includes polishing, brush finish, repair of damage where possible and rhodium plating (if applicable). The aesthetics of the piece are restored As Best As Possible (ABAP), the extent being limited by the severity of the damage and preserving the integrity of designed geometries of the piece as determined by our technicians. As a rule, case backs or any portion, segment or part of the piece containing reference data (eg. serial number/model reference/hallmarks) are not refinished in order to preserve the integrity of the data.
Pieces that are badly damaged can only be restored to "Stock Condition" at the factory in Switzerland

References:
Bolduc Watches & Services Inc. (3 March, 2023). Personal Email.
Chopard. (n.d.). Fleurier Quality Foundation. https://www.chopard.com/en-intl/fleur...
GPHG. (April, 2004). https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/fr/mo...
Monochrome Watches. (13 May, 2022). https://monochrome-watches.com/collec...

Name: Chopard LUC Twin: First Ever Video & Deep Dive Discussion
Date: 09 July 2023
Music: Grey Blue Grey by Tommy English (iMovie)

#tuns #tunsleather #tunsleatherstrap #chopard #luchopard #quattro