It has a 40mm case, a measurement that places it between elegant watches that do not exceed 39 and sports watches that start at 41, a thickness of 7.20 mm and is made of white gold. A true declaration of intent from the L.U.C. XPS 1860 Red Carpet Edition by Chopard whose dial is dressed in a spectacular red color to sponsor, once again, the Cannes film festival. Something she has been doing since 1998, when Carolina Scheufele – co-president of Chopard – took the initiative to decorate the characters ascending the Croisette steps with her creations. Being already the L.U.C. XPS 1860 an exclusive watch, the fact of limiting this edition to only ten pieces makes it an even more exclusive piece if possible.
Its red dial, achieved by applying translucent enamel on a background previously decorated with hand-made guilloché, is complemented by thirteen baguette-cut diamonds that mark the indexes (two at twelve and a shorter one at six, under the calendar) and classic Dauphine-shaped hands. But the caliber of the L.U.C. XPS 1860 Red Carpet is not far behind. In reality, and depending on who looks at it, it is the real star: XPS means eXtra Plano con SegundoS. And that, being extra flat, is achieved thanks to the L.U.C movement. 96-01-L automatic, only 3.3mm thick. Its automatic status is given by a 22-karat gold micro-rotor - practically pure gold -, and it has two barrels (Twin technology) that give it an autonomy of 65 hours. Its accuracy is certified by the C.O.S.C. (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) and boasts the coveted Hallmark of Geneva, which means that its finishes are handcrafted: meticulously beveled bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève and beveled and pearlized plate, all visible through the open caseback with sapphire crystal. It has a hand-stitched alligator strap and a white gold buckle.
At the time of publishing this article, the price is unknown, but taking into account the short run, materials and finishes, the L.U.C. XPS 1860 Red Carpet Edition will be available to very few.
