Unveiling the world's first timepiece using the precious metal from South America, Chopard introduces the L.U.C. Tourbillon Qualite Fleurier Watch with Fairmined Gold. This creation is a true testament to the brand commitment for ethical elegance and sustainable luxury through 'The Journey' project they support. The certification that accompanies the timepiece guarantees that the gold has been extracted responsibly and has provided the miners with fair payment and premiums to show that mining of gold can be done sustainably.
Using the precious metal to produce such an exquisite piece, the main parts of the piece, case-back, bezel and case are all crafted from the metal, and part of our Coodmilla cooperative support. The group located in the Narino region of Colombia is a certified cooperative that can train, souce materials and deliver the best practice procedures. The brand made a commitment to purchase a substantial part of the output form the cooperative and will maintain that support as long as the standards are upheld. In continuing efforts to support other cooperatives in South America we will make commitments to buy other stocks as well and keep up growing business.
The Chopard L.U.C. Tourbillon Qualite Fleurier Watch is designed with an elegant 43 mm Fairmined rose gold case featuring alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces. The view from the sapphire crystal case back allows everyone to admire the 02.13-L1 movement, including the power-reserve indicator. Sitting at 12 o'clock and displaying the movement's autonomy, adding up to nine days. The timepieces are water resistent to 50 meters and finished with a hand sewn alligator leather strap.
The collection is being crafted in a 25 piece limited edition series and is being submitted for independent certification testing, an honor that is hard to achieve and showcases the experience, and prestige the brand stands for. Institutions such as the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute and Chronofiable help to perform the testing and procedures outlined by the brand, and why the certification is the most demanding in the industry.
The certification process for Chopard is based on a series of steps that are geared toward a guarantee of precision for the movement of the watch, as well as durability, reliability and quality, including the aesthetic finishing of the piece. The testing is done in stages, first the movement, then the completed timepiece, and various wearing conditions, and is done so on a specially designed Fleuritest machine. The brands quest for the finest in workmanship is a continuing part of their determination to achieve global quality.
The dial is a dark color that really accentuates the exquisite rose gold and enhances the readability thanks to the contrasting hands and indices. The darker dial also helps to keep the look very clean making the prominence of the empty space between numerals pop out and make it appear less cluttered.
As a pioneering member of the foundation the brand holds the record for the largest number of models that have ever earned this certification. So in adding this remarkable timepiece to your collection, you can take pride in an amazing timepiece, as well as knowing the fairmined gold is extracted by artisianal or small scale farmers who mine responsibly.