SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIX

S ince its launch in 2012, the L.U.C XP Skeletec timepiece has been admired for its perfect blend of technical precision and artisanal finishing. Its 7.2 millimetres of perfection make it one the thinnest self-winding skeleton watches on the market. It has now been reinvented to mark the 25th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture: a new design and a more open dial highlight the L.U.C 96.17-S movement, housed in an ethical 18-carat white gold case. Issued in a 50-piece limited edition, produced in the Maison’s workshops using an entirely hand-crafted skeletonisation process, the L.U.C XP Skeletec timepiece is one of the noblest expressions of the art of watchmaking according to Chopard. Transparent elegance The elegant design of the L.U.C XP Skeletec centres around the delicate interplay between the skeletonised movement and the dial ring that surrounds it. The designers of Chopard Manufacture have enlarged the central opening to further highlight the beauty of the skeletonisation work and the technical complexity of the calibre. The surrounding dial takes on a more dynamic and contemporary aesthetic with the addition of a white minute track against a slate grey, satin- brushed surface. Pointed, polished hour-markers bring added nuance, partially overlapping with the skeletonised movement underneath. An ultra-thin movement to admire At just 3.3-millimeters thick, the L.U.C 96.17-S movement is a wonder of technical refinement. For most automatic watches, a winding rotor sitting on top of the movement adds inevitable height. With calibre L.U.C 96.17-S, however, Chopard’s engineers have devised a gold micro-rotor to sit flush with the movement bridges and ensure thinness, while Chopard Twin Technology delivers a lengthy 65-hour power reserve via two coaxial barrels. The extreme overall slenderness of this creation is no impediment to the full functionality of a high-performance watch housing a movement that has amply proved its reliability since its launch. The skeletonisation work, featuring plates and bridges artfully hollowed out to reveal the beauty of the inner workings, has been meticulously carried out by hand at Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier. In particular, a multitude of perfectly finished internal angles are a hallmark of exceptional work that can only be accomplished by the craftsman’s hand. As a final flourish, a Côtes de Genève finish ripples across the skeletonised mainplate on the dial side, while the rhodium-plated black bridges make a striking contrast with the gilded gear wheels and micro-rotor. Chopard L.U.C XP Skeletec An ultra-thin case and openworked dial expressing the refinement of Chopard Manufacture’s watchmaking expertise 270 | Simply Abu Dhabi