In an exquisite amalgamation of artistic techniques and a demonstration of unparalleled skill and expertise, Chopard unveiled the newest rendition of its L.U.C XP Esprit de Fleurier Peony timepiece.
Exclusively crafted for women in a comfortable 35mm size, the Esprit de Fleurier Peony has been a mainstay of the L.U.C collection for the last few years and this year’s beautiful watch is hard to tear your eyes away from.
Meticulously handcrafted, the Esprit de Fleurier Peony is a stunning display of the highest standards of haute horlogerie combined with craftsmanship par excellence. Chopard makes use of traditional paper-cutting techniques to create the black and white peony motif for the dial of the Esprit de Fleurier. The stylized Peony itself is cut from black paper, creating a striking contrast against the pristine white Grand Feu enamel dial.
In a further touch of majesty, the rose gold case, the lugs and the bezel of the Esprit de Fleurier Peony are set with brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.83 carats in total.
The aesthetic appeal of the Esprit de Fleurier Peony does not end with the dial and the case, but extends in all its glory to the in-house manufacture movement, entirely designed and assembled at the Chopard manufacture in Fleurier. As with all the watches in the L.U.C collection, every stage of the watchmaking process is undertaken at Chopard’s own facilities, and in the case of the 2018 edition of the Esprit de Fleurier Peony, the watchmakers have indeed seemed to outdo themselves.
The mechanical self-winding movement L.U.C 96.23-L measures just 7.55mm and offers the Esprit de Fleurier Peony a power reserve of up to 65 hours. The movement itself marks Chopard’s mastery of yet another ancient technique, that of Fleurisanne hand-engraving, with each movement requiring two full weeks of work to complete. The technical details of how Fleurisanne engraving is carried out would need an in-depth understanding of materials and tools, but suffice it to say that the effect is simply mesmerizing, and one that we sincerely hope Chopard continues to showcase on its timepieces in the future.
The Esprit de Fleurier Peony is presented in a very limited 8-piece edition and the watch sits elegantly on a brushed black canvas strap, fastened with a rose-gold buckle which is also set with diamonds. The gilded hands indicate the hours and minutes from the center of the dial, although it is entirely possibly for the wearer to forget that this elegant accessory is also a highly functional piece of horological hardware!
HOT Verdict: In a word, art, specially created for the wrists of those with exceptionally refined tastes.
