The L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon Maki-e watch combines gold and lacquer, mechanical and artisanal craftsmanship to create a timepiece to celebrate the Lunar New Year. In the world of watchmaking, the fusion of gold and lacquer is a rare attempt, and it is even rarer to be able to master this skill. Today, Chopard's maki-e technique, which combines the aesthetics of the two techniques, depicts the auspicious dragon, a symbol of opportunity and prosperity, and expresses his best wishes for the coming year.
This year's Lunar New Year begins on February 10, 2024 and is known as the "Year of the Dragon". The auspicious dragon is the first beast to appear in Chinese myths and legends, representing imperial power, wealth and prosperity, and is also a symbol of good luck. According to ancient legend, China's first emperor, the Yellow Emperor (reigned 2700-2600 BC), incorporated different auspicious beasts into his tribal totems during his conquest of the surrounding tribes, creating the image of the auspicious dragon in China that is now known as China.
Inspired by traditional Chinese culture, the 88-piece limited edition features a 39.5 mm diameter case in 18K rose gold in line with Chopard's philosophy of sustainability and social responsibility Combining craftsmanship with aesthetics, Manufacture's dial is painted using traditional Japanese maki-e techniques and embellished with gold dust and mother-of-pearl particles. For the 12th year in a row, Chopard has launched the L.U.C XP Zodiac-themed Maki-e watch, the twelfth of which has been hand-painted in Japan by an internationally renowned master of maki-e craftsmanship.
A narrative with deep symbolism and a unique sense of art
The Chinese theory of the five elements reduces everything in the world to five basic elements – metal, wood, water, fire and earth – and combines the animals representing the twelve earthly branches with the five elements for the purpose of the year, and 2024 is the year of the wood and the dragon. The dragon is the most majestic animal in the Chinese zodiac and often symbolizes power and dignity, while the dragon of the five elements of wood is seen as a symbol of harmony with nature. This environmental implication echoes Chopard's unwavering commitment to supporting and protecting the natural life that lives on Earth. This time, Chopard commissioned a master lacquer artist from Japan to create a deep black dial with an intense and elegant color, vividly representing the soaring posture of the auspicious dragon. The auspicious dragon is entrenched on the top of the clouds and mist, showing graceful momentum and transcendent demeanor, and the golden dragon body is winding and vigorous, which is particularly eye-catching.
This year marks a milestone year for the L.U.C XP Urushi-e watch collection. Chopard launched its first L.U.C XP maki-e watch for the Year of the Snake in 2013, and this year's Year of the Dragon-themed watch brings to a close the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. To this end, Chopard is also planning to release in 2024 a beautiful wooden gift box set containing 12 L.U.C XP MAKI-E themed watches that Chopard has released to date, giving collectors the opportunity to collect all the Zodiac watches at once and to admire them.
Finely crafted, wonderful
In keeping with its tradition, Chopard has once again commissioned the best Japanese lacquer masters to create the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon, decorated with the art of maki-e that has been passed down through the ages. The dials of this limited edition of 88 pieces are all from the century-old Yamada Heian Do workshop and are painted by lacquer master Koizumi Sankyo, and each watch takes no less than 20 hours of meticulous work. Following the characteristics of the Maki-e technique, lacquer masters sprinkle gold leaf between layers of lacquer made from raw lacquer from the Japanese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) to create a sparkling scene. Crafted from 18K rose gold in line with Chopard's sustainable and social responsibility philosophy, the ultra-thin case is no more than 6.8 mm thick, offering a slim silhouette that is comfortable to wear and subtle in its elegance.
Mechanical properties
This slim and delicate case thickness is also due to the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L calibre, which is only 3.30 mm thick. Equipped with a micro-eccentric oscillating weight in 22-carat gold, this automatic movement is integrated into the upper part of the movement and has a powerful inertia that allows it to efficiently wind the twin barrels of the L.U.C 96.17-L calibre. Thanks to the stacked twin barrels of Chopard Twin technology, they can store a total power reserve of 65 hours for the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon-e watch. Even when removed from the wrist, the watch still runs precisely for two and a half days, allowing the wearer to enjoy the weekend without having to worry about winding it.
The art of watchmaking
Twenty-five years ago, in order to avoid over-reliance on external calibres and to preserve the time-honored craftsmanship and know-how, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, launched the prestigious L.U.C 96.01-L calibre, entirely manufactured in-house, in 1996. The L.U.C 1860 with this movement and continuing the tradition of Haute Horlogerie was an instant hit with collectors around the world and was named "Watch of the Year" by Montres Magazine.
Over the years, the collection has continued to expand to offer original complications of exceptional sophistication, designed, developed, produced, assembled, decorated and certified in the Chopard Fleurier and Geneva workshops. The L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon is a bold and bold piece that combines Chopard's creativity and savoir-faire, ushering in a new chapter in the history of watchmaking.