Chopard presents a 100-piece limited edition timepiece dedicated to watch connoisseurs of the Arab world – The Alpine Eagle Middle East Edition. This latest addition to Chopard’s collection of sporty-chic timepieces is a 41mm that debuts an original “Pine Green” colour dial, punctuated with numerals in the Arabic script.
Like the other dial colours in the Alpine Eagle collection – Aletsch Blue, Bernina Grey or Absolute Black – “Pine Green” is inspired by the palette of natural colours shaping the beauty of the Alpine biotope. It evokes, according to the watchmaker, the forests carpeting the mountains during summer, when the melting snow gives way to a deep greyish-green mantle of vegetation. The designers chose this dial shade as a homage to the colour green, which is particularly prominent in the cultural and national symbolisms of the region.
The textured brass dial retains its signature radiating pattern, which evokes the eye of an eagle. The time is displayed through four indexes in Arabic script numerals, articulated around the centre of the dial. The hands are enhanced with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova for visibility in the dark. Positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock, the date, also in Arabic script numerals, is clearly indicated on a complementary green disc.
Since the launch of the collection in 2019, Alpine Eagle has been distinguished by its choice of materials. The large 41 mm-diameter case of this new Alpine Eagle model is entirely made of Lucent Steel A223. This metal – exclusive to Chopard – is made from 70% recycled material, in keeping with the watchmaker’s stated commitment to ethical manufacturing.
Thanks to its anti-allergenic composition, Lucent Steel has properties comparable to surgical steel, making it highly dermo-compatible. With its resistance of 223 Vickers, this alloy is 50% more resistant to abrasion than conventional steels and has exceptional hardness. As a result of its crystal structure having superior homogeneity, the metal displays uniquely shimmering light effects.
The Chopard 01.01-C self-winding movement at the heart of this Alpine Eagle watch – visible through a transparent sapphire case back – is developed in Chopard’s own watchmaking workshops. Its 207 components – accommodated within a diameter of 28.80 mm and thickness of 4.95 mm – fits snugly in a 9.7mm thick case. When fully wound, the mechanism beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), enjoys a 60-hour power reserve.
The watchmakers have also equipped this movement with a stop-second function enabling the user to set the time to the nearest second. The word “Chronometer” on the dial highlights the movement’s certification by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, in keeping with the Manufacture’s commitment to certified precision.
The Alpine Eagle collection, the creative outcome of three generations of men in the Scheufele family, is a modern reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch creation by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele – the current Co-President of Chopard – in the late 1970s.
With its pure and assertive design, the Alpine Eagle’s aesthetics is further enriched by natural inspiration. Every Alpine Eagle timepiece possesses a refined and unmistakable contemporary elegance, characterised by a round case with stylised raised sides. It has a crown engraved with the compass rose, a bezel with eight functional indexed screws, a textured dial with deep hues, luminescent indications and an integrated metal bracelet.
Thanks to its independence and the integration of its various professions, Chopard performs all the production and assembly stages of the collection within its own watchmaking workshops, from movement to bracelet, its components and the case.