Chopard Brand
L.U.C Grand Strike: Chopard’s Chiming Masterpiece Celebrates 30 Years Of Manufacture
Luxferity, 25.11.2025
A New Chapter in Chopard’s Sonnerie Legacy
In a landmark celebration of its 30th anniversary, Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier introduces the L.U.C Grand Strike. This exceptional chiming timepiece is a tour de force of haute horlogerie, blending a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater — all powered by sapphire-crystal gongs. The result: arguably Chopard’s most complicated watch yet, developed entirely in-house under the watchful eyes of its artisans and engineers.
Rattrapante R.U.R.
Rattrapante Ice Blue
Decades of Innovation Encapsulated
The L.U.C Grand Strike is the culmination of over 11,000 hours of R&D, anchored by ten proprietary patents, five of which were created specifically for this piece. These breakthroughs define the watch’s advanced chiming system, safety mechanisms, and refined ergonomics. The movement — calibre L.U.C 08.03-L — comprises 686 components, including a tourbillon, and is doubly certified by COSC and the Poinçon de Genève, making it one of the most rigorously tested grande sonneries in modern watchmaking.
Secret Alloy
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, remarked:
“When you listen to its chime, you are hearing the rhythm of Haute Horlogerie at Chopard Manufacture … you resonate with our way of making watches.”
Photon Sphere
Crystal-Clear Acoustics
A defining feature of the Grand Strike is its sapphire monobloc construction, where both the dial and gongs are machined from a single piece of sapphire crystal. This design eliminates energy loss common in traditional steel-gong watches, resulting in a purer, more resonant tone. Thanks to the square-section geometry of the gongs — another patented innovation — the chime is rich, layered, and emotionally powerful. The notes are tuned to a C♯–F major chord, evoking stability and unity.
Glacier Blue
Compact Sophistication
Despite its complexity, the watch is elegantly compact. Housed in a 43 mm ethical white gold case, it measures just 14.08 mm thick. The open-dial design exposes the delicate chiming hammers (at 10 o’clock) and the continuous 60-second tourbillon (at 6 o’clock), offering a visual and acoustic immersion into Chopard’s mechanical mastery. A sliding selector next to the crown allows wearers to choose between Grande Sonnerie (G), Petite Sonnerie (P), or Silence (S) modes.
Plissé - Pearl White
Resilient, Tested, and Certified
Durability is built in: the movement underwent 62,400 activations of its sonnerie mechanism (simulating five years of wear), plus 3,000 manual repeater activations. Over half a million strikes on the sapphire crystal gongs ensure resilience, while the dual mainspring barrels provide up to 12 hours of sonnerie power and 70 hours of timekeeping reserve. With its 4 Hz frequency, stop-seconds function, and COSC certification even in sonnerie mode, the Grand Strike delivers precision without compromise.
Plissé - Rose
Embodying Tradition and Innovation
Visually, the Grand Strike is a study in contrast and harmony: bridges in traditional maillechort (German silver) develop a warm patina, while solid gold hands and markers affirm its luxury pedigree. The fluid case contours, satin-brushed surfaces, and interchangeable grey or deep-blue alligator straps make this grande sonnerie both a technical marvel and a wearable work of art.
Plissé - Ivory
The Sound of Eternity
Chopard’s journey into sonnerie complication dates back more than two decades, beginning with the L.U.C Strike One and later advancing to the groundbreaking L.U.C Full Strike — itself celebrated on Luxferity. See our in-depth feature on the L.U.C Full Strike Platinum. Today, the Grand Strike not only honors that heritage but marks a milestone: sapphire crystal gongs, patented security systems, and unprecedented acoustic depth define what Karl-Friedrich Scheufele calls “the sound of eternity.”
Passage de Drake Sahara Sands
A Legacy of Three Decades
Founded with the introduction of the L.U.C 96.01-L calibre, Chopard Manufacture turned 30 in 2026. Over these years, the Fleurier workshops have honed every aspect of watchmaking — from base calibres to hyper-complicated chiming movements, ethical materials, and artistic finishing. The Grand Strike is both a celebration of that journey and a bold step into the next era.
Passage de Drake Sahara Night
Why It Matters for Collectors & Connoisseurs
- Unrivalled complexity: The Grand Strike offers a full grande sonnerie — still a rare and exceptional feat even in haute horlogerie.
- Innovative materials: Sapphire crystal gongs imbue the chime with purity and power few other watches can match.
- Certified performance: COSC and Geneva Seal guarantee both chronometric precision and artisanal finishing.
- Wearable luxury: Despite mechanical richness, the watch remains refined and comfortable, with elegant proportions and thoughtful straps.
Révélation
Related Luxferity Features
- L.U.C Full Strike in Platinum — Chopard’s pioneering minute repeater with sapphire gongs.
- Alpine Eagle XL Chrono — A sporty-chic chronograph marrying ethical materials and technical precision.
- L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rat — Exquisite craftsmanship meets in-house movement innovation.
Passage De Drake Glacier Blue
Conclusion
The L.U.C Grand Strike is more than just a new watch — it’s a sonic manifesto. After 30 years of building its Manufacture, Chopard presents a chiming horological masterpiece that elevates both its technical pedigree and its philosophical vision. For connoisseurs of high complications, it is a rare and deeply resonant statement — one that will likely echo in collector circles for generations.
