Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike

Chopard Manufacture unveils the L.U.C Grand Strike, its most complex timepiece to date, and the culmination of nearly three decades of research into chiming watches. Equipped with a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, the watch represents the apex of Chopard’s chiming expertise and introduces the latest evolution of the Maison’s pioneering sapphire-crystal gong technology. Developed entirely in-house with more than 11,000 hours of R&D and protected by ten patents, five created specifically for this model, the L.U.C Grand Strike stands as the most comprehensively certified grande sonnerie in contemporary watchmaking, bearing both the Geneva Seal and COSC chronometer hallmark.

At its centre is the new hand-wound calibre L.U.C 08.03-L, composed of 686 components. It is housed within a remarkably wearable 43mm case crafted from 18-carat ethical white gold. A dial-less architecture exposes the intricacy of the sonnerie mechanism and the one-minute tourbillon. At 10 o’clock, two polished steel hammers signal the watch’s acoustic purpose, with a sliding gold selector allowing seamless switching between Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, and Silent modes. The tourbillon at 6 o’clock reinforces the movement’s precision and provides constant visual animation.

The Grand Strike continues Chopard’s groundbreaking work with monobloc sapphire-crystal gongs. These gongs are machined as a single piece with the dial crystal, offering exceptional acoustic transmission with minimal energy loss. Combined with square-profile gong geometry and the inherent rigidity of synthetic sapphire, the system produces an unusually pure, resonant chime tuned to a C#–F natural interval. Five new patents further refine performance and usability, including safeguards against improper activation, mechanisms that prevent incomplete strikes when power is low, and redesigns of the hammers and clutch system to enhance both efficiency and long-term durability. 

Despite its complexity, the L.U.C Grand Strike is designed for real-world wear. The movement uses twin barrels, one for timekeeping and one dedicated to the sonnerie function, to ensure stable performance. The in-house caliber offers 70 hours of autonomy for the watch and at least 12 hours of uninterrupted chiming in grande sonnerie mode. Chopard also subjects each movement to demanding internal tests simulating five years of wear, including over half a million hammer impacts on the sapphire gongs.

Aesthetically, the watch blends technical transparency with traditional finishing. Its German-silver plates and bridges acquire a warm patina over time, while the case combines a satin-brushed band, polished bezel and engraved caseback. Solid-gold hands and markers complete the refined presentation. Offered on interchangeable alligator straps, the L.U.C Grand Strike embodies Chopard’s philosophy of uniting innovation with classical watchmaking. One of the most remarkable chiming timepieces in the history of watchmaking, the Grand Strike marks a new milestone in Chopard’s 30-year journey as a fully integrated Manufacture.