The lightest Chopard watch in a titanium case.
Chopard has unveiled an intriguing new piece developed in collaboration with the design studio Zagato. The Zagato Lab One Concept, created with the involvement of Zagato's chief Andrea Michele Zagato and the company's chief designer Norihiko Harada, draws inspiration from motorsport engineering principles.
The new model's case, measuring 42 x 11.5 mm, features a tubular structure inspired by a racing car chassis, distributing mechanical stress through a rigid yet lightweight frame. It is made from ceramized titanium and offers exceptional strength with minimal weight: 43.2 grams, including the strap. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters.
The titanium is treated using electroplasma oxidation, achieving a hardness of about 1000 Vickers, providing ceramic-like scratch resistance while maintaining titanium's low density. Instead of traditional lugs, the case uses self-locking tubular hinges. These rotate up to 45 degrees, allowing the watch to sit comfortably on the wrist.
The dial is covered by box-shaped sapphire glass, flush with the case. It is fully integrated into the mechanism. The base plate partially serves as the dial, featuring a pattern of repeating 'Z' letters around its perimeter. Skeletonized hands, inspired by steering wheels, emphasize the motorsport theme. In line with this theme, the power reserve indicator at the 12 o'clock position is styled like a fuel gauge.
The watch is powered by the L.U.C 04.04-L caliber, equipped with manual winding and a 60-hour power reserve. The mechanism's construction (bridges, base plate) uses ceramized titanium.
To further reduce weight, the tourbillon carriage at the 6 o'clock position is made of aluminum. The watch's shock resistance is ensured by elastomer dampers and 4 levers securing the mechanism inside the case. The mechanism is COSC-certified as a chronometer.
The watch comes with two straps: a fabric strap with a Velcro fastening and a calfskin strap equipped with a ceramized titanium buckle. The release is limited to a series of 19 pieces.
The estimated price of the model is CHF 130,000.