In 2006 Chopard produced their first Regulator model, and at Baselworld 2015 they rebooted its look. With thanks to Chopard Australia, I had the opportunity to look at one recently.
As I’ve mentioned before, the L.U.C. Collection is my favourite from Chopard, and this new L.U.C. has much to like about it.
The thing I like most is also perhaps what is most immediately obvious – how clear the dial is. For those who are unfamiliar with them, a regulator is a timepiece in which the hours, minutes and seconds have separate display indications. With its minutes on the central axis, hours at 3 o’clock and seconds at 6 o’clock, the displays on this new replica watch are not only big and clear with attractive font use but also basically foolproof – things are labelled and you can see it all in a nanosecond if you glance at the replica watch, you don’t have to even take up the extra second or two to adjust your mind to the regulator format.
This readability issue was also a factor in the positioning of the hour at 3 o’clock, as Chopard wanted it to be visible peeking out from under a cuff.
The rest of the dial is taken up by the (216 hour) power reserve at 12 o’clock and a second time zone indicator at 9 o’clock which is adjusted via a pusher at 7 o’clock on the side of the case.
The impressive nine day power reserve is courtesy of the four barrelled chronometer-certified manual-winding Calibre 98.02-L (aka ‘Quattro® technology’) which can be seen through the case back. It measures 30.4mm x 4.90mm.
A 43mm, this rose gold replica watch is big for a dress replica watch, but at 9.78mm thick and short lugs, it sits easily on the wrist. With its sunburst satin-brushed silver-toned dial and gilt dauphine-styled hours and minutes hands, this replica watch is very easy on the eyes. It is not a small task to make a dial with so much on it look uncluttered, but this replica watch manages it. Perhaps some people might vote for losing the date window, I know that there are some strong view about this.
In any event, this is is a rather appealing replica watch ‘in the metal’. Its combination of clean lines and a very clear and legible dial that manages to look full of space with its multiple functions is perhaps its biggest draw card. In a (watch) world where there are dials that really do seem to cram a lot onto them at the expense of clarity, this is something not to be underestimated.
If you are looking for a regulator replica watch that is slightly unusual, and the dual time component of this in particular is precisely that, this is worth taking a look at.
For those who are interested, the Australian RRP for this model is $39,910.