After a difficult year, Chinese New Year brings another wonderful fresh start to 2021. This year, for the Year of the Ox, Chopard has created the ultimate gift inspired by the lunar zodiac sign: The L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox timepiece.
February 12th 2021 marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox. An Earth sign, emblem of the twelfth lunar month, the ox represents a period conducive to both nature and agriculture. This generous animal ensures prosperity and is a symbol of strength of the coming year.
To honor the occasion, each year since 2013, Chopard has created exceptional L.U.C Haute Horlogerie timepieces, with an artistic interpretation of the Chinese Zodiac. Faithful to the tradition, Chopard has consistently worked with the best Japanese lacquer artisans who craft dials using the historic Urushi lacquer technique. The result is an exquisite edition of 88 dials produced by the workshops of the century-old Yamada Heiando company and made by master lacquer artist Minori Koizumi.
The unique craftsmanship of Maki-e technique is used and captured between the layers of lacquer drawn from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree, gold flakes illuminate a background that features a golden ox with straight horns and an abundant coat, harnessed to a wagon. Made of gold, mother-of-pearl and coloured lacquer, it conveys both agricultural symbolism and the more subtle imagery of the Emperor.
The case is entirely sculpted from a block of 18-carat rose gold sourced from an ethical supply chain pioneered by Chopard. Featuring an elegant and refined ornamentation, the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox is also an ultra-thin timepeace measuring a mere 6.80 mm thick. This slimness is enabled by the use of the 3.30 mm thick L.U.C 96.17-L in house calibre.
Despite this extremely diminutive size, the piece allows automatic winding via a micro-rotor. This small ethical 22-carat gold off-centre oscillating weight incorporated into the calibre boasts high inertia enabling it to wind the two barrels efficiently. The latter are stacked in accordance with the Chopard Twin Technology and are capable of storing the energy necessary for the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Ox to offer a total 65-hour power reserve.
Allow yourself some luxury this Chinese New Year. A real treasure to own.
https://www.chopard.com/uk/l-u-c-xp-urushi-year-of-the-ox-161902-5071