The L.U.C 1860 returns with refined details and updated mechanics, marking three decades of Chopard&rsquo;s watchmaking journey.

The story of the Chopard L.U.C 1860 goes back to 1996, when Chopard established its Fleurier manufacture under the direction of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. It was the brand&rsquo;s first fully integrated watchmaking setup, built to develop movements and craftsmanship in-house.
Thirty years on, that same watch returns. Presented at&nbsp;Watches &amp; Wonders 2026, the new L.U.C 1860 keeps the original spirit intact while bringing together everything the manufacture has developed since. The new model stays close to the original in size, with a 36.5 mm case made from Lucent Steel&trade;, composed of up to 80 percent recycled material.

The finish is bright and dense, with a hardness that makes it especially resistant to wear.&nbsp;The dial stands out immediately. Its blue tone is inspired by the Areuse River, which runs near the Fleurier workshops. Known for its shifting shades of blue, shaped by light, rock, and current, that movement is translated into the dial&rsquo;s surface.
The dial stands out immediately. Its blue tone is inspired by the Areuse River, which runs near the Fleurier workshops. Known for its shifting shades of blue, shaped by light, rock, and current, that movement is translated into the dial&rsquo;s surface.
Inside is the L.U.C 96.40-L calibre, an updated version of the manufacture&rsquo;s first movement from 1996. It remains extremely slim at 3.3 mm and is fitted with a 22k gold micro-rotor. The original movement, L.U.C 96.01-L, was created as a tribute to Louis-Ulysse Chopard, whose initials give the collection its name. It quickly gained recognition, winning &ldquo;Watch of the Year&rdquo; shortly after its release. This new version builds on that foundation.

Thanks to Chopard&rsquo;s Twin technology, the movement uses two stacked barrels to deliver a 65-hour power reserve while maintaining its thin profile. It is also COSC-certified, with a stop-seconds function and a swan&rsquo;s neck regulator for fine adjustment.
Every component is hand-finished to the standards of the Geneva Seal, covering polishing, beveling, and decoration across both the movement and the case. For a steel watch, that level of finishing remains uncommon.
For Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the L.U.C 1860 still holds a particular place. It marks the starting point of Chopard&rsquo;s move into high watchmaking, a project that began with a single watch and has continued to evolve over the past three decades.

Courtesy of Chopard.

Chopard Marks 30 Years of L.U.C With the Return of the 1860 at Watches & Wonders 2026

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Chopard Marks 30 Years of L.U.C With the Return of the 1860 at Watches & Wonders 2026

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