The Swiss fine watches and jewellery manufacturer, Chopard, has released the new Alpine Eagle collection, a reinterpretation of the 1980 St. Moritz which was originally designed by the current co-president of the Maison, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Contemporary, refined and assertive, this latest complication is crafted with a wealth of references to the Alps and the lofty power of the eagle that reigns supreme there.
The rock-like textured dial elicits an eagle’s iris while the Super-LumiNova Grade X1 coated hands call to mind the raptor’s feathers and the cold glinting steel is reminiscent of glaciers. Enclosing these superlative features is a vertical satin-brushed case with an eight-tangent-fastening-screws bezel topped by a glare-proofed sapphire crystal. These polished and modern closure designs are not only made for the aesthetic but also to ensure its water resistance that is up to 100 metres. Issued from the time of its launch in ten references in steel, gold, bi-material or diamond-set gold, Alpine Eagle is a particularly rich collection, available in unisex models in two different 41 mm and 36 mm diameters.
The Alpine Eagle is also made after Louis Sullivan’s principles of harmony which dictate that “form follows function”. The advanced composition beats to the rhythm of a Chopard chronometer-certified movement with the 01.01-C calibre and 60-hour power reserve for the 41mm model and 09.01-C calibre and 42-hour power reserve for the 36mm model. Both are marked with the latter 8-ligne movement – being one of the smallest to receive COSC certification.
On top of that, bearing testament to Chopard’s ethical approach, Alpine Eagle allows the House to reveal its new commitment to protecting the Alpine environment through the launch of the Eagle Wings Foundation – of which Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is a founding member. This innovative and multidisciplinary environmental project is made to raise awareness and inspire the public concerning the importance, beauty and fragility of Alpine biotopes while offering a new vision of the Alps through the eyes of human beings, satellites as well as the eagle. The first project was conducted during the Alpine Eagle Race in September 2019 in which participants had the chance to observe images taken by a camera on an eagle launched from five mythical Alpine peaks including Zugspitze, Dachstein, Marmolada, Aiguille du Midi and Piz Corvatsch.
