To mark the 20th anniversary of the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier timepiece, Chopard is introducing a new limited edition that celebrates both a rich heritage and uncompromising craftsmanship.
The L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition is a 20-piece numbered series that pays homage to the pinnacle of Swiss watch certification. Designed with elegance, technical mastery, and timeless appeal, this watch represents the essence of the L.U.C collection: Mechanical performance, refined aesthetics, and a steadfast commitment to excellence.
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A reverent homage to a 2005 milestone
The new timepiece revives the spirit of the original 2005 L.U.C Qualité Fleurier, itself inspired by a 1950s Chopard model featuring a distinctive two-tone sector dial. The 39 mm case — crafted from ethical 18-carat yellow gold — echoes the harmonious proportions of its predecessor, while embracing contemporary design codes.
The case is paired with sculpted, welded lugs and a two-tone dial featuring a sunburst satin-brushed center and circular satin-finished chapter ring. At 6 o’clock sits a snailed small seconds subdial, lending balance and depth to the layout. Gilded syringe-shaped hands and applied hour markers enhanced with Super-LumiNova® complete the vintage-inflected look, elegantly set against a supple brown calfskin strap with beige topstitching for a relaxed, sporty charm.
Inside the movement: The L.U.C 96.09-L Calibre
At the core of this celebratory edition beats the L.U.C Calibre 96.09-L, a movement rooted in the celebrated L.U.C 96.01-L — a foundation of Chopard’s horological identity since 1996. Ultra-thin at just 3.30 mm, the movement integrates Chopard’s twin technology (a dual-barrel system) that offers an impressive 65-hour power reserve, driven by a 22-carat gold micro-rotor.
Entirely designed, manufactured, and assembled in-house at Chopard Manufacture, the movement is adorned with meticulous hand-finishing —Côtes de Genève, beveling, circular graining, and mirror polishing — ensuring not only beauty but also mechanical excellence. This exceptional attention to detail is what earns it the coveted Qualité Fleurier certification.
Triple certification: The hallmark of excellence
The L.U.C 96.09-L is certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), as indicated on the dial. But passing COSC is just the beginning. To meet the rigorous Qualité Fleurier standards, each movement must also undergo Chronofiable testing — three weeks of thermal, magnetic, and shock assessments — as well as the Fleuritest, a unique simulator that reproduces 24 hours of real-world wrist wear. Only watches with a daily variation between 0 and +5 seconds pass.
This makes Qualité Fleurier the most demanding certification in the industry, combining aesthetic refinement with mechanical reliability and precision.
A certification born of independent vision
Launched in 2001, the Fleurier Quality Foundation was the result of a collaborative initiative among four prestigious watchmakers — Chopard, Bovet, Parmigiani Fleurier, and Vaucher — alongside local and federal Swiss authorities. Their mission: To create an objective, independent standard for certifying complete, cased watches, not just their movements.
Today, Chopard remains the only Manufacture represented on the steering committee, reaffirming its leadership role in safeguarding and advancing the values of Qualité Fleurier.
A legacy of L.U.C excellence
The first L.U.C Qualité Fleurier watch debuted in 2005, and since then, Chopard has released only a handful of timepieces bearing the certification, each a study in exclusivity and innovation. These include:
- L.U.C Tech Qualité Fleurier (2009) – with an openworked dial showcasing the calibre.
- L.U.C Tourbillon QF Fairmined (2014) – the first watch crafted from Fairmined ethical gold.
- L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined (2017) – a modern reinterpretation with an off-center crown.
- L.U.C Qualité Fleurier Lucent Steel (2024) – the first model to combine QF certification with Chopard’s proprietary steel alloy.
Chopard L.U.C: A journey of horological mastery
Since launching the L.U.C 1860 in 1997, Chopard Manufacture has continually expanded the capabilities of its in-house production—from base calibres to grand complications. Under the guidance of co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chopard has merged traditional métiers d’art with technical innovation, creating a Manufacture that designs, produces, assembles, decorates, and certifies its timepieces in both Fleurier and Geneva.
The L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition is the latest expression of this enduring commitment; an exquisite, limited series that honors both tradition and technical brilliance.
Technical specifications – L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition
- Case: Ethical 18-carat yellow gold
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: 8.92 mm
- Water resistance: 30 meters
- Polished case with satin-brushed flanks
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Exhibition caseback
Movement
- Mechanical self-winding – L.U.C 96.09-L
- 172 components, 29 jewels
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
- Power reserve: 65 hours
- Twin technology (two stacked barrels)
- Ethical 22-carat gold micro-rotor
- Certified by COSC and Qualité Fleurier
- Decorated with Côtes de Genève, perlage, and hand-finishing
Dial and hands
- Gilded brass dial with sunburst and circular satin finishes
- Sector-type design with snailed small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock
- Gilded syringe-shaped hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova®
- Gilded baton seconds hand and applied hour markers
Strap
- Brown calfskin leather with beige topstitching
- Pin buckle in ethical 18-carat yellow gold
Limited to 20 numbered pieces, the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition stands as a tribute to two decades of watchmaking excellence, ethical commitment, and the enduring pursuit of perfection.
