The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS Salmon Dial – Watches & Wonders 2023

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Fabrizio Bonvicino

DATE

27 March 2023

A mix of small and big changes

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS al salone di Ginevra

A mix of innovations involving size, caliber and dial. We find out straight from Geneva how the brand has innovated its flagship piece in the collection.

The brand has chosen the largest size in the collection for this novelty. In fact, the case measures 41 millimeters in diameter and has an integrated bracelet like most models. Last year we had seen another very similar version in steel, one with a tourbillon, while this year it is the turn of the XPS salmon.

Lucent Steel A223 is not like other types of steel

The brand emphasizes this Lucent Steel A223 very carefully, but what is so special about this type of steel?

It is an exclusive, ultra-strong alloy that uses 85 percent recycled material. Chopard places great emphasis on its environmental impact, which is why it was included in initiatives related to sustainability in watchmaking (article here).

As the name suggests, the shine characteristics are sharply accentuated, and you only have to hold an Alpine Eagle in your hands to see how the light alternates between shiny and satin meshes

The salmon dial with small seconds

il quadrante dell'alpine eagle 41 xps salmone

What distinguishes the dial of all the models in the collection is the presence of a special finish that is inspired by the iris of an eagle, the main inspiration for the watch. The real highlight? The absence of the date at 4-5 o’clock and the presence of the small seconds at 6 o’clock. This choice allows for fantastic symmetry and that only the Tourbillon presented at the previous edition of Watches & Wonders had managed to achieve.

Among watch enthusiasts, it is a recurring discourse; the presence of the date window may be divisive, but it is objective how a symmetrical watch stimulates the eye of the beholder. We are glad that Chopard has gone to the development of the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS.

A trending color for about 3-4 years now, salmon pink (in this case called Monte Rosa) is now a workhorse for almost all watch brands. It was first generally introduced in models from the 1940s and 1950s, but only recently has it found strong popularity, almost to be considered a craze.

La doppia certificazione Cronometro e Punzone di Ginevra

Now the turn of the caliber with dual certification: Chronometer and Geneva Hallmark. To achieve such a symmetrical design with small seconds, Chopard opted for the L.U.C 96.40-L caliber, which boasts a thickness of just 3.30 mm and 65 hours of power reserve, thanks to Chopard Twin technology. Automatic winding is driven thanks to a 22-carat gold micro-rotor, while accentuating the beauty are Côtes de Genève finishes on all bridges.

Co-chairman Karl-Friederich Scheufele himself stresses the importance of having these kinds of mechanisms in the collection, which add value not only in their precision but also in their value in every respect. We advise you to elaborate if you wish in the interview we did some time ago with Mr. Scheufele here.