Chopard L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed)
Mar 23rd 2010 at 7:02PM

Just say the word "tourbillon" and you'll have most watch enthusiasts drooling. But even in such a rarified field, the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon stands a breed apart.

The outcome of years spent participating in motor racing on the part of the company's owners, the Engine One Tourbillon draws its inspiration from a car's motor, both in style and substance. The manual movement – which like any tourbillon rotates inside its case once every 60 seconds to stay accurate and double as a second hand in and of itself – is attached to rubber mountings and three lever-arms. The 60-hour power reserve at 12 o'clock – uncluttered by the hour indices which have been etched into the sapphire crystal – looks like a fuel gauge, mounted on a face that would look at home under the hood of a Bentley.

All that is housed in a titanium case and strapped down by hand-stitched alligator with a titanium clasp. But don't start drooling just yet: Chopard's only making 150 examples, and each is tipped to sell for more than $100,000.

Gallery: Chopard L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon