Russell Sheldrake
The Alpine Eagle has been one of the most interesting luxury sports collections since its launch in 2019. Taking inspiration from the classic Chopard collection, St. Moritz, we combine elements of Chopard’s typical dressy aesthetic, marrying a sophisticated sporty sense of being home more than the local gym or the valley.
As you can say, I have been a fan of Alpine Eagles for a while. I think it’s one of the most attractive luxury sports models in a market that appears to be increasingly crowded by that day. Last year, in the annual Kiss Marie Kill video at the End of Watches and Wonders, I believe it was abolished the most exciting part of the watch, the Eagle’s Iris Dial, so I say this with the full knowledge that I killed the skeleton Alpine Eagle.
Anyway, there’s enough of the past. We talk about a new high-tech, high-frequency participant in the collection, a ceramionized Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF. As mentioned in the 2025 Alpine Eagle Collection roundup, the new 8HF is my favorite of the flock for the perfect confluence of features, but let me expand it.
case
Measured at a width of 41mm and thickness of 9.75mm, it fits perfectly within the dimensions of a standard Alpine Eagle model, but it is well beyond other dimensions when reaching 1,000 Vickers hardness thanks to ceramation titanium. This level of hardness is achieved through the process of oxidizing base grade 5 titanium using electroplasma technology, giving this watch a slate grey look along with hardening its surface.
This design is very familiar to those who know the Alpine Eagle Line. There are six bezel screws that put everything together, so when you match the bumpers, there is a balanced crown guard on the other side of the case. The case tilts at a strict angle towards the lug, where it attaches to the rubber strap. All surfaces are kept matte, adding to a sophisticated, high-tech look.
Dial
My favorite part of the Alpine Eagle model is the dial, which always draws me in with clever color grading and dynamic designs. After all, there’s a reason they made our best list with the blue, green, red and grey variants. The Cadence 8HF SL has the most monochromatic version seen from this young collection, featuring black dials, markers, date windows and hands. The only points of contrast are from the orange details of the 12 brand logos, the 6 high frequency logo, the minute track, and second hand. This orange and black color scheme is the trademark of Chopard’s high frequency models and will help distinguish them from other catalogs for years.
Movement
Chopard has a great history of using high-frequency movements, but I don’t think that’s well talked about. First, we first introduced the concept with the LUC 01.06-L, famous for being the first high-frequency motion with Chronometer certification. The ceramionized Alpine Eagle 41 SL follows the footsteps of the 2024 Cadence 8HF (in this review we also took on much more depth in the high-beat movement). Caliber 01/14-C runs up to 60 hours at 8Hz (57,600VPH) with minimal grams and features a complete silicon escape, including pallet levers, escape wheels, and impulse pins.
strap
To match the sporty aesthetic, the black rubber straps, along with a playful, monochromatic palette, feel like the perfect choice to go with. The integrated numbers also feature case matching pin buckles, which helps keep the weight down. However, if you want to dress up a bit of this, Chopard also offers a black Calfskin strap with orange stitching.
verdict
For me, the Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF is the best Chopard can do, and at the same time moves the brand in an interesting new direction. Their high-frequency movement mastery is something that doesn’t get enough praise, and despite other brands screaming about this, Chopard appears to be flying under the radar. The use of ceramionized titanium provides clues as to what Chopard can do in the future, as they are trying to experiment with more materials than existing precious metals and steel innovations. There is very little I can complain. The new Cadence 8HF is a great watch and has the ability to show that the brand’s future is not enough.
Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF Price and Availability
The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF is a limited edition of 250 pieces. Price: 26,800 euros
Brand Chopard Model Alpine Eagle 41 SL Cadence 8HF Reference 298600-3028 Case Dimensions 41mm(D)x9.75mm(T) Case Materials Ceramionized Titanium Water Resistance 100m, Screw-In Crown Crystal (S) Sapphire Front and Back Dial Black, Eagle Iris Pinbart
Black Calfskin, orange stitch, ceramionized titanium pin buckle motion caliber 01.14-C, in-house, automatic, 8Hz, COSC power reserve 60 hours functioning hours, minutes, seconds, date 250 pieces Price €26,800
