Last week, Jorg explained how Alpine Eagle carved out the place in the overcrowded category. The tenacity and creativity of the brand in things that are changing dramatically has made the collection a success story. Today it’s my turn to see Chopard’s new Quattro Mark IV model from the elegant LUC collection. Quattro is renowned for its impressive power reserve due to its four-barrel infrastructure. Of course, these four barrels are still there. However, the power reserve indicator moved behind the clock.
Certainly, the 216-hour, or 9-day power reserve is impressive. However, the power reserve indicator on the dial is not always the most appealing feature (please ask Nacho in the Managing Editor). For Quattro, it was usually placed at 12 o’clock and counted from zero to 8 or 9 depending on the version. Instead of the front, the new Chopard Luc Quattro Mark IV now has an indicator on the back. It must have sparked some intense debate in the family business. But I feel that is a courageous and important decision. Find the reason.
Chopardruk Quattro Mark IV
Essentially, the Chopard Look Quattro Mark IV is a dress watch. Choose from 18K rose gold or platinum versions. The case is 39mm wide and 10.4mm thick, and the welded lug is 46.5mm wide. It has the so-called basic shape. In other words, the bezel is wider than the one in the back. Along with a largely sloping lug, this increases wear resistance. There is a polished finish on the top of the lug and the top of the step bezel, and vertical brushing on the sides of the case.
The brass dial has a prominent matte texture and a Minute Track snail pattern. The slightly lower subdial at 6 o’clock contains both running seconds and pointer date complications. In addition to the snail center, there is a brushed outer section separated by elegant chamfers. The beveled Dauphin’s fusea and instantaneous hands are polished like a time marker with oblique herringbone applied. At 12 o’clock, there will be a modest Lu Chopard logo and chronometer designation. The rose gold version has a dark blue shade on the dial, while the platinum version has an ice blue dial. Both the hand and the marker match the color of the case.
Double 2 barrels
The tapered and grooved crown is 6mm wide, which is sufficient to grip when wrapping these four barrels. In-house we have stacked barrels in two sets of development, production, assembly, decoration and certified caliber 98.09-L. Together, they hold an impressive power reserve of over 216 hours for around nine days. The manual winding movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 VPH, features 38 gems and is COSC certified.
Apart from its technical capabilities, this move is also nice to watch. The satin brush bridge features Geneva waves, polished chamfers, and circular particles. All of those texts are golden, like the Geneva seal. At the top is a power reserve indicator. This is always useful for watches with manual winding movement.
Previous luc quattro. Image: dorotheum.com
A good excuse
I think Chopard initially wanted to show off the impressive power reserve on the dial side. However, the power reserve indicator is not always the most beautiful on the dial. It is often in strange places, causing asymmetric layouts and adding clutter. That last point causes interference to the dress watch. With the new Luc Quattro Mark IV, Chopard moved the power reserve indicator to the back of the watch. It may hide its technical feat from the public, but it also cleans up the dial significantly. What’s more, checking the power reserve is the perfect excuse to see its beautifully completed movement again.
Dress watches like the Chopard Luc Quattro Mark IV are like wolves in sheep’s clothes. On the outside, it appears to stand out very well with a curved case, a meticulously finished dial, and a leather strap you choose to wear. But inside, it’s an absolute beast with four barrels that offer a nine-day power reserve.
Compare it with the feature-filled stickers on the TV on display in the store. Of course, I hope that your TV has all these features: sharp images, great sound, a user-friendly interface and more. However, once you place your TV in your living room, you will immediately remove those stickers. When you need them, they are there, but they should not interfere with your views while watching TV. The same goes for the power reserve indicator on the Quattro Mark IV. It’s only there when you need it.
Wrist and hand
Due to its relatively short and inclined lug, the 39mm case from the Chopard Rucatro Mark IV fits very well on my 17cm wrist. It could be a little smaller, but this is a nice universal size that fits a variety of wrists. The texture of the dial is combined with applied markers and elaborate subdials, subtly reflecting the light. If you have the option, use the ice blue dial to go to the platinum version. I’m not a fan of rose gold in general, and the platinum case is a function under such a radar.
As you can imagine, I also like the power reserve indicator moved behind the watch. The only thing I can’t get is its orientation. Looking at the power reserve indicator on the back of the Breguet Classique, if you refer to the 5907, the crown is still on the same side. This can be very useful when bending the watch. Because that’s the way you’re used to bending the watch. However, in order to properly read the power reserve indicator in Chopard, the crown must be flipped over to the other side. I know, it’s a small thing, but even so, in the world of auto hollogary, small things are important.
The final words
On top of that, the Chopard Lucatro Mark IV is the perfect dress watch with impressive movements inside. The watch can be found on either a brown crocodile or a gray Calfskin leather strap. These straps include a unique quick switch mechanism on both the lug side and the pin buckle. This is very useful if you own more Chopard straps.
The Chopard Luc Quattro Mark IV costs 41,300 euros in ethically sourced 18K rose gold and 51,400 euros in platinum. In the comments below, let us know what you think about the new Chopardruk Quattromark IV. Which one is your favorite?
