Chopard L.U.C. Strike One Titanium Salmon Dial First Look

Chopard has unveiled a new titanium version of its L.U.C Strike One watch, featuring a salmon-colored dial and the brand’s signature chime-in-passing complication. The 40mm timepiece combines lightweight Grade 5 titanium construction with Chopard’s patented monobloc sapphire gong system, delivering an hourly acoustic signal through a crystal-clear chime.

The watch is crafted from a single block of titanium, undergoing a vertically satin-brushed finish on the caseband while maintaining polished bezel and case-back surfaces. Despite housing a complex chiming mechanism, the L.U.C Strike One Titanium achieves a remarkably slim profile of just 9.86mm, underscoring Chopard’s expertise in miniaturizing complicated movements.

At the heart of the watch is an automatic movement derived from the original L.U.C calibre 96, modified to power the chime-in-passing function. This complication strikes a single crystalline note at the top of every hour, with the wearer able to activate or silence the chime via a discreet pusher integrated into the crown. Unlike a minute repeater, it does not offer on-demand activation or quarter-hour strikes.

The dial is fashioned from 18-carat ethical gold and features a guilloché honeycomb motif, a design element honoring founder Louis Ulysse Chopard’s early adoption of the bee and hive as symbols of the Manufacture’s collaborative spirit. The salmon-toned finish contrasts with rhodium-plated chevron markers and Dauphine-style hands, enhancing legibility while adding warmth to the aesthetic.

Chopard’s journey in chiming watches began in 2006 with the release of the first L.U.C Strike One, marking the tenth anniversary of its Manufacture in Fleurier. Since then, the brand has evolved its acoustic technology, introducing sapphire crystal gongs and refining the mechanism for greater efficiency and wearability. The titanium salmon dial variant follows earlier editions in rose gold and white gold, continuing the Strike One lineage as an accessible entry point into Chouard’s chiming watch collection.

Priced at $66,600, the L.U.C Strike One Titanium is positioned as a luxury unisex watch that balances technical innovation with refined aesthetics. Its use of Grade 5 titanium—known for its strength, lightness, and scratch resistance—presents manufacturing challenges due to the material’s hardness, requiring specialized tools and elevated precision during machining.

The watch reflects Chopard’s broader commitment to integrating haute horlogerie with modern materials and sustainable practices, including the use of ethically sourced gold. As part of the L.U.C collection, it stems from the Manufacture’s long-standing focus on in-house movement development and technical mastery, dating back to the debut of the L.U.C 1.96 calibre in 1997.