Chopard's latest collection at Watches and Wonders 2026 is a testament to the brand's enduring legacy and innovative spirit. The Alpine Eagle 41 XPS in Lucent Steel™ is a standout piece, showcasing the brand's commitment to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. With a case thickness of just 8mm, it's the slimmest Alpine Eagle yet, and its textured dial and contemporary design make it a true statement piece.
What makes this watch particularly fascinating is the way it pays homage to the brand's history while embracing modern aesthetics. The Alpine Eagle story is an inter-generational one, with Karl-Friedrich Scheufele reviving the original design created by his father in 1980. The 41 XPS takes this lineage to a new level, with its ultra-thin manufacture ambitions and rigorous credentials, including COSC chronometer certification and the Poinçon de Genève.
In my opinion, the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS is a masterpiece of watchmaking, combining the brand's heritage with cutting-edge technology. The Lucent Steel™ case is a testament to Chopard's expertise in materials, and the movement is a marvel of engineering, with a power reserve of 65 hours and a frequency of 4 Hz. The dial's 'Mountain Glow' color and radiating pattern inspired by the iris of an eagle make it a true work of art.
One thing that immediately stands out is the attention to detail, from the hand-bevelled and circular-grained bridges to the comfort-fit extension system on the bracelet. The watch achieves Poinçon de Genève certification in steel, underscoring its impressive credentials. The Alpine Eagle 41 XPS is a watch that truly embodies the brand's philosophy of pushing the boundaries of what's possible in watchmaking.
Chopard's L.U.C 1860 Chronometer in Lucent Steel™ is another standout piece, blending classic proportions with high-end finishing and chronometer-certified precision. The original L.U.C 1860 was the watch that launched the Fleurier manufacture, and the 2026 edition is a tribute to the brand's anniversary. The case is sized for collectors who appreciate ergonomics, and the dial is hand-guilloché, showcasing the brand's expertise in traditional watchmaking techniques.
From my perspective, the L.U.C 1860 Chronometer is a true masterpiece, with a finely finished in-house calibre and a strap made from grey grained calfskin. The watch sits at 8.2mm total thickness, and as anniversary editions go, it's among the more self-possessed, with no commemorative engravings or special numbering. It's just a very good watch, made to the standards the manufacture has spent three decades perfecting.
Chopard's Happy Hearts in Lucent Steel™ is a playful yet refined piece, combining the brand's signature moving diamonds with soft, heart-shaped accents on a luminous mother-of-pearl dial. The 2026 edition takes it somewhere new with a denim strap, and the dial's color story, with pink speaking of love, purple evoking spirituality and transformation, and mother-of-pearl embodying purity, protection, and a serene inner glow, adds depth and symbolism to the design.
What many people don't realize is that the Happy Hearts is a modern revival of the Happy Sport, which was created by Caroline Scheufele in 1993, and combined steel and diamonds on the same watch, violating an unwritten rule that precious stones belonged only on precious metal. The Happy Hearts extends that spirit into jewellery-dial territory, and the 2026 edition takes it to a new level with its unique design and symbolism.
Chopard's L'Heure du Diamant in 18-carat ethical white gold showcases the brand's expertise in jewellery savoir-faire, with a radiant setting that amplifies the brilliance of each stone. The 2026 cushion-shaped onyx edition underscores the brand's expertise in ornamental stones, with natural variations of mineral on the dial, making each watch unique. The movement is the Chopard 09.01-C, the same in-house automatic calibre found in the Happy Hearts, with 148 components and a 42-hour power reserve.
If you take a step back and think about it, the L'Heure du Diamant collection is Chopard's most concentrated expression of treating a timepiece as jewellery first and instrument second. The 2026 edition is a true masterpiece, with a cushion case in 18-carat ethical white gold and a movement that combines slim architecture with chronometer-certified precision. The crown features a briolette-cut diamond, and the strap is black alligator leather, making it a true work of art.
