When I first set eyes on Chopard’s Alpine Eagle at its launch last year, it was obvious the 160-year-old maison was intent on creating a platform watch that would spawn fresh references for years, if not decades.
It was the right time to unveil a sporty, stylish, steel timepiece as the lines between professional tool and dress watches have blurred to the point of irrelevance.
Chopard also has the pedigree in luxury watches that are equally at home on the ski slopes of the Alps, a business meeting in Zurich or dinner in Mayfair.
After all, its St. Moritz watch from the 1970s was used as a reference point for the creation of the Alpine Eagle.
A year on from the first Eagle taking flight, Chopard has added a larger 44mm diameter model, this time with a flyback chronograph, under the Alpine Eagle XL banner.
It is offered in all steel with a blue or black sunray dial or a combination of steel and rose gold, with just a black dial for now.
All three have integrated steel or bi-colour bracelets.
They use a new COSC-certified automatic chronograph movement, the Chopard 03.05-C, which has 60 hours of power reserve and four patentable advances, according to the company.
Added to last year’s debut Alpine Eagle collections, Chopard now has 10 references in two case sizes.
Along with the sporty Alpine Eagle XL, Chopard has added a 41mm edition in an 18ct rose gold case with a diamond-studded gold bezel and worn on an all gold bracelet and a more diminutive Alpine Eagle Small, a 36mm three-hander in steel.
