Chopard is continuing to develop its Alpine Eagle collection with a mission to make it a luxury sports watch with the desirability of a Daytona or Royal Oak.
The family has a distinctive design that has proved flexible enough for use in several case sizes, models in steel or precious metals and able to accommodate chronographs and everyday three-handers in a range of dial colors.
All Alpine Eagles also use Chopard-made movements, which makes them attractive to a certain type of customer.
What the Alpine Eagle has not yet managed is to manage supply and demand in a way that makes core collection watches hold or increase in value on the secondary market.
The most common blue-dialed 41mm steel-on-steel Alphine Eagle ref. 298600-3001, currently priced at £12,900, can be bought for around £10,000 on the secondary market today.
Reaching the status of a Royal Oak or Aquanaut does not happen overnight, and Chopard is continuing to finesse the Alpine Eagle line.
Chopard XL Chrono
This week we see the addition of a 44mm XL Chrono model in Lucent Steel – Chopard’s exclusive alloy that is said to be stronger and more reflective than normal steel, and manufactured with a recycling rate of at least 80%.
The oversized XL Chrono houses Chopard’s 03.05-C chronometer-certified flyback chronograph movement.
For the first time, the watch comes on a rubber strap, and it also has a new dial colour: Maritime Blue, which joins other looks inspired by the Alps including Aletsch Blue, Bernina Grey and Pitch Black.
In the more mainstream 41mm size, Chopard has added two models with Pine Green dials; one in Lucent Steel, the other in ethically sourced 18ct rose gold.
Both use the in house 01.01-C automatic three-hand with date movement, which has a 60 hour power reserve.
All Alpine Eagle watches have crystal case backs exposing their decorated, COSC-certified movements.
