Chopard L.U.C Quattro 16/1863 Blue

Opening Context
The L.U.C collection marked Chopard’s emergence as a serious movement manufacture, bringing traditional finishing and in-house mechanical development together under a distinctly restrained design language. The Quattro Ref. 16/1863 is an important expression of that philosophy. Rather than pursuing complication for spectacle, it focuses on something fundamentally useful: an exceptionally long power reserve. Housed within a 38 mm white gold case and paired here with a rich blue guilloché dial, the result is a classical dress watch concealing considerable mechanical ambition.

Why This Reference Matters
The defining achievement of the Quattro is its approximately 216-hour, or eight-day, power reserve. The manual-winding Calibre L.U.C 1.98 achieves this through a four-barrel architecture, allowing the watch to run for more than a week between windings. That capability is communicated directly on the dial through a power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, balanced by small seconds and a pointer date at 6 o’clock. Applied white gold spearhead markers and Dauphine hands sit against the blue guilloché surface, giving the dial texture while maintaining the restrained character associated with early L.U.C watchmaking.

On the Wrist
At 38 mm, the Ref. 16/1863 occupies a particularly appealing size for a complicated dress watch. The white gold case provides reassuring weight while remaining visually discreet, leaving the blue guilloché dial to provide much of the personality. Its texture becomes more apparent as the light moves across the surface, while the vertically balanced indications give the dial a sense of order despite the amount of information displayed. A dark blue leather strap continues the tonal character of the dial, finished with an 18K white gold tang buckle for a quietly cohesive appearance.

Condition & Transparency
This example is configured with a 38 mm 18K white gold case, blue guilloché dial, dark blue leather strap and 18K white gold tang buckle. The dial features applied white gold spearhead hour markers, white gold Dauphine hands, a power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, and small seconds with a pointer date at 6 o’clock. It is powered by the manual-winding Calibre L.U.C 1.98, with an approximately 216-hour power reserve. No specific information regarding cosmetic condition, polishing history, box and papers, provenance or previous servicing has been provided, and these details therefore remain unconfirmed rather than assumed.

Why It Belongs in a Collection
The L.U.C Quattro suits a collector who appreciates mechanical ingenuity expressed without unnecessary theatre. Its eight-day reserve is technically meaningful in everyday use, while manual winding preserves the interaction expected of a traditional high-end dress watch. It also represents an important aspect of Chopard beyond the house’s jewellery and more familiar contemporary collections: the development of serious manufacture movements under the L.U.C name. Within a broader collection, it offers genuine horological substance while remaining unusually understated about it.

Closing
The Chopard L.U.C Quattro Ref. 16/1863 is a watch whose restraint belies what is happening beneath the dial. Its blue guilloché surface and white gold case provide the visual refinement, while the four-barrel Calibre L.U.C 1.98 and eight-day power reserve supply the mechanical character. It is a thoughtful expression of early L.U.C watchmaking—traditional in appearance, ambitious in construction and designed to reward a closer understanding.

Specifications

• Case Size: 38 mm
  
• Material: 18K White Gold
  
• Dial: Blue Guilloché Dial with Applied White Gold Spearhead Hour Markers, White Gold Dauphine Hands, Power Reserve Indicator at 12 o’Clock, Small Seconds and Pointer Date at 6 o’Clock
  
• Strap: Dark Blue Leather Strap with 18K White Gold Tang Buckle
  
• Power Reserve: 216 Hours
  
• Movement: Manual-Winding (Calibre L.U.C 1.98)

Shipments are delivered under Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) terms, with duties and taxes payable by the recipient.