Using the art of enamelling and maki-e, Chopard’s artisans bring Ganesha to life in a truly Indian artistic way.
July 20, 2023: Chopard is known to take inspiration from multiple cultures for its elaborate watches. Whether it’s the Chinese New Year or Italian architecture, Chopard has been on the forefront to create unique expressions of art and watchmaking. The latest in its repertoire are L.U.C XP Urushi Ganesh and L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Ganesh.
Limited to 10 pieces, L.U.C XP Urushi Ganesh Special Edition features an extremely slender L.U.C XP case in ethical rose gold, an ultra-thin 3.30mm thick L.U.C Calibre 96.17-L with automatic winding via a micro-rotor, as well as a dial crafted in Japan by artisans specialising in the Maki-e technique.
The 10 iterations of L.U.C XP Urushi Ganesh Edition are produced by the workshops of the century-old company Yamada Heiando, a meticulous task requiring no less than 20 hours of work. In accordance with this refined ancestral technique, gold flakes – placed between layers of lacquer made from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree – light up the background.
The Japanese master lacquerers created a dial which depicts the duality of a greedy Ganesh who threw his weapon at the moon one night when the latter had laughed at him because his belly had burst with pastry; and wise Ganesh, lotus flower in hand, master of the Gana or mischievous little geniuses, writing the Mahabharata dictated by the legendary Indian sage Vyasa.
The L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Ganesh Edition – limited to only five pieces – features an exquisite Grand Feu enamelled dial created by the brand's enamelling artisan. It depics the same scene as in the Urushi watch. He is also accompanied by a mouse – depicted in some portrayals as serving as his mount – which he is said to have captured during his own childhood when the little creature was terrorising those around him.
The Grand Feu enamelled dial of Spirit 25 was crafted on a base in ethical 18-carat rose gold and fired several times at very high temperatures (820°C). The hours appear through an aperture positioned at 6 o’clock so as to ensure that the minutes hand does not obscure the sight of the hours change, which takes place instantaneously.
Inside the round-shaped case inspired by Louis-Ulysse Chopard’s pocket watches is the L.U.C 98.06-L movement, one of the few in the jumping hour watches – which generally consume a great deal of energy – to offer up to eight days of power reserve. Thanks to the four stacked and series-coupled barrels based on the unique Chopard Quattro technology – which usually allows up to 216 hours of autonomy – the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Ganesh Edition maintains an over 190-hour power reserve despite the amount of energy required for the rotation of the hours disc.
Visible through an exhibition case-back, this highly complicated mechanical movement with manual winding guarantees reliability and precision within an overall thickness of just 4.85 mm. The balance-spring is equipped with a Phillips terminal curve that precisely controls the oscillations of the regulating organ. The movement is also fitted with a swan’s neck fine-adjustment regulator.
With festive season around the corner, the miniature art inspired Ganesha watches by Chopard will surely entice lovers of beauty and abiders of faith.
Post your comment