See the Watches Chopard Unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2021

By Amy Elliott | April 12, 2021

Chopard revealed its Watches and Wonders newness last week, and we’ve edited it down here to focus on timepieces that embraced a joyous, colorful aesthetic—perhaps trumpeting the return of glamorous garden parties and other events that might call for gemmy wristwear of the highest order.

Among the haute joaillerie debuts is the Esperanza watch, entirely crafted in 18k white gold with more than 41 cts. of Zambian emeralds in a mix of pear and round shapes to mimic leaves and petals complemented by glittering diamonds. The Esperanza watch is the inaugural piece in Chopard’s new Red Carpet collection, which the maison develops to coincide with the Cannes Film Festival each year. The number of jewelry creations in the series corresponds to the age of the festival; thus, no less than 74 creations are expected to debut in 2021.

Chopard Esperanza watch — *It took Chopard’s artisans more than 515 hours of work to complete the Esperanza watch. (Photo: © Patrick-Csajko)*

Next, a trio of haute joaillerie masterpieces that highlight Chopard’s dancing diamonds design concept. The dial of each timepiece features diamonds that spin on their own axis, laurel wreaths of marquise-cut diamonds, and blue or pink sapphires and is respectively fitted with matching gray, blue, or pink satin straps.

Chopard Haute Joaillerie watches — *The dancing diamonds idea was developed by Chopard in 1976.*

From Chopard’s Happy Diamonds series is a timepiece that combines the sparkle of diamonds and the shimmer of Tahitian mother-of-pearl, with 15 dancing diamonds that swirl around the dial in a playful game of hide-and-seek.

Chopard Happy Diamonds watch — Playful ingenuity: A gallery connecting the points at 9 and 3 o’clock temporarily hides the diamonds from sight at these times. When they emerge from this secret passage, the gems cascade down the dial, like a splash of bubbles from a waterfall.

The L’Heure du Diamant watch has a cushion-shape case with curved sides and a unique bark-textured bracelet strap, reviving the inimitable spirit of 1960s glamour. The bezel is encrusted with 4.44 cts. of diamonds.

Chopard Lheure du Diamant watch — About the bracelet: Made in 18k white gold, its tree bark–style texture is silky to the touch and easy to wear. It follows the curve of the wrist without ever snagging on the fabric of the wearer’s sleeve. This entirely handcrafted goldwork technique was developed by the Scheufele family, Chopard’s owners, in the 1960s.

Finally, a new addition to Chopard’s Imperiale collection, which is inspired by the nobility and beauty of historic empires. Its proportions offer a subtle balance between classicism and modernity, and this latest iteration is a diamond-set statement in iridescent green mother-of-pearl, 18k rose gold, and a green alligator strap.

Chopard Imperiale watch — *The watch is finished with carefully considered details that tell a story of imperial grandeur: sword-shape hands, a crown-like lotus flower, and lugs reminiscent of ancient columns.*

Top: Created in a limited-edition run of eight, this timepiece is the latest addition to Chopard’s L.U.C XP Esprit de Fleurier Peony collection, which celebrates the flower’s beauty and mystique. The bloom is the traditional floral symbol of China, where it embodies prosperity and honor and is regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage. The design— inspired by the antique decorative pocket watches found in the L.U.CEUM, Chopard’s museum in Fleurier—displays the image of pink peonies blooming on a light green background, expertly articulated through the art of grand feu enameling.

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