Top 14 Facts About Chopard Watches – Interesting Things to Know

Chopard is a well-known and popular jewelry and watch brand. The company has a long and rich history and is present all over the world. Chopard’s history begins with wristwatches but today, the company has branched out to focus on fine watches together with haute jewelry.

Chopard is perhaps most known for its jewelry today, worn by some of the most well-known celebrities on the red carpets. In addition to its regular jewelry collections, Chopard also makes rare, highly exclusive Haute joaillerie creations that come with exorbitant price tags. But jewelry creation and watchmaking go hand-in-hand in many ways. Fine jewelry-making requires the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail as watchmaking does. In addition, Chopard also puts great emphasis and pride on the watches that it produces.

If you are looking to learn more about Chopard, its history, and its watches, you have come to the right place. In this article, we are taking a closer look at Chopard.

Top most interesting facts about Chopard

1. The company was founded in 1860

Chopard was founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Sonvilier, Switzerland 1860.

2. It was originally named Le Petit-Fils de L.-U. Chopard & Sie S.A.

Whilst Chopard is the name we know today, the original name was much longer and far more complex.

3. Chopard has been owned by the Scheufele family since 1963

Since 1963, Chopard has been owned by the German family Schefeule. The company was taken over by an external party in 1963 as Paul-André Chopard did not have any children who could take over the business. Therefore, he sold the company to Karl Scheufele III who was a German goldsmith and watchmaker from Pforzheim. Scheufele was looking for a watch movement manufacturer for his own business and this acquisition of Chopard was deemed a perfect addition.

Today, Chopard is one of only a handful of major jewelry/watch companies that are privately owned.

4. Chopard has had many prominent clients

It’s only natural that a company that makes such extraordinary and stunning luxury creations attracts some very important and prominent individuals as its clients. And this is exactly what Chopard did. Amongst many others, one of Chopard’s clients includes Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

5. The original Chopard timepieces were branded L.U.C.

If you see a vintage watch that is branded L.U.C., it’s actually a Chopard. Don’t be confused when you don’t find any vintage watch that is branded “Chopard”. L.U.C was the brand name used on the dials of the watches, which stands for “Louis-Ulysse Chopard”.

6. Louis-Ulysse died in 1915

Following the death of Louis-Ulysse in 1915, his son Paul-Louis and his grandson Paul-André took over the company. During this time, Chopard focused predominantly on making pocket watches and ladies’ wristwatches (as wristwatches for men hadn’t become a thing yet).

7. Chopard relocated to Geneva to acquire the Geneva seal

In 1937, Chopard relocated to Geneva. During this time, the company had 150 employees and had grown to a relatively large size. The benefit of the move, amongst other things, was that Chopard’s watches could get the “Geneva Seal“, a prestigious stamp of approval, reflecting superb quality and fine watchmaking. This was a seal only given to watches produced in the Canton of Geneva, hence why the move was necessary to achieve this.

8. Chopard primarily focuses on jewelry

Today, Chopard primarily focuses on fine jewelry which is what the company is most known for. But watchmaking is how the company started. And still, Chopard has certainly not abandoned watchmaking today. Chopard was founded by watchmaking and the company solely made timepieces at the beginning of its history. In fact, Chopard watches were highly-regarded for their timekeeping and precision and put great importance in the art of watchmaking.

9. Chopard continues to release impressive timepieces

Whilst jewelry is what most people know Chopard for, the company continues to produce fine timepieces and develop extremely complex movements. By doing this, Chopard proves that it is a watch brand to rely on, with great expertise when it comes to watchmaking.

For example, Chopard created the L.U.C Flying T Twin watch with a flying tourbillon movement that is extremely complex and difficult to make. It requires the utmost attention to detail and highly experienced watchmakers to both develop and craft. This timepiece – amongst many others – goes to show that Chopard is not just a jewelry brand that makes watches on the side. It is a full-bred watch company with great experience and skill.

Moreover, Chopard makes its calibers in-house in its Fleurier Ébauches workshops. This brings us to our next point.

10. Chopard established its complete watch movement manufacturing facility in 1996

Proving Chopard’s devotion to watchmaking, Chopard established its own watch movement manufacturing facility n Fleurier, located in the Swiss Canton of Neuchâtel. Before this, Chopard assembled its movements from third-party components. The opening of the factory allowed Chopard to develop its movements in-house. This factory was dedicated to the high-end watches in Chopard’s collection.

11. Chopard started making sports watches and jewelry in the 1980s

In the 1980s, Chopard started branching out to jewelry and developed into the watch brand we know today. The company previously focused on elegant dress watches – like most watch companies at that time – but now started to make men’s sports watches. In addition to this, Chopard began making diamond jewelry for women. Today, it has established itself as an expert in the jewelry-making industry.

Chopard launched the St. Moritz sports watch which was the first water-resistant and shock-resistant from Chopard.

12. A Chopard watch sold for US$1.67 million/CHF 1,685,000 in 2015

At Christie’s auction on November 10, 2015, a Chopard Happy Diamond watch was hammered for the staggering price of US$1.67 million (CHF 1,685,000). This watch is powered by a quartz movement and features a pink marquise-cut diamond, weighing approximately 2.62 carats. Moreover, it has a blue marquise-cut diamond, weighing approximately 1.48 carat.

13. Chopard has a close relationship with car racing

Most people are probably familiar with Chopard’s relationship with the Mille Miglia race. Of course, Chopard has dedicated a whole collection of watches to this race, with racing-inspired designs, one of which is the tire-pattered rubber strap.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele said the following: “People say that lovers of fine cars also have a great weakness for fine timepieces and vice versa. In both cases, sporting elegance and outstanding performance are especially important,”

The iconic Mille Miglia race is an iconic and historic race with which Chopard has a relation. The company’s connection with the event goes all the way back to 1988, being a partner of the event ever since.

14. Chopard celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010

In 2010, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary. At that time, Chopard’s sales reached €550 million, of which €250 million were from watches. Moreover, the company had about 100 stores all over the world.

Top 14 Facts About Chopard Watches – Interesting Things to Know