Watches & Wonders 2026: Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS With Champagne-Coloured Dial

When you hear or read about the Alpine Eagle collection, it sounds familiar – like so much in traditional watchmaking. In fact, however, the Alpine Eagle for the wrist has only been around since 2019. Back then, Chopard reinterpreted the St. Moritz, launched in 1980, and brought it into the present day as the Alpine Eagle.

The original St. Moritz was created on the initiative of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of the company. The son of Karl Scheufele III, who had taken over Chopard in 1963, was ahead of his time: he was convinced from an early stage that a sporty, luxury stainless steel watch would be a success – an assessment that proved to be correct. Just under four decades later, it was his son, Karl-Fritz Scheufele, who – with his grandfather’s support – initiated the revival of this concept.

“The Alpine Eagle collection not only embodies sustainable values and technical expertise, but also represents a family history spanning three generations – characterised by entrepreneurship and perseverance,” said Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.

The intergenerational project proved to be a success right from the start. Since 2019, the collection – which is produced and assembled entirely in-house – has been expanded to include several complications, including a chronograph, a flying tourbillon and a high-frequency movement. The Alpine Eagle benefits from the expertise built up over decades at the Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier.

In addition to its technical expertise and passion for the brilliance of diamonds, Chopard consistently focuses on the colour scheme of the dial, with its own distinctive characteristics. The sunburst pattern is reminiscent of an eagle’s iris, whilst the counterweight of the seconds hand evokes a feather from this fascinating bird of prey. The colours, in turn, are inspired by the beauty of the Alpine landscape.

The launch of the Alpine Eagle was also accompanied by the establishment of the Alpine Eagle Foundation, a charity dedicated to the conservation of the Alps and, by extension, the habitat of white-tailed and golden eagles in Switzerland.

Alpine Eagle 41 XPS in „Mountain Glow“ and Lucent Steel

Following the version with a brass dial in “Monte Rosa Pink” – which was quickly dubbed “salmon-coloured” – the ultra-thin Alpine Eagle 41 XPS is now available with a dial in “Mountain Glow”. The watch community will likely soon agree on “champagne-coloured”.

This is intended to evoke the warm light on the Alpine peaks at sunset. It provides a warm backdrop for the hands, numerals and hour markers, crafted from ethically sourced white gold, which – with the exception of the seconds hand – are coated with Superluminova.

Since 2018, Chopard has been using gold that meets international best-practice standards for environmental and social responsibility. This material is complemented by Lucent Steel, a stainless steel alloy containing at least 80 per cent recycled content. It was introduced in 2019 alongside the Alpine Eagle collection.

And so, naturally, the case – which is water-resistant to 10 bar and measures 41 × 8 millimetres – is also made from this hypoallergenic, scratch-resistant and gently shimmering material. It protects the L.U.C 96.40-L calibre.

L.U.C-movement with Twin-Technologie

The L.U.C 96.40-L calibre is based on the L.U.C 96.01-L, introduced in 1996, which was the first movement developed at the Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier. In its current, modernised version, it comprises 176 components whilst retaining its remarkably slim dimensions of just 27.4 millimetres in diameter and a height of only 3.3 millimetres.

Equipped with Chopard’s proven Twin technology – two stacked barrels – the movement offers a generous power reserve of around 65 hours. A micro-rotor crafted from 22-carat ethically sourced gold ensures efficient winding.

The calibre, which beats at 4 Hz, is certified as a chronometer by the COSC and impresses with its high precision. A swan-neck regulator and a seconds stopper allow for precise adjustment. The dial deliberately focuses on the essentials: hours, minutes and a small seconds hand.

The finishing also meets the highest standards: hand-decorated surfaces, polished details and bevelled edges qualify the movement for the Poinçon de Genève. This Geneva Seal guarantees not only technical quality and manufacture in Geneva, but also outstanding decorative craftsmanship. The corresponding emblem can be found on the case back and on the movement bridge, depicting the coat of arms of the city of Geneva with a key and an eagle – a perfect fit for the Alpine Eagle collection.

Bracelet in Lucent Steel with a comfort adjustment

The new Alpine Eagle 41 XPS features a redesigned Lucent Steel bracelet. The first five links from the case have been significantly tapered, which enhances wearing comfort and further emphasises the watch’s slim profile.

In addition, the new strap features a comfort adjustment system integrated into the triple-fold clasp. By simply pulling or pushing the first strap link, the strap can be adjusted by up to five millimetres to accommodate changes in temperature, activity levels or wrist movements.

The price of the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS “Mountain Glow” is €29,500.

chopard.com