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Existing environmental and ethical regulations facing watch and jewelry brands only give collectors limited piece of mind when it comes to the provenance of the precious stones and metals they wear on their wrists. Chopard gives buyers something they can be proud to flaunt with their growing collection of sustainable and socially conscious watches. Here, the latest in the series of Fairmined designs to debut from the brand, just unveiled at Baselworld 2017.
Chopard and Fairmined Gold
In 2013, Chopard launched “The Journey to Sustainable Luxury,” a program established with Eco-Age dedicated to responsible sourcing of gems and materials used in their designs. As part of the agreement, the watchmaker partnered with South American nonprofit Alliance for Responsible Mining, establishing the watch industry’s first multiyear commitment to using sustainable, ethically sourced gold for a portion of their watches and jewelry. As part of the pledge, Chopard agreed to purchase a substantial amount of artisanal gold with Fairmined certification, which ensures that the precious metal is mined responsibly by small mining communities and that the miners and the environment are both properly treated in the process. Since entering into the partnership, the brand has created several collections of watches and jewelry that utilize Fairmined gold.
Main Features of the L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined
Now, Chopard builds on the commitment, debuting a new limited-edition timepiece, the L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined, crafted in ethically sourced 18-karat rose gold. The 40mm watch is ultra-thin, measuring just 7.2 mm, and has a slate gray dial with a textured sunburst pattern designed to emulate the look of raw gold as it is extracted from the ground. The L.U.C Caliber 96.09-L movement features two barrels and offers 65 hours of power reserve.
The watch is a COSC-certified chronometer and carries the Fleurier Quality Foundation certification attesting to its craftsmanship (as well as its precision, reliability, and durability), finishing, and Swiss origins. The timepiece offers hours and minutes using traditional hands, and features a seconds' subsidiary dial at 7:00. The crown is unusually placed at 4:00 for balance. It is finished with an alligator strap, dyed using plant-based pigments.
Price and Availability
Just 250 pieces of the L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined will be produced, for $18,850. The watches will be available at Chopard boutiques around the world this spring. chopard.com.
For more gold watches for men, see our reviews of the Monsieur de Chanel, the A. Lange & Söhne Special-Edition Lange 1 Time Zone in Honey Gold, and the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Set Galaxy.
