NEW YORK — When it comes to high-precision watches, the standard has long been set by Swiss engineering. The house of Chopard distinguishes itself from its fellow Swiss rivals by producing fine jewelry as well as exquisite watches.
Louis-Ulysse Chopard launched the business in the 1860s in Sonvilier, Switzerland, making precision pocket watches and chronometers and specializing in thin watches that were suitable for everyday wear. Chopard’s creative designs and quality craftsmanship quickly attracted a loyal following that included the Swiss Railway Company and Russia’s tsar, among others. In the early 1910s, his son, Paul-Louis Chopard, succeeded his father in running the factory and by 1937, the third generation, Paul-André Chopard, had joined the firm.
During the same era, German watchmaker Karl Scheufele I had built a strong multigenerational company creating fine jewelry and watches, and by 1963, his descendant, Karl Scheufele III, began looking for a Swiss watchmaker to expand his business. Paul-Andre Chopard sold the company to Scheufele and his wife, and the pair expanded Chopard’s business reach and interests. Today, Chopard has locations in key cities in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and North America.
In 1976, Chopard made a mark on the culture when it released its Happy Diamonds watch design, which featured loose, floating diamonds set around the watch dials. The firm has also created many designs featuring fine gemstones, including aquamarines, which it often pairs with diamonds. A suite dating to the 2000s that comprises a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of dangling pendant earrings in yellow and gray 18K gold with aquamarines, diamonds and yellow diamonds attained $76,957 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2022 at Piasa.
Chopard’s haute couture jewelry collections have been well-received, and that is especially true for one of its contemporary lines, Temptations. This collection debuted in 2011 and included necklaces, rings and earrings in bold and rich colors. A pair of teardrop-shape Temptations earrings in 18K white gold with diamonds, green tourmaline and red rubellite realized $14,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2021 at The Trove Group – Fine Jewelry. This line was designed to redefine casual luxury for the modern woman.
Among Chopard’s popular watch collections is its L’Heure du Diamant (diamond hour), which references not only the company’s history but its devotion to diamonds. A ladies’ L’Heure du Diamant watch made $40,656 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2022 at Winchester Art Auction.
Another Chopard statement piece is a watch that married the best of jewelry design with watchmaking. A ladies’ bracelet watch in 18K gold, onyx, coral and diamonds realized $27,485 plus the buyer’s premium at Monaco Legend Auctions in July 2019. “The special decoration that recalls the stylized shape of an hourglass recurs throughout the structure of this jewel-watch, and stands out thanks to the contrast of the totally different colors of the materials used,” according to the auctioneer’s description. The use of black onyx delivers a strong contrast with the vivid red coral and the brilliant shine of the diamonds. This clever choice of materials is in keeping with Chopard’s goal of making watches that function well and represent trendsetting new looks.
Another desirable example of Chopard’s watches is an 18K gold La Strada bracelet watch that brought $30,000 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2021 at Joshua Kodner. This ladies’ wristwatch, featuring diamonds and emeralds, was an homage to Federico Fellini’s 1954 film La Strada and mimics a woman’s curves with its rounded hourglass silhouette.
Chopard has revolutionized both fashionable watches and couture jewelry by offering wearable art for men and women that is fit for casual and fancy occasions. Boldness and creativity is at the heart of Chopard’s reputation for ingenious designs that continue to enchant many collectors.