The manufacturer celebrates 25 years of Fleurier watchmaking with its limited-edition, high-frequency, lightweight edition of the replica Alpine Eagle, a modern sports watch.
When Chopard launched the Alpine Eagle in 2019, the brand was in the right place at the right time. The old decree about when and where to wear a stainless steel sports watch has expired. The Alpine Eagle’s design was inspired by Chopard’s St. Moritz in the 1980s. Yes, it is sometimes painful to think that a watch from that era is considered retro, but time is passing and a whole new generation of enthusiasts are entering the design of that decade.
The Alpine Eagle was an immediate success, and today, Chopard presents the Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in titanium. Advance the Alpine Eagle story through the adoption of new materials and enhanced movement. And the brand was able to make such a move because of its independent manufacturing in Fleurier. Coincidentally, it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021.
fly like an eagle
The Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF In Titanium continues the tradition of combining cutting edge with classic design. It combines the comfort of titanium with the power of an elegant and robust mechanism. In addition, this 41 mm diameter timepiece is equipped with one of the most advanced chronograph movements in the best Chopard workshop – the Chopard Calibre 01.12 C. This high-frequency escapement beats at 57,600 vibrations per hour (8 Hz), twice the normal speed of automatic movement.
To achieve the highest precision in a lightweight watch, a high-frequency movement is essential. It’s also an aerodynamic movement, measuring just 9.75mm thick. Finding the balance between comfort and performance is not an easy task. But more on that later.
Differential equations
The Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF shares many of the attributes of its predecessor. At first glance, you might mistake it for the Alpine Eagle Large in the Lucent Steel A223. In addition, there are other 41mm models in the series. However, when you inspect the parts in metal, you can spot the difference, titanium is a darker color. It also feels less cool, but more comfortable to the touch.
The satin-brushed bezel, middle of the case, and wide bracelet links delight fans of Alpine Eagle’s design codes. The central cover of the links and the bevel of the case are polished, while the eight screws with grooves are tangential to the bezel circle. Wearers don’t have to worry about scuffs and scratches due to the sturdiness of titanium.
Eagle has landed
Many other luxurious touches make the Alpine Eagle soar above most sports watches. The sunburst dial of the watch, which Chopard calls an “eagle iris” pattern, is a tribute to the steely gaze of the majestic bird of prey. In the Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF, the Vals Grey colour is inspired by a Swiss village of the same name in the canton of Graubünden, famous for its houses with quartzite tile roofs. The shades of this limited edition are hand-finished to make each dial unique and again distinguish it from the rest of the Alpine Eagle collection.
The rest of the display is also attractive. The minute track is minimalist with stick hour markers and Roman numerals at 12 o’clock. There are two inscriptions on the dial: “8 HZ Chronometer” appears below the brand name, and the unique arrow-shaped signature reserved for Chopard HF watches.
There is also some emotional satisfaction to the layout of the movement. Fortunately, the transparent sapphire crystal caseback reveals the H8F heartbeat of Alpine Eagle Cadence. This watch represents another meeting point between the LUC Haute Horlogerie collection and the sporty Superfast collection.
New beginning
One of the benefits of this in-house evolution is Chopard’s ability to exploit the properties of monocrystalline silicon to optimise movement at 8 Hz. This lightweight, self-lubricating material is used for pallet rods, escape wheels, and impulse pins—basically, anything that experiences a lot of friction. This, in turn, eliminates the need for traditional lubricants that extend the life of the movement.
The lightness and frictional properties of silicon give watchmakers the freedom to develop escapements dedicated to high frequencies, without consuming energy. This is how the Calibre 01.12-C automatic movement provides a 60-hour power reserve. Discount replica watches