Chopard Welcomes the 2024 Lunar New Year with the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon

Chopard’s release of its L.U.C XP Urushi watch to mark the Lunar New Year has become an anticipated milestone ever since the brand premiered the series in 2013. Each year, the unique collector’s model is an artful tribute to one of the 12 zodiac signs and one of the five elements associated with it.

For 2024, Chopard collaborated with renowned Japanese artisan Minori Koizumi, master in the traditional Maki-e lacquer technique, to create its latest masterpiece—the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon watch.

The earliest symbol to appear in Chinese legend, the dragon represents imperial power, wealth, and auspiciousness. Stories about the mythical creature date back thousands of years, with dragon symbolism said to have been part of the coat of arms of Huangdi, the first Emperor of China.

Released in a limited edition of 88 pieces, this unique watch is an exemplary testament both to Japanese tradition and to Chopard’s craftsmanship. The spectacular dials on the L.U.C XP Urushi come to life in the workshops of the century-old company Yamada Heiando, and each dial is a work of art, requiring over 20 hours of meticulous labour to complete.

The magic of the piece lies in the ancient Maki-e lacquer technique: a time-honoured Japanese craft dating back centuries. Gold flakes, delicately placed between layers of lacquer derived from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree, illuminate the background.

To harness the graceful yet powerful spirit of the Wood Dragon, the dial is rendered in a moody black inlaid with Urushi lacquer, gold powder and mother-of-pearl, framing the majestic creature in fiery reds and yellows as it soars above the clouds.

Set in an ultra-slender, 39.5 mm ethical 18-carat rose gold case, the watch is powered by the in-house L.U.C 96.17-L calibre with a micro-rotor. An artful symbol of luck and prosperity in the Chinese zodiac cycle, the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Dragon stands as a harmonious tribute to ancestral heritage and technical excellence.