To the uninitiated, the Alpine Eagle – Chopard’s signature sports watch collection, launched back in 2019 – can feel like it’s standing on the shoulders of giants.
But whatever cosmetic similarities it might share with other heavy hitters in the luxury watch market (it is, after all, made of stainless steel on an integrated bracelet) drawing a parallel with designs rooted in diving or the world of space exploration is a boring place to begin.
Why? Because the Alpine Eagle isn’t like those watches at all. Instead it is the singular by-product of countless holidays spent in Swiss ski resorts: conceived by and for gentleman alpinists whose outlook on life is simple.
“Live well, and look damned good doing it.”
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Straight Outta St. Moritz
Doubtless, watch lovers know where the story of the Alpine Eagle begins.
Winding the clock back to the year 1980 – in the decade of Halston, Roxy Music and Roger-Moore-as-James-Bond – steel sports watches were, with their mixture of chic design and rakish practicality, on the fast-track to widespread popularity.
22-year-old Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (today, Co-President of Chopard) was well aware of this.
In honour of the Swiss alpine resort where his friends, family – and no doubt many a Chopard client – spent their holidays, he masterminded the St. Moritz – a collection of sportif gold and semi-gold watches, meant to accompany skiers across the Piz Nair.
Discontinued after just six years, the St. Moritz nevertheless endures in the collective imagination of watch culture. In an exciting moment of repeated history, Karl-Fritz Scheufele (son of Karl-Friedrich) spied a vintage St. Moritz at his family offices in the late 2010s.
By then, as one can imagine, steel sports watches had become a mammoth category in consumer luxury; and after studying how the DNA of the St. Moritz line could be reinvented, the youngest Scheufele came away with a definitive proclamation.
“That’s the kind of watch that we should be making today.”
Slalom Style Reborn
A quick glance at the St. Moritz and modern Alpine Eagle, side by side, lay bare the ancestral connection between both. In particular, the St. Moritz’s eight precious metal screws, set at equal distances around the bezel; and its tapered, horizontal-link bracelet are reimagined.
The latter is as comfortable as it is thoughtfully crafted – offering plenty of drama on the arm thanks to the mirror-polished finish of each mid-link.
Of course, the collection also reflects the kind of Maison Chopard has evolved into these last 40 years. If releases like the Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT, are any indication, the brand’s high watchmaking credentials are on an exciting upward trajectory.
Collectors will realise this as they familiarise themselves with the range, which over the past half-decade has expanded to a total of 41 models: in a range of precious metal, titanium, or Chopard’s groundbreaking ‘Lucent’ steel.
For first-time callers (particularly from Boss Hunting’s audience), the 40mm-43mm range is an excellent place to begin your journey. Whether your weapon of choice is the lightning-fast Cadence 8HF or a full-tilt tourbillon, there are a range of ways to rock Chopard’s signature sporty-chic design.
Still, for lovers of the après-ski lifestyle, the classic 41mm variation is about as much watch as you need on and off the slopes.
Clad in Lucent steel cases and a handful of different colours (our money’s on the pine green or ‘Bernina’ grey), each is distinguished by the presence of a dial with textural, rock-like finishing – reminiscent of, you guessed it, the eye of an eagle.
Like we said: a watch engineered to enhance life’s daily pleasures – and look great while doing it.
This article is sponsored by Chopard. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
