First introduced in 2019, the Alpine Eagle represented Chopard’s foray into the ever covetable integrated stainless steel sports watch category. A contemporary interpretation of an archival design — the St. Mortiz — the Alpine Eagle has since been iterated several times, from salmon-toned dials and diamond-encrusted versions to oversized chronographs. Sitting within the latter category, the new Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Maritime Blue sees the hefty timepiece bestowed with the zeitgeisty ice blue (or Tiffany blue!) dial.
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Housed in a 44mm case crafted from the Swiss manufacture’s proprietary Lucent Steel (made with a minimum of 80% recycled steel), the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Maritime Blue marks a fresh take on the oversized style; previously released in Aletsch Blue and Pitch Black. According to Chopard, the new shade is inspired by “the azure waters of the Mediterranean sea bordering the southern slopes of the Alps”. Like other models in the Alpine Eagle collection, the dial takes on a textured sunburst pattern designed to evoke an eagle’s iris.
The tricompax layout sees snailed counters add visual interest to the dial, while the hour and minute hands as well as the rhodium-plated hour indices are filled with Grade XI SuperLumiNova. The tachymeter scale and markings on the subdials are executed in black, with the former bearing orange 100, 160, and 240 graduations which create a visual link with the flecks of orange on the chronograph seconds, minutes, and hour hands.
While the time-and-date models boast more classic proportions (sized from 33mm to 41mm) and are paired with an integrated stainless steel bracelet, the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono employs sportier styling cues. Like its Aletsch Blue and Pitch Black counterparts, it’s presented on a rubber strap; though rather than being colour-matched to the dial, it’s rendered in black. The rubber strap retains the design cues of the metal bracelet, slightly tapering off and featuring a raised central cap.
At the heart of the timepiece beats the calibre 03.05-C, an in-house movement equipped with a column wheel and patented technical innovations: a unidirectional gear drive system that prevents energy losses while ensuring efficient automatic winding, a vertical clutch to ensure accurate time-measurement starts, and a hacking seconds function. The COSC-certified flyback chronograph has a 60-hour power reserve.
The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Maritime Blue is a boutique exclusive model. Priced at €20,800, it is available upon request.
Words by AR Staff
