Chopard marks 20 years of the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier with a limited edition
If you’re a watch enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with chronometer certifications. Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, or COSC, for instance, confirms a movement’s accuracy within strict tolerances. You might also know the Poinçon de Genève, which highlights fine finishing and Swiss manufacturing. The Qualité Fleurier (QF), however, is less widely discussed.
Created in 2001 by four independent Swiss manufacturers—Chopard, Bovet, Parmigiani Fleurier, and Vaucher Manufacture —the QF standard goes further than most. To earn it, a watch must pass COSC testing, survive the punishing Chronofiable durability trials, and demonstrate real-world performance on the Fleuritest, a simulator that mimics the movement of a wrist over 24 hours. In addition to that, the timepiece must also meet strict criteria for finishing and be entirely Swiss-made.
Chopard was the first brand to certify a watch under these rules in 2005. Now, two decades later, the company marks the occasion with the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition, a limited release of just 20 pieces.
The design of the timepiece draws directly from that original 2005 model: a 39mm case in ethical 18k yellow gold, individually welded lugs, and a distinctive sector-style dial that strikes a careful balance between retro and contemporary styling.
Crafted from gilded brass with a subtle interplay of texture, the dial features a sunburst, satin-brushed centre that catches light in soft, radial streaks. The surrounding hour track, meanwhile, is finished with a circular satin-brushed treatment in a contrasting chocolate-brown tone. This outer ring gives the dial depth and structure without overwhelming the design. Elsewhere, a snailed small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock adds a third layer of texture.
Powering the watch is the L.U.C 96.09-L, a micro-rotor movement that features twin stacked barrels for a 65-hour power reserve. Finishing is in line with QF standards: Côtes de Genève, hand-polished bevels, chamfered edges, and a 22k gold rotor, engraved and decorated with meticulous care.
Over the past two decades, Chopard has produced only a small number of QF-certified watches, each released in limited numbers. Today, it’s the only brand still actively working with the certification. The 20th Anniversary Edition reflects that ongoing commitment, offering a measured update to a watch that was intrinsically conceived around lasting values.
