Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul A tour of Chopard’s central manufacture reveals its pledge to champion ethical practices and hand-forged mastery.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

Fine watchmaking, for all its efforts to romanticise traditional methods, has justifiably evolved into an industry reliant on large, utilitarian machinery and advanced software to produce modern wristwatch components.

01 This watchmaker is one of the master artisans based in Chopard's main Meyrin facility.

While a handful of small independents still embody the image of a lone watchmaker sequestered in some snow-capped mountain crafting everything by hand, such storybook charm is not a luxury that brands producing tens of thousands of watches a year can afford.

02 Careful assembly of the L.U.C Full Strike minute repeater.

It would seem obvious which category Chopard falls under. Its ambassadors are A-list megastars, it has become synonymous with events like the Cannes Film Festival and 1000 Miglia race, and its many watch and jewellery creations have become icons in the realm of accoutrements. What is less obvious, perhaps, is that the maison is making every effort to maintain the soul of craftsmanship in its still family owned business, as our recent visit to its headquarters in Meyrin revealed.

HOME OF ARTISTRY

This manufacture in Meyrin is one of three facilities Chopard runs in Switzerland. The other two are located in Fleurier, dedicated to the development of its top-of-the-line L.U.C watches, and production of high-volume movements such as the ones found in the Mille Miglia and ladies’ collections, respectively.

03 Chopard is one of few Swiss maisons that still operate their own gold foundry.

The Meyrin location, however, is where the rest of the magic happens.