Milestones
1860Louis-Ulysse Chopard founds a high-precision watchmaking factory in Sonvilier (Swiss Jura Region).
1920Chopard relocates to Geneva and launches into the production of quality watches.
1963Karl Scheufele takes over Chopard. He owns the German firm Karl Scheufele, founded in 1904 and specialised in watches (under the Eszeha brand name) and jewellery. Production from both manufacturing entities continues under the Chopard brand.
1975The Manufacture leaves the centre of Geneva for the Meyrin-Geneva site. Chopard develops an additional focus, this time on ladies and jewellery watches.
1976Creation of the first Happy Diamonds watch: around the movement, mobile diamonds slide and spin freely between two transparent sapphire crystals.
1980Launch of the first Sport watch with leather strap: St. Moritz. Further development of the "Happy Diamonds" concept, declined in watches and jewellery, a great success.
1983The first Chopard boutique in Asia opens in Hong Kong.
1986The first Chopard boutique in Europe opens in Geneva.
1988Start of the partnership between Chopard and the Mille Miglia vintage and classic car rally held each year in Italy. Chopard creates the Mille Miglia collection, combining watchmaking technology and precision mechanisms.
1993Launch of the Happy Sport collection.
1996The company returns to its origins by founding a watch Manufacture in the Swiss Jura, dedicated to crafting the “L.U.C” movements.
1997The first L.U.C 1860 watch fitted with L.U.C Calibre 96.01 (L.U.C 1.96) is voted “Watch of the Year” by the Swiss magazine Montres Passion.
1998Chopard becomes the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival.
2000Presentation of a world premiere: the L.U.C Quattro watch equipped with Calibre L.U.C 98.01 (L.U.C 1.98) fitted with 4 barrels (2 x 2 stacked barrels) which has a power-reserve of approximately 9 days.
2001Launch of the L.U.C Tonneau model, equipped with the world's first tonneau-shaped self-winding movement, with off-centred microrotor.
2002Innovation in the field of High Jewellery: the Golden Diamonds concept.
2003Presentation of the L.U.C Calibre 02.01 (L.U.C 1.02) and the first L.U.C Tourbillon watch, a new technological accomplitshment by Chopard Manufacture. Introduction of the Happy Spirit collection, a contemporary style highlighting pure shapes.
2004Presentation at Baselworld of the L.U.C Regulator watch and the High Jewellery Butterfly collection. Launch of the first qualitative certification for watches: Qualité Fleurier. Centenary of Karl Scheufele’s company based in Pforzheim-Birkenfeld.
2005Presentation of the Copacabana collection. Launch of the L.U.C Lunar One.
200630th anniversary of Happy Diamonds. 10th anniversary of the L.U.C. Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier. Launch of the L.U.C Chrono One. Opening of L.U.CEUM.
2007Launch of the Chopardissimo collection. Chopard celebrates the opening of its 100th boutique, a 280 m2 flagship store on 709 Madison in New York. Opening of the Ginza flagship store in Japan.
2008Launch of the L.U.C Tourbillon Tech Twist.
2009Opening of Singapore flagship store. Launch of the L.U.C Lunar Big Date. The L.U.C Tourbillon Tech Twist in palladium is the first Chopard timepiece equipped with a silicium escapment.
2010Chopard celebrates its 150th anniversary. Karin & Karl Scheufele (chairman). Caroline, Karl-Friedrich (co-presidents) & Christine Scheufele.