26 Oct 2021

Jasper Lijfering Amsterdam vintage watches - a unique visit to Chopard

Family-owned and fusing watchmaking and jewellery-making

Chopard remains one of the very few family-owned watchmaking companies to this day, with its history rooted in Swiss watchmaking going as far back as 1860. The Maison we know today has built on this foundation and added the jewellery know-how of the Scheufele family following their purchase of Chopard in 1963. Fittingly, the museum pays tribute to this marriage of horological and jewellery expertise with the watchmaker and jeweller work desks of Paul-André Chopard (3rd generation) and Mr Scheufele senior, respectively, exhibited back-to-back, a striking representation of the company’s present DNA and testament to the hands-on approach of owners past and present.

Rediscovering iconic collections

On display is the Maison’s very first international success and hallmark, the Happy Diamonds watches of the 1970s. These beloved models found exclusively in women collections have a fascinating story of their own and exemplify the fusion of the House dual areas of expertise.

Besides the Happy Diamonds, Chopard has created watches drawing on different universes, from the automotive with the Grand Prix de Monaco in 1980 and the Mille Miglia in 1988, to the ground-breaking sport-chic Saint Moritz and its modern reinterpretation, the Alpine Eagle.

With every generation, the smallest details are perfected while innovations are constantly incorporated in each new model.

A passion for high-end watchmaking

The passion for horological tradition and innovation runs in the family and is on display at the Chopard museum.

An extremely limited flying tourbillon with sapphire baguette-set case, the first prototype of the legendary 96 movement and its micro-rotor, or a minute repeater in special steel alloy are just some of the watch references awaiting the visitor.