Life History of Chopard

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Life History of Chopard

Chopard is a Geneva-based luxury watch, jewelry, and Accessories Company founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard at the age of 24. If We see long back a go at Circa 1730, when early Chopard family members lived off the land, in the depths of the Jura mountains of Switzerland. It was usual for farmers to earn extra income during harsh, long, winter months by accepting piecework for watch components. Some specialised in case work, dials, or even individual movements. In those days, every cog and wheel would only fit in the movement that it was made for. There were no technical drawings or mass production of components. This extra income avoided poverty in a region with harsh climate and poor soils. On the advice of his father (Felicien), Louis-Ulysse Chopard learned watchmaking but he was different from his peers and ancestors. He did not wish to work at home to supply finished watches or components to companies that branded them as their own. This was common as well-known Brands were being incorporated at Saint-Imier, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. Young Louis-Ulysse wanted to make and sell watches with the name Chopard on the dial so at the age of 24 years, he took over an old stone building in Sonvilier village, halfway between Saint-Imier and La Chaux-de-Fonds. The simple act of painting his initials L.U.C. directly on the stone facade was the start of the company in 1860.... And the bees? Well, Chopard ancestors were involved in beekeeping and farming.
Chopard Memorable Dates

1920	Chopard relocates to Geneva and launches into the production of quality watches.
1963	Karl Scheufele takes over Chopard. Representing the third generation of a family of jewellers, he owns the German firm Karl Scheufele, founded in 1904 and specialised in watches (under the "Eszeha" brand name) and jewellery. From then on, production from both manufacturing entities continues under the Chopard brand.
1975	The Manufacture leaves the centre of Geneva for the Meyrin-Geneva site. Chopard develops an additional focus, this time on ladies watches and jewellery watches.
1976	Creation of the first “Happy Diamonds”: inside the dial, mobile diamonds slide and spin in perfect freedom between two transparent sapphire crystals. At this time, Chopard is creating its quality men's watches exclusively in gold.
1980	Launch of the first sports watch with leather strap: "St. Moritz". Development of the "Happy Diamonds" concept, which finds a great success. Creation of jewellery on this theme.
1983	The first Chopard boutique in Asia opens in Hong Kong.
1986	The first Chopard boutique in Europe opens in Geneva, followed a few years later by another in Vienna.
1988	Start of the partnership between Chopard and the famous Mille Miglia vintage and classic car rally held each year in Italy. Chopard creates the "Mille Miglia" watch, which combines watchmaking technology and precision mechanisms.
1993	Launch of the "Happy Sport" collection
1996	The company returns to its origins by founding a watch “Manufacture” in the Swiss Jura, dedicated to crafting the “L.U.C.” movements.
1997	The first “L.U.C. 1860” watches fitted with Calibre 1.96 is voted “Watch of the Year” by the Swiss magazine Montre Passion/Uhrenwelt.
1998	Chopard becomes official partner to the International Film Festival held each year in Cannes.
2000	Presentation of a world premiere: the “L.U.C. Quattro” watch equipped with Calibre 1.98. This new movement, fitted with 4 barrels (2 x 2 stacked barrels) can achieve a power-reserve of more than 9 days.
2001	Launch of the “L.U.C. Tonneau 3.97” model. This world's only tonneaushaped self-winding movement with off-centred microrotor represents a major technical feature.
2002	Innovation in the field of Haute-Joaillerie with the presentation of the new “Golden Diamonds” concept.
2003	Presentation of the "Tourbillon" watch. This new "L.U.C." watch crafted by the Manufacture represents a new technological accomplishment. Successful introduction of the new "Happy Spirit" collection, displaying its preference for contemporary styling by highlighting pure shapes. Through this new collection, Chopard expresses the current penchant for simple, geometric forms and caters to the renewed trend towards simple shapes and pleasures.
2004	Presentation at Baselworld of the “L.U.C. Régulateur" watch and of the Haute-Joaillerie “Butterfly” collection.Launch of the first qualitative horological certification for finished watches: “Qualité Fleurier”. The centenary of the “Karl Scheufele” company based in Pforzheim-Birkenfeld.
2005	Presentation of “L.U.C Lunar One” with mechanical calibre (LUC 96 QP) and perpetual calendar and “Happy Sport Carré XL” watch for ladies. New jewellery collection: “Copacabana”. First “Grand Prix Chopard” catamaran sailing regatta.
2006	10th anniversary of the manufacture in Fleurier. 30th anniversary of “Happy Diamonds”. Presentation of the new international advertising campaign with Eva Herzigova. First Chopard 8 metre world sailing championship. Launch of Chopard pour Homme, the new male fragrance.
2007	Launch of Happy spirit, the new female fragrance.


At Present Chopard

Mr. Scheufele is still the president of the Chopard Company. He has kept the Company as a family business. In the 1990s his children joined the business. Caroline Scheufele is the head of the jewelry division, while Karl-Friedrich manages the watchmaking department. Chopard holds three production sites located in Geneva, Fleurier in Switzerland and Pforzheim in Germany. The Company has organized its products distribution through 13 subsidiaries placed all over the world. In addition, the brand has opened over 90 brand boutiques. By 2007, the United States has Chopard boutiques in New York City, Beverly Hills and Costa Mesa, California, Bal Harbour and Palm Beach, Florida, and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. A ninth boutique will open in Boston in 2008 and in San Francisco in 2008 as well. There are hundreds of Chopard Authorized retailers in the United States, and thousands worldwide in every major world city like in Kuala Lumpur. 2010- 150th anniversary of the company.
The End
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