Well known to watch aficionados are names such as the Nautilus and the Royal Oak, those famed early examples of the “luxury sports watch.”
But there were other such timepieces with integrated bracelets designed in the 1970s and 1980s, of which Chopard’s St. Moritz was one. Celebrating the famed Swiss alpine ski resort, the St. Mortiz and its design language were revived when Chopard debuted the Alpine Eagle in 2019. Bearing all the traditional hallmarks of the St. Moritz, the Alpine Eagle stays true to its roots tapping into its principles of utilitarian design and “form follows function.”
This piece, a Reference 298600-3001, features a 41mm stainless steel case with a blend of brushed and polished finishes executed to perfection. The case is further complemented by a fixed bezel with exposed screws, a sapphire crystal, a signed screw-down crown, and a sapphire exhibition caseback framing its COSC certified, Calibre 01.01-C.
The dial features a set of applied luminous indices with quadrant Roman numerals, as well as a date indicator at 4:30, and matching handset set against an absolutely stunning, textured blue dial. Paying tribute to its Alpine Eagle name, its seconds hand features a counter weight made in the shape of a feather, and its dial resembling the iris of an eagle.
Fantastic.
Outfitted with an integrated stainless steel bracelet with a signed hidden deployant clasp, this piece is accompanied by its factory goodies.
You're not getting a straight copy of a Nautilus or Royal Oak.
What you're getting is modern recreation of an original design from a manufacture that has been doing it for 160-plus years. And an awesome deal compared to its integrated sports watch peers!