New Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF Titanium Watch
Here is our comprehensive review of the new Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF titanium bracelet recently launched in Geneva during Watches & Wonders 2023.
The new Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is basically a cosmetic update to the 2021 limited edition Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF, a watch of the same name but with a different aesthetic.
Case, Dial and Hands
The case is made of titanium. While Chopard does make a lot of emphasis on their use of Lucent A228 steel with a very high recycled content, there is no mention of whether the titanium used for the Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is made from recycled drill bits. But the aesthetics of the case and bracelet remain. The metal is very light to hold and wear, and has a darker luster than Lucent Steel.
The same code applied to the Alpine Eagle series remains. In fact, the case is identical to the gray tone-on-tone model released in 2021. The only difference is that the dial is now a deep black, a color inspired by the intense darkness of mountain nights when eagles roam the Alps. The eagle iris pattern of the dial is still present but less visible due to the darkness of the dial. The same dark color contrasts with the bright orange of the arrow-shaped seconds hand with its eagle-feather weight and the matching markers on the dial’s peripheral minute track. The Chopard logo and the words “8HZ CHRONOMETER” are printed in white, but the unique logo indicating the use of a high-frequency movement is presented in a dynamic orange waveform like an arrow.
The hands retain the same baton shape used in earlier tone reproductions and are also filled with SuperLuminova, with appliquéd baton hour markers at 11 hours and Roman numeral XII at 12 o’clock. The iconic twin screws at the base of the bezel have been retained, as has the shape of the case, flanked by double shoulders at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock, the latter double as a crown guard. On the dial The date window opens at half past four.
Movement: Chopard 01.12-C
The movement is a Chopard 10.12-C, designed and manufactured in-house. Extremely high frequency jumps are an effort to improve chronometric precision, a subject that Chopard co-president Karl Friedrich Schaefer is particularly fond of. High frequencies are more resistant to shocks, since each shock affects a shorter portion of the balance’s oscillations. This high frequency is also high speed, thus implying a fast recovery of the sync rate.
The movement is a derivative of the first Chopard copy high-frequency movement – the 100 100 LUC 8HF experimental titanium timepiece. Due to the nature of this type of collection, this model has become a true collector’s item.
The Caliber 01.12-C has a 60 hour power reserve, a feat that is all the more remarkable when it runs at such a high frequency.
However, the notes we made while reviewing the 2021 Hue model still stand. The finish is not as aesthetically pleasing as Chopard’s other LUC movements. The decor department focuses less on decoration than on function rather than form. Judging by this standard, it greatly exceeds engineering requirements.
His standard high tempo movement beats at 5 HZ or 36,000 bph. But Chopard beats the competition with 8Hz. In this UHF space, there is little competition. Especially when we don’t consider the chronograph.
Breguet is a possible candidate. They created a movement beating at a higher frequency of 10Hz for the Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727. Breguet, however, is a classic gold dress watch and doesn’t offer the luxury sports watch genre. Plus, the motion beats 2 Hz faster. Retail sales were significantly higher, around 40,000 euros.
In the 5Hz camp, the closest we’ve seen is probably from copy Grand Seiko and its Hi-Beat movement. Examples include SBGJ001, SBGJ003 and SBGJ005, SBGJ227 and Grand Seiko Diver SBGH257. But the base GS movement includes a second time zone.
The new Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is certainly a stunning watch. We were already big fans of the Alpine Eagle. We love the textured dial, beautiful three-link bracelet. As well as the finishing of the case and bracelet. For that, we like to opt for a deep black dial with eye-catching orange accents. The icing on the cake is the 8Hz Cadence movement that takes this watch to the next level.
Although the novelty watch is essentially the same as the 2021 release, its aesthetic makes it more eye-catching than the original.
Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF Technical Details
Titanium with jet black dial
case
Grade 5 Titanium
Overall diameter 41.00 mm
9.75 mm thick
Waterproof 100 meters
Steel screw-down crown
with compass 7mm
Vertical satin-brushed case with polished chamfers
Vertical satin-brushed bezel with eight index screws
Anti-glare sapphire crystal
Anti-glare sapphire crystal display case back with “Cadence 8HF” imprinted
move:
Chopard 01.12-C self-winding mechanical movement
Number of components 210
28.80 mm diameter
Thickness 4.95 mm
Number of Gems 28
Frequency 57,600 beats/hour (8 Hz)
Power reserve 60 hours
Annual balance spring with flat end curve
Patented high-frequency adjustment mechanism
Silicon shock pin, escape lever and escape wheel
Observatory Certification (COSC)
dial and hands
The dial is printed with a deep black sunburst pattern achieved by galvanic treatment, inspired by the iris of an eagle
Rhodium-plated applied hour-markers and numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova ® grade X1
Rhodium-plated baton hour and minute hands coated with X1 Super-LumiNova®
