Chopard, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, has taken its famous Alpine Eagle collection to an exclusive new height with the limited edition “Alpine Eagle 41 Darshan” UAE Edition. This wristwatch is not just a timepiece; it’s a celebration of a long-standing partnership with Seddiqi and Sons, combined with a tribute to one of the most breathtaking events involving an eagle in recent history.
The watch, strictly limited to a mere 25 pieces, draws inspiration from the stately slate stones of the Alpine region. Its dial is a testament to this rugged beauty, crafted from Chopard’s notably robust and gleaming Lucent Steel. What’s ticking inside is nothing less than the Chopard 01.15-C movement, certified as a chronometer, which means it’s about as accurate as you’d hope anything with ‘precision’ in its marketing blurb to be.
Now, you’re probably wondering about the name “Darshan”. It’s not just plucked from the ether—it conjures images of divine encounters. In this case, it’s a nod to Darshan, an eagle that soared from the dizzying heights of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa back in 2015, bagging a record as the highest bird flight ever from a man-made structure. This impressive feat not only captured global attention but also linked up Jacques-Olivier Travers, the eagle’s diligent trainer, with Chopard’s Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.
The duo didn’t stop at breaking records; they moved to create the Alpine Eagle Foundation. This initiative aims to generate awareness about the fragile Alpine environment—a noble cause that’s firmly backed by this new watch design. Made with eco-friendly 80% recycled Lucent Steel, the Alpine Eagle 41 Darshan speaks to the strength, both aesthetic and technical, of its avian namesake.
The timepiece exhibits a sporty-chic look, with Super-LumiNova Grade X1 on its gilded hour markers and hands, ensuring it’s as functional as it is fabulous, day or night. Flip it over, and through a sapphire crystal case back, you can peer into the workings of its self-winding movement—a sight for those horological nerds who fancy precision engineering as much as style.
This innovative model is a product of three generations from the Scheufele family, breathing new life into Chopard’s classic St. Moritz watch from the swinging ’70s. The design remains sharp and modern, sporting a round case, distinctive side flanks, and a compass rose crown, all smoothly integrated with its metal bracelet, marking a sophisticated benchmark in the brand’s history of watchmaking excellence.
While Chopard brings yet another masterpiece to the wrists of the UAE’s discerning collectors, there’s no word yet on whether we’ll see this exclusive edition flying into Middle Eastern markets beyond Dubai. But for now, at least, this Alpine Eagle is soaring high over the Emirates, a rare sight well worth catching.