As my final appointment of the week, I had heard plenty of chatter about what to expect from Chopard’s 2024 novelties, but seeing the pieces in person told a story that even the best social media posts and videos couldn’t communicate. This year’s offering was a masterful and harmonious presentation of jewellery watches contrasted by the technical mastery that many of Chopard’s collections have become known for. And in the case of pieces like the Alpine Eagle Frozen Summit, the perfect blend of both.

As an eternal lover of the Happy Sport, my heart certainly skipped a beat when the first piece to be passed around was a new, limited-edition 33mm in a luminous blue edition. In the true spirit of joie de vivre, the aquamarines and diamonds danced around the guilloché-worked centre, but as dazzling as the surface may appear, the in-house self-winding movement and 42-hour power reserve confirmed that Happy Sport is a serious timepiece beneath its full diamond-set bezel.

You might imagine, it was pretty difficult to pry the Happy Sport from my wrist, but what was to come was just as impressive. I found a new favourite evening watch in the L’Heure du Diamant – an iconic collection within the Maison. This year’s rendition of the 32mm now features an octagonal case, which is a first for the collection and quite possibly my favourite design detail of the piece. In the 26mm version, you’ll find one of the smallest manual-winding movements on the market, boasting a 45-hour power reserve, too. In both sizes, the mother-of-pearl and malachite dials are the perfect accompaniment to the brilliance of diamonds encircling the dial.

Editor's notes:

The L’Heure du Diamant in the 26mm is the perfect cocktail watch for endless reasons, but for a piece that can easily distract you with the setting of its meticulously adorned diamond bezel, it’s the bark-style bracelet featured on the malachite dial variation that really stands out. The design speaks to Chopard’s mastery of gold-working techniques, which has been central to the Maison since the 1960s.

Not pictured, but a worthy mention – the Alpine Eagle Frozen received the complete diamond pavé treatment in this year’s lineup. In the new 33mm model, the case, bezel, dial and integrated bracelet are completely adorned with sparkling diamonds.

Feature image: From bottom left – CHOPARD Happy Sport watch, CHOPARD L'Heure du Diamant watch and CHOPARD L'Heure du Diamant round watch.