Chopard’s Happy Sport watch and its legendary dancing diamonds have become iconic in less than 30 years. This year, the timepiece reinvents itself in two jewellery versions, showcasing diamonds by means of a prong setting. This new technical feat gives the diamonds a lighter and even more luminous effect. Now Happy Sport Joaillerie watches are available in ethical white or rose gold. They feature the 96.17-C calibre movement with automatic winding, entirely made in-house by Chopard.
Dancing diamonds
Instead of the traditional gold capsule with a spinning-top like base, which holds the dancing diamonds and enables them to turn without tipping over, Chopard has been able to use a prong setting that holds the stones in place with only five prongs on the sides. Light thus penetrates even further into the diamonds, whose radiance is amplified by exposing a greater number of facets. The same gem-setting procedure is also used on the bezel and the hour-markers of the timepiece, creating a rich and graceful result.
The 36 mm case of these new jewellery versions of the Happy Sport, entirely paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, is in 18-carat gold of ethical origin. The first is the white gold version in a delightful harmony with the sparkle of the diamonds, while the second is in rose gold that creates a bolder contrast.
Finally, beneath the two sapphire crystals staging the dancing diamonds – of which there are seven – the textured mother-of-pearl dial is engraved with a guilloché motif.
Movement
For the Happy Sport Joaillerie, Chopard has chosen to fit its ultra-thin 96.17-C mechanical movement with automatic winding, based on the very first calibre created by Chopard Manufacture. It features 167 components and provides a 65-hour power reserve.
Technical information
Case:
18-carat white or rose gold
Total diameter 36.00 mm
Thickness 12.10 mm
Water resistance 30 m
18-carat white or rose gold crown set with a diamond 6.00 mm
18-carat white or rose gold bezel and cabochons set with diamonds
Seven prong-set dancing diamonds
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Exhibition case-back
Movement:
Mechanical with automatic winding Chopard 96.17-C with 167 components
Diameter: 27.40 mm
Thickness: 3.30 mm
Number of jewels: 29
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Power reserve: 65 hours
Bridges adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif
Dial and hands:
Seven dancing diamonds
Textured mother-of-pearl dial with guilloché centre
Rhodium-plated hours and minutes hands
Diamond-set hour-markers
Functions and displays:
Central display of the hours and minutes
Head over here for the freshest in watchmaking.