We know from looking at Happy Diamonds that Chopard has a streak of playfulness that it crafts expertly into many of its jollier collections, but to pull off the same on something so sober and elegant as the L.U.C XPS Twist QF, is no mean feat at all. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Bringing a crinkle of a smile to high horology, the small seconds of the Twist QF is off-centre at 7 o’clock, and the crown joins the case at 4 o’clock – asymmetrical, but the sum effect is as fetching as a wink. This would not be the case were it not for the quality of the finish all through, from the circular brush finish of the main and sub dials, as well as the proportionality and poise of the faceted hands, indexes and slim case. The Twist QF is the only model in the L.U.C collection to have hour markers at ’12’ instead of the Arabic numeral, and the case cuts a sharp profile at a slim 7.2mm.

Notably, the white gold case is made from ethically-sourced “Fairmined” gold. This certifies that the gold is sourced from artisanal mining cooperatives where there the environment and miners are both treated properly. Chopard is currently the main global purchaser of Fairmined gold.

Beating within is the in-house Calibre 96.26-L self-winding movement, a variant of the Calibre 96.01-L offset by 30 degrees. To fit the Twist QF’s slim profile, the movement is just 3.3 mm in height, and delivers 65 hours of power reserve from the 22K gold micro-rotor driving a pair of stacked barrels.

With regards to quality, the Twist QF has to pass through some of the toughest quality certifications in the watchmaking business, as signified by its “Qualité Fleurier” label on the dial. Administered by the Fleurier Quality Foundation, this includes five tests covering precision, durability and provenance. Accuracy of each model is chronometer-certified by COSC; beyond this, the watches undergo Chronofiable tests for reliability and durability, precision in actual wear is tested over 24 hours in the Fleuritest simulator, and manufacturing is fully-undertaken in Switzerland.

The L.U.C XPS Twist QF is made in a limited edition of 250 pieces.