Chopard expanded their Alpine Eagle collection in big ways this year, with the introduction of the new high-beat Cadence that gets a full titanium case and bracelet, and they?ve finally given the watch one of their lovely L.U.C calibers. This is the new Alpine Eagle 41XPS featuring the 96.40-L micro-rotor movement. It?s extra thin and extra beautiful as a result, mated to a salmon dial with no date, and a subsidiary seconds at 6 o?clock. This isn?t the only new watch to receive this movement, as it can also be found in the stunning L.U.C 1860, which feels a more natural habitat for such a movement, leaving the jump to the Alpine Eagle collection all the more welcome. 

The Alpine Eagle 41XPS is, as you might have guessed, built in the 41mm case using Chopard?s Lucent Steel A223, an alloy that incorporates a high amount of recycled steel, and is smelted multiple times for increased hardness and brightness. It?s quite lovely in person, though I don?t know I?d be able to place it as something different without that knowledge beforehand. It?s worth noting the Chopard is working to transition more of their steel watches to Lucent steel in the coming years.
The 41XPS uses the L.U.C 96.40-L caliber, which itself is a shade over 3mm in thickness allowing for an exceptionally thin case. It?s COSC certified and quite a looker through the exhibition caseback. Its placement within the Alpine Eagle collection pushes this steel watch into a different price realm, at $22,500 it...