The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT is the slimmest-ever Alpine Eagle
D.C. HannayHave we reached Peak Integrated Luxury Sports Watch®? It’s a crowded market, to be sure, but we’re beginning to see brands drill down into specific sub-genres in order to better satisfy the demands of connoisseurs. For instance, titanium versions of the integrated luxury watch are a small but growing subset of the larger market, fuelled by collectors in search of differentiators among the more conventional offerings out there. Having grown from a tool material into a viable luxury option, you’ll find titanium in the catalogues of many brands, including Chopard in the form of their Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF from 2023. The Alpine Eagle is a reimagining of Chopard’s original integrated sports model, the St. Moritz, and the line has continued to expand since its introduction in 2019. And with the brand’s latest release, the Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT, it brings some unique features to the lineup. Let’s get an eagle’s eye view of what’s new.
The case
The contours of the 41 mm case should be familiar to fans of the Alpine Eagle, but instead of Lucent Steel or gold, everything has that ever-so-slightly darker hue resulting from the grade 5 titanium construction. But rather than leaning hard into tool watch territory, the look is highly refined, with finely detailed brushing, and a dash of polish along the case chamfers, and at the centre section where the case meets the bracelet. The eight-screw vertically brushed bezel is another focal point, and for obsessives, yes, the screw head slots follow the circular outline of the dial. Case height is an impressive 8mm,the thinnest Alpine Eagle to date due to the slender movement, which we’ll get to shortly, and water resistance is rated at 100 metres. There are sapphire crystals both front and back, with the dial side crystal adorned simply with the Chopard logo.
The dial
Since the Alpine Eagle was introduced, the dials have been one of their biggest draws, with their swirling, iridescent, eagle’s iris texture and bold use of colour. But the Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT is a bird of a different feather, forgoing that seductive dial for no dial at all. Instead, you’re treated to a clear view of the inner workings of the movement, thanks to the openworked mainplate and bridges. The dial furniture is minimalist and clean, with floating rhodium-plated hour markers, along with matching batons for the hour and minute hands. Both the handset and indices offer fine visibility in low light, thanks to the use of Grade X1 Super-LumiNova.
The movement
If the main conceit of your timepiece is a view of the movement, you’d better have a fine-looking calibre under the hood, and Chopard has delivered the goods with this one. The L.U.C 96.17-S features a 22k yellow gold micro-rotor that achieves a healthy 65-hour power reserve, all while remaining super slim, at just 3.3 mm. The 29-jewel movement has a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and you can see it all humming along thanks to the skeletonised and sandblasted plate and bridges. The entire package is lovely, and just what you’d expect from a fine jewellerymaker like Chopard.
The bracelet
The integrated matching titanium bracelet is as lovely as any of the other Alpine Eagle models, with a near-seamless transition from the case. The links’ satin-brushed flanks offer great contrast with the polished centre sections, each one glimmering like a baguette-cut gemstone due to the faceted edges. It still catches me off guard how luxury brands can finish titanium to such a high level, offering a precious metal look without the accompanying weight, and Chopard does it so well. A hidden triple folding push-button clasp in Lucent Steel completes the package.
The verdict
Chopard is firmly among the elite in the integrated titanium luxury space, and the 41 XP TT is a unique proposition that offers a different view than the rest of the Alpine Eagle lineup. If you’re attracted to the technical aspects of timekeeping, the dial and caseback offer a fantastic glimpse into that world, and the titanium case and bracelet construction is elegant and tech-y all at once. As an added bonus, the featherweight alloy weighs about a third less than steel, and even less than gold. But trust me, the Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT is no lightweight.
Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT pricing and availability
The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT is at US$26,500 with comment on its availability still to come.
| Brand | Chopard |
| Model | Alpine Eagle 41 XP TT |
| Case Dimensions | 41mm (D) x 8mm (T) |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Skeletonised |
| Bracelet | Grade 5 titanium flat-link bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | L.U.C 96.17-S, in-house, micro-rotor |
| Power Reserve | 65 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | TBC |
| Price | US$26,500 |