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INTRODUCING: The Chopard Happy Sport gets an update with rose-gold and chronograph versions INTRODUCING: The Chopard Happy Sport gets an update with rose-gold and chronograph versions

INTRODUCING: The Chopard Happy Sport gets an update with rose-gold and chronograph versions

Borna Bošnjak

Since its inception, the Chopard Happy Sport has been positioned as a quintessential all-rounder for the modern woman. Suitable for all occasions, from the gym to a business dinner, the new Happy Sport and Happy Sport Chrono add a few grams of class with their 18-carat ethical rose gold construction.

For the supersonic woman

Conceived in the early 1990s by Caroline Scheufele, the Happy Sport was the first watch that combined steel with diamonds. This meant that it was more approachable to a wider audience due to the absence of precious metals, while retaining the brilliance of diamonds. Nestled in between two sapphire crystals which disappear through an optical illusion, the gold-cased stones dance with every flick of the wearer’s wrist.

In 1996, the Happy Sport Chrono stepped on the scene, with a larger diameter and even sportier aesthetic compared to its three-handed sister. The same design continues to define the modern Happy Sport Chrono.

The Happy Sport is having a ball

chopard happy sport

Measuring in at 33mm, the Happy Sport hopes to satisfy the sacred golden ratio with its 18-carat ethical rose gold case. The case is finished in a high polish throughout, matched by the rose gold bracelet. The simplicity of the finish and the design is broken up with precious stone elements. First, and most obvious are the five diamonds suspended above the dial. Less noticeable is the sapphire adorning the faceted gold crown.

Roman numerals appear in place of batons at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, all tonally matched to the rose gold sunburst dial. A navy blue railway minute track circles the dial and matches the Chopard script below 12 o’clock. This nicely ties in the aforementioned crown-set sapphire.

Chopard Happy Sport

An in-house Chopard 09.01-C keeps the Happy Sport ticking happily for up to 42 hours, aided by the Geneva-striped winding rotor. The movement stays on brand with its 3.65 mm thickness, though the Happy Sport still measures in just under 11mm, likely due to the floating diamond feature.

New chronograph variant

chopard happy sport

Despite being introduced shortly after the original Happy Sport, a chronograph variant has been absent from Chopard’s catalogue, until now. Presented in a 40mm rose gold case, it’s a sportier take on the Happy Sport (Sport2?). While still polished throughout, the crown receives a subtle coin edge finish to aid with grip. Water resistance is also upped to 50 metres, which should be the absolute minimum for a sporty chronograph. A blue alligator leather strap finished in an 18-carat rose gold buckle is the finishing touch.

The hands and indices receive SuperLuminova treatment, helping them contrast against the rosy background better both day and night. Similarly to the 33mm version, dial printing is a uniform navy blue, with a pleasing serif font outlining the subdial functions. To help distinguish them from the rest of the dial, a satin sunburst finish stands out from the dial centre, finished in a subtle guilloche. Since this is a larger watch, an increase in floating diamonds is in order, totalling seven for the Happy Sport Chrono. Finally, a colour-mismatched date window manages to squeeze itself between the 4 and 5 o’clock indices.

chopard happy sport

An unspecified COSC-certified chronograph movement is tasked with powering the Happy Sport Chrono (my bet is on a chronometer-grade ETA). With a total power reserve of 54 hours, it shows off its cotes de Geneve decoration through the display caseback.

Pricing and availability:

The Chopard Happy Sport is now available for CHF 31,000. The Chopard Happy Sport Chrono is now available for CHF 31, 130