Its 1993, and Caroline Scheufele – Artistic Director and Head of Chopard’s Creation and Design department – has just breathed life into one of the company’s most compelling horological icons to date. The company was originally founded by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in 1860, at the grand old age of 24, and he had started out concentrating on pocket watches and chronometers. Responsible for the high jewellery department, Caroline applied knowledge gained from design and gemmology classes that has proven to be a blessing to the Geneva-based watch manufacturer, taken over by her family in 1963. The level of hard work and commitment is evident, looking at the resulting masterpiece that is the Happy Sport.
Fast forward 20 years, and it’s clear that the Happy Sport has enjoyed a happy life so far. Its many incarnations – such as Happy Beach, La Vie en Rose and Happy Spirit – are truly beautiful, glistening works of art masquerading as ladies’ high jewellery watches, and ones that are highly imaginative and contemporary, not to mention practical. However, there was one interpretation of this classic timepiece that was missing from the collection, until now; an automatic addition, adding an exception mechanical element to its already irrefutable allure.
The Happy Sport Medium Automatic
At first glance the Happy Sport Medium Automatic appears unassuming, with its subtly sleek and relatively simple stainless steel case. But such assumptions are soon dispelled by this pretty piece when its seven unfixed diamonds begin to dance and shimmer across the guilloché dial, tumbling gracefully over one another within the confines of the rounded bezel. This embellishment has been loyally retained throughout the whole life of the watch, presenting a fascinating feature for its lucky owner. These dazzling little gems are not alone in providing an elegant touch; the crown also features a delicate 6mm blue sapphire.
On the caseback, the sapphire crystal acts as a window through which can be seen the mechanical self-winding movement that makes this piece so unprecedented. This is no plain component though, as its wavy Côtes de Genève motif – or Geneva Stripes – ebb and flow like the tides of the ocean. A watch such as this could easily command and perhaps carry off a much larger diameter than its 36mm, but this size brings with it the femininity the design deserves, and the capacity to adorn the female wrist, with a sleek alligator leather strap. Other features – including a 42 hour power reserve, date window at 4.30 and a water-resistance of 30m – illustrate how the Happy Sport Medium Automatic sets the standard for ladies’ timepieces that go above and beyond the call of duty to retain modernity and efficiency.
