Chopard unveils the L.U.C Essence of Shunga, a singular commission for ART in TIME that pairs Swiss haute horlogerie with Japan’s lacquer mastery. It is a unique piece with six miniature Shunga-inspired scenes, each painted by a Japanese Urushi master, and presented to mark ART in TIME’s new gallery in Ginza.
The proposition is clear and refreshingly unhurried. Instead of provocation, the watch seeks dialogue. Shunga – Spring Pictures from the Edo period – becomes a lens for intimacy, humor and human connection. Here, it is treated with care and patience, the virtues both cultures prize.
The dial combines Urushi lacquer with a starry grand feu enamel element. A rotating disk displays the erotic scenes, while rose gold hands float quietly above. The result is less spectacle, more whisper – the kind that rewards close, respectful looking.
The case is 18-carat ethical rose gold, 40 mm in diameter and 8.1 mm thick, sized for elegance rather than volume. Water resistance is 3 ATM. A burgundy alligator strap completes the composition without shouting.
Inside beats the L.U.C 96.29-L: 227 components, 29 jewels, 4 Hz, and a 65-hour power reserve. The figures tell a story of considered engineering, aligned with the L.U.C collection’s established finishing standards. It is a movement for living with, not just reading about.
As a cultural gesture, the watch feels measured. ART in TIME – Monaco by origin, now also in Ginza – uses this piece to bridge communities of collectors who value craft over noise. One watch, one artisan at a time.
Technical notes: functions are hours, minutes, and a rotating disk displaying Shunga scenes. Reference 161980-5002. Price is 97 000 € excluding VAT. Limitation: piece unique.
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