Review: the new Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in titanium

Mar 27, 2023

Here is our hands-on comprehensive review of the new Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in titanium, launched recently in Geneva during Watches & Wonders 2023.

The retail price for the new Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in titanium is SGD 28,400 inclusive of GST.

The new Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is basically a cosmetic update to the 2021 limited edition Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF release, a watch of the same name, but in a different aesthetics.

The case is crafted in titanium. While Chopard does make a big emphasis on their use of Lucent A228 steel with the very high recycling content, there is no mention of whether the titanium used for the Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is made from recycled bits. But the beauty of the case and bracelet remains. The metal is very light to hold and wear, and darker than the brilliance of Lucent Steel.

The same codes which have been applied to the Alpine Eagle series remain. In fact, the case is exactly the same as the grey tone on tone model released in 2021. The only difference is the dial is now a deep pitch black, a colour which is inspired by the intense darkness of mountain nights while the Alpine Eagle roam. The dial's eagle iris pattern remains, but is less noticeable due to the darkness of the dial. And the same darkness gives even more contrast to the brilliant orange accents given to the arrow-shaped sweep-seconds hands which carry the eagle feather counterweight, as well as in the matching marks on the minute track on the dial's periphery. The Chopard logo and the verbiage "8HZ CHRONOMETER" are in white print, but a unique signature to denote the use of a high frequency movement is rendered in a dynamic orange waveform like arrow.

The hands remain the same baton shaped ones used in the earlier tone on tone rendition, and is also in-filled with SuperLuminova, as are the appliqué stick hour markers for the 11 hours with the 12 o’clock marked by a Roman numeral XII. The signature double screw at the cardinal points of the bezel remain, as does the shape of the case with the dual bulging shoulders on the each of the case sides at 9 o’clock and at 3 o’clock, the latter doubling as crown guards. The date aperture is open at half past four on the dial.

The movement is the Chopard 10.12-C, which is designed and manufactured in-house. The very high beat rate is an effort to improve chronometry, a theme particularly dear to Chopard's Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. The high frequency is more resistance to shocks as each impact is effected on a shorter part of the oscillation of the balance. This high frequency is also high speed, thus implying rapid recovery of the isochronous rate.

The movement is a derivative of the first Chopard high frequency movement – the experimental series of 100 100 L.U.C 8HF timepieces in titanium. As with the nature of such series, this model that has become a genuine collector's item.

The Calibre 01.12-C has a 60-hour power reserve has a 60 hour power reserve, a feat made even more remarkable as it is running at this very high frequency.

However, the notes we made in our review of the 2021 tone on tone model remains. The finishing is not as aesthetically pleasing as Chopard's other L.U.C movements. The focus of the finissage department is not in decoration, but on function over form. And judged with this criterial, it exceeds the engineering requirements by a wide margin.

he standard high beat movement beats at 5 HZ or 36,000 bph. But the Chopard trumps the competition by going to 8Hz. In this ultra high frequency land, there is little competition. Especially when we do not enter into consideration chronographs.

Breguet is a possible candidate. They have created a movement beating at an even higher frequency of 10Hz to be used on the Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727. However, the Breguet is a classical dress watch in gold, and does not make an offering in the luxury sports watch genre. Also, the movement beat is 2 Hz faster. And retail is significantly higher at about EUR 40k.

In the 5Hz camp, the closest we see is possibly from Grand Seiko and their Hi-Beat movements. Examples are the SBGJ001, SBGJ003, and the SBGJ005, the SBGJ227 and the Grand Seiko Diver SBGH257. But the base GS caliber includes a second timezone.

The new Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF is certainly a stunning watch. We are already big fans of the Alpine Eagle. We love the textured dial, the beautifully integrated bracelet with three links. As well as the finishing on the case and bracelet. And to that, we love the choice of a deep, dark black dial with accents in orange is eye catching. And the cherry on the cake is the 8Hz Cadence movement, which takes this watch one step further.

And though this novelty is essentially the same watch as the 2021 release, the aesthetic touches makes it much more appealing to our eyes than the original.

In titanium with Pitch Black dial

Case

Grade 5 titanium

Total diameter 41.00 mm

Thickness 9.75 mm

Water resistance 100 metres

Steel screw-down crown

with compass rose 7 mm

Vertical satin-brushed caseband with polished chamfers

Vertical satin-brushed bezel with eight indexed screws

Glare-proofed sapphire crystal

Glare-proofed sapphire crystal exhibition case-back with the words "Cadence 8HF"

Movement:

Mechanical movement with automatic winding Chopard 01.12-C

Number of components 210

Diameter 28.80 mm

Thickness 4.95 mm

Number of jewels 28

Frequency 57,600 vph (8 Hz)

Power reserve 60 hours

Annual balance-spring with flat terminal curve

Patented high-frequency regulating organ

Silicon impulse-pin, pallet-lever and escape-wheel

Chronometer-certified (COSC)

Dial and hands

Dial stamped with a Pitch Black sunburst pattern achieved by galvanic treatment and inspired by the eagle's iris

Rhodium-plated applied hour-markers and numerals, painted with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova®

Rhodium-plated baton-type hours and minutes hands painted with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova®