Get ready to have your mind blown by the Chopard Zagato Lab One Concept, a timepiece that defies convention and pushes the boundaries of what a watch can be. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a watch or a work of art? A tool or a statement? Let’s dive into this high-tech marvel that blends automotive engineering with haute horlogerie in ways you’ve never seen before.
Since their first collaboration in 2013 with the Mille Miglia Zagato Chronograph, followed by the 2019 Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Zagato 100th Anniversary Edition, Chopard and Zagato—both family-run brands—have been on a mission to merge watchmaking with automotive culture. The Zagato Lab One Concept takes this partnership to a whole new level. Co-created by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Chopard’s design and movement teams, and Andrea Michele Zagato alongside chief designer Norihiko Harada, this watch is less about telling time and more about exploring the limits of structure, lightness, and engineering. Think of it as a concept car for your wrist—a bold experiment in what’s technically possible.
At the heart of this 42mm timepiece is a tubular architecture inspired by a racing-car chassis. This isn’t just a design choice; it’s a functional masterpiece that distributes mechanical stress through a rigid yet featherlight framework. Crafted from ceramicised titanium, the case weighs a mere 43.2 grams, strap included. This isn’t your average titanium—it’s been electroplasma-treated to achieve a hardness of around 1000 Vickers, giving it ceramic-like scratch resistance while retaining titanium’s low density. And here’s the part most people miss: instead of traditional lugs, the watch features self-locking tubular loops that pivot up to 45 degrees, ensuring a natural fit on any wrist. A box-shaped sapphire crystal, flush with the caseband, completes the futuristic, concept-car aesthetic.
The dial? It’s not just a dial—it’s fully integrated into the movement. The ceramicised titanium mainplate doubles as the display surface, adorned with Zagato’s iconic “Z” machined in relief and finished with rhodium-plated chamfers. The openworked hands, inspired by steering wheels, reinforce the motorsport theme, while a fuel gauge-style power reserve at 12 o’clock adds a playful yet functional touch.
Powering this beast is the hand-wound L.U.C 04.04-L calibre, an evolution of Chopard’s Engine One concept from 2010. Executed entirely in ceramicised titanium—bridges, mainplate, and all—this movement is a masterclass in lightness and precision. A 60-second tourbillon at 6 o’clock features an aluminum carriage to reduce mass, while shock protection is handled by silent-block elastomer dampers and four lever arms that secure the calibre within the case. Running at 28,800 vibrations per hour, it boasts a 60-hour power reserve and is COSC chronometer-certified.
The Zagato Lab One Concept comes with two straps: a technical fabric option with hook-and-loop fastening for a sporty vibe, and a calfskin leather strap with a ceramicised titanium pin buckle for a more classic look. Limited to just 19 pieces and priced at CHF 130,000, this watch is available exclusively through Chopard. But here’s the question: is it worth the price tag? And more importantly, does it redefine what a luxury watch can be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one timepiece that’s sure to spark debate.
Technical Specifications – Chopard Zagato Lab One Concept
- Case: 42mm diameter x 11.15mm thickness – bead-blasted ceramicised titanium – tubular construction with pivoting self-locking lugs – box-shaped sapphire crystal with AR coating front and back – ceramicised titanium crown with engraved steering wheel motif – 50m water resistance
- Dial: Ceramicised titanium mainplate with Zagato “Z” motifs in relief – rhodium-plated Chopard and Zagato logos – openworked rhodium-plated hour and minute hands – small seconds and tourbillon at 6 o’clock – fuel gauge-style power reserve at 12 o’clock
- Movement: L.U.C calibre 04.04-L – hand-wound, in-house – 207 components, 29 jewels – ceramicised titanium bridges and mainplate – 60-second tourbillon with aluminum carriage – Variner balance, Phillips terminal curve hairspring – 28,800vph – 60h power reserve – COSC chronometer-certified
- Strap: Technical fabric strap with hook-and-loop fastening and ceramicised titanium loop – additional calfskin leather strap with ceramicised titanium pin buckle
- Reference: 168636-3001
- Availability: Limited edition of 19 pieces
- Price: CHF 130,000
For more details, visit chopard.com.
