Valentine’s Day will be here in less than five weeks and we’d better get the gifts ready. Or else. Like many other watchmakers and jewelers, Chopard is ready to capitalize on the upcoming craze by offering a special Valentine’s Day version of its bestselling Happy Sport collection. The Chopard Happy Heart Valentine’s Day Edition (Ref. 278475-3044) sports a polished stainless steel case, features three finely cut diamonds, but -somewhat disappointingly- is animated by a simple quartz movement.
Judging by its look, the special edition shares its case and inner workings with the limited-edition 2011 Happy Sport La vie en rose (Ref. 278475-3030).
Like the aforementioned timepiece, the new ref. 278475-3044 is, too, limited to only 500 pieces and arrives in a fairly large (for a watch designed for ladies) stainless steel case that measures whole 36 millimeters in diameter. The impression of a massive timekeeper is further reinforced by a set of lugs that, too, look a bit oversized for such a delicate timekeeper.
However, thanks to the use of quartz movement, the body is at least slim enough to perfectly fit a wrist of a modern lady, especially now when oversized timekeepers are something that everybody wants to have whatever it takes.
The only difference between the two is the decoration of the dial (the new model sports a natural mother-of-pearl face and has the five small diamonds replaced with three heart-shaped stones: one diamond and two pink sapphires) and the lack of sapphires on its fat bezel.
Sporting a relatively thick bezel (it looks like it was designed to always be decorated with diamonds and other precious stones, but at some point, somebody in the marketing department decided that the brand needs a more affordable watch in the collection and so they did,) the Chopard Happy Heart Valentine’s Day Edition looks somewhat chunky, which is absolutely okay if your better part prefers sporty timekeepers to smaller and more delicate dress watches.
It is still not clear, how much money Chopard plans to ask for this little beauty, however, there is a good chance that it will be priced below the $10,000*.
* UPDATE ON PRICE: Chopard has just revealed that the watch will actually retail at half the price that I have speculated. Well, even with an MSRP of $5600 this is still too expensive for a model in steel, which is powered by an ordinary quartz movement.
See also: Raymond Weil Jasmine in Rose Gold PVD (2935 PCS 00659)
Photos: Chopard
Chopard Happy Heart Valentine’s Day (Ref. 278475-3044) specification
Price: $5600 (MSRP)
Movement: Quartz, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel, polished
Crown: Steel, set with a pink sapphire cabochon
Shape: Round
Size: 36.00 mm
Case height: 9.00 mm
Lug width: 19.00 mm
Dial: Natural mother-of-pearl
Hour markers: Pink
Hands: Sword-shaped, stainless steel
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Silky purple satin strap
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Solid