Chopard was founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Sonvilier, Switzerland, with a clear focus on precision timekeeping. Early on, the brand built a strong reputation for crafting accurate pocket watches and chronometers, supplying clients like the Swiss Railway Company. For decades, Chopard remained a quiet but respected name in fine watchmaking. That changed in 1963, when Karl Scheufele III—a German goldsmith and watchmaker—acquired the company and ushered it into the world of modern luxury. Under his leadership, Chopard began to merge high jewelry with horology, most famously with the launch of the Happy Diamonds collection in 1976, featuring free-floating diamonds between sapphire crystals.
In the 1990s, Chopard made a decisive return to high-end mechanical watchmaking with the creation of its own manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland. This move led to the development of the L.U.C. line—named after its founder—which features in-house calibers, hand-finishing, and complications rivaling the finest in Swiss horology. Alongside technical achievement, Chopard positioned itself as a lifestyle brand, forming long-term partnerships with the Cannes Film Festival and the Mille Miglia classic car rally. Today, Chopard stands at the intersection of craftsmanship and glamour—blending rich heritage, innovation, and design into some of the most refined timepieces in contemporary watchmaking.
