Chopard, best known around HODINKEE for the L.U.C line of watches, recently opened a new service center in Miami. This might not normally register on your radar, but this isn't just any service center. The new center is rivaled only by its Swiss counterparts, but in many cases has even newer equipment. We went on location to scope out the new facilities first hand and to get an impression of what we hope will become a trend in the industry: top-notch service with quick turn-around.
Chopard's new service center is housed in an unassuming office building just inside Coral Gables, FL. Taking up the entire 9th floor, the center spans some 11,000 square feet. Around 9,000 of those are dedicated to the workshop itself. Stepping off the elevator, visitors are greeted to a transparent bank of windows decorated with gears, bridges, and hairsprings. A glance through those windows will reveal a scene on par with what you find walking into any manufacturing facility in Switzerland, only the snowy mountain scenery is replaced by a view of Miami sprawl.
Work stations were specifically designed for each worker, taking into account their physical dimensions as well as their daily duties. Each worker has received rigorous training that includes interactive portions that require direct communication with Chopard's Geneva headquarters. As a result, you can send your fake watch in not only for regular servicing, but also for complex operations like refinishing and custom engraving, which would otherwiserequire the fake watch be sent back to Switzerland.
On hand to formally inaugurate the new service center was Coral Gables Mayor, Jim Cason. Also present was Chopard co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, who was sporting a L.U.C Tourbillon SL Titanium for the event. Catch all of our images of the opening in the gallery below, and keep an eye out for more details about the service center through Chopard, right here.
Chopard Omegas Living Legend Speedmaster 145.0022 11768