Review of Chopard's Alpine Eagle XL Chronograph In Titanium

April 09, 2024

The sportiest of Chopard's already sporty line of watches, the Alpine Eagle, just got a new interpretation with the bold new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono with a 44mm titanium case and "Rh?ne Blue" eagle-eye textured dial. And as a part of the brand's commitment to preserving the Alpine environment, part of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Alpine Eagle Foundation. Presented on a rubber strap with pin buckle closure, the new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono features the same Chopard 03.05-C chronometer-certified automatic movement with flyback chronograph, 4:30 date window, 30-minute, and 12-hour counters. But in addition to the blue dial (that contrasts against the black tachymeter scale on the edge) the watch also features a grade-5 titanium case that adds a new metal to a lineup that has been limited to Lucent Steel and ethical gold. It also promises to be lighter than past models, with a darker color case than steel, and with a blend of aluminum and vanadium that improve corrosion resistance. The watch will only be available through Chopard boutiques and we'll update with pricing as soon as we get it. What We Think When done right, Chopard's Alpine Eagle is one of my favorite watches on the market and a pick for what I think might be the most underrated integrated bracelet sports watches right now. The brands premier offerings among the collection, like last year's XPS with salmon dial (and no date), look fantastic on paper but are still really hard to find in person. Does this watch live up to its slightly slimmer brother? I'll have to see both in person to tell. Both the 13.15mm thickness and rubber strap mean that this watch will wear markedly different than the Lucent Steel models on a bracelet. But the "Rh?ne Blue" dial is striking, and the grade-5 titanium should make it a great option if you want a light, wearable sports watch from someone besides the other usual suspects. I've actually never handled one of the XL Chronos in the past, so I'm not sure how much more I can interpret from the specs of the new release, but if there's more to say, you'll definitely see a follow-up story in the future. The Basics Brand: ChopardModel: Alpine Eagle XL ChronoReference Number: 298609-3008Diameter: 44mmThickness: 13.15mmCase Material: Grade 5 TitaniumDial Color: Brass dial stamped with a sunburst pattern inspired by the iris of an eagle, in a "Rh?ne Blue" colour achieved by PVD treatmentIndexes: Applied numerals and hour-markers, rhodium-platedLume: Grade X1 Super-LumiNovaWater Resistance: 100mStrap/Bracelet: Black rubber strap with titanium insert, pin buckle in titanium The Movement Caliber: Chopard 03.05-CFunctions: Central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds; 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock with hand making semi-instantaneous jumps; Date at 4:30; Chronograph with flyback; Stop-secondsDiameter: 28.8mmThickness: 7.6mmPower Reserve: 60 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 vphJewels: 45Chronometer Certified: Yes, by COSCAdditional Details: Vertical clutch, openworked central rotor with tungsten alloy Pricing & Availability Price: TBDAvailability: Chopard Boutique ExclusiveLimited Edition: NoFor more, click here. Shop this story Hodinkee is an authorized dealer for Chopard, click here to see what's in the Hodinkee Shop.