The Chopard Alpine Eagle has been on quite a run since its introduction in 2019. A reinterpretation of the 1980s Chopard St. Moritz, the sporty yet dressy integrated-bracelet line now boasts a full range of materials and complications. Today, a new model comes our way in the form of a limited edition called the Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt. This is a real beauty, and the only downside is that it’s especially for the Australian market. 

I still recall being in the Chopard headquarters in Geneva shortly after the Alpine Eagle was released. In pictures, it certainly looked like an attractive watch. However, in the metal, it was on another level. The dial, which is meant to look like the iris of an eagle’s eye, is something special, and unlike some other higher-priced watches, it isn’t let down by a so-so bracelet. Since that time, it has taken off in terms of sales and popularity. As a result, Chopard continues to expand the line and has added the occasional limited piece. Today’s Sunburnt limited edition is a lovely, albeit country-specific, model for a good cause.

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt

The new Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt is a limited edition of 20 pieces exclusive to the Australian market. It’s notable for its new red gradient dial with the aforementioned iris texture. The color is meant to evoke Australian landscapes. The result is a fantastic surface that plays with the light and offers a real depth to the dial not seen on many other watches. The display case back features a hand-painted motif by the artist Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal). It features his well-known curved lines that resemble coursing rivers. Shal also painted the wooden watch box in the same style. Naturally, no two watches or their packaging will be identical.

Chopard Alpine Eagle Sunburnt Shal hand-painted box

For a good cause

For the Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt, Chopard has chosen to donate a portion of the proceeds to help aid the Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation. Working with Shal made sense due to his Aboriginal background. We’ve seen Chopard as an early leader in using conflict-free gold, so this charitable effort feels very on-brand.

Chopard Alpine Eagle Sunburnt

The watch specs

Chopard’s Alpine Eagle Sunburnt comes in the expected 41mm × 47mm Lucent Steel case with its reasonable 9.7mm thickness. The water resistance is appropriately sporty at 100 meters. This watch does include a date window at four-thirty which will please some and perturb others. The bracelet features a push-button closure with a butterfly clasp. Inside, the watch uses the brand’s in-house 01.01 C automatic movement. It has a 60-hour power reserve and a COSC chronometer certification.

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt — Pricing and final thoughts

The new Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt is a beautiful watch. At AU$27,500 (roughly €16,500 at the time of publishing), it’s not even €1,000 more than a “standard” model. The fact that it benefits a good cause and features a level of artistry on the watch and packaging makes it seem like a small premium. As far as the color, I’m a fan. The red hue even reminds me slightly of the recent Royal Oak BMG and Titanium piece that I covered a few months ago. That watch, by the way, was €80,000 more than this! The only thing I don’t love about this new release is that it’s only available at Chopard boutiques in Australia.

For more information on the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt, visit the official Chopard website

Watch specifications

Brand
Model
Alpine Eagle 41 Sunburnt
Reference
298600-3025
Dial
Sunburnt red gradient with eagle-iris texture, rhodium-plated applied indices, and Grade X1 Super-LumiNova
Case Material
Lucent Steel with vertical brushing and polished bevels
Case Dimensions
41mm (diameter) × 47mm (lug-to-lug) × 9.7mm (thickness)
Crystal
Sapphire with antireflective coating
Case Back
Display back with sapphire window adorned with special motifs designed by Shal
Movement
Chopard 01.01-C — manufacture automatic movement, COSC-certified chronometer, 28,800vph frequency, 60-hour power reserve, 31 jewels
Water Resistance
100m (10 ATM)
Strap
Integrated Lucent Steel bracelet with push-button butterfly clasp
Functions
Time (hours, minutes, central seconds) and date
Price
AU$27,500
Warranty
Two years
Special Note(s)
Limited edition of 20 pieces