There’s something magical about a luxury timepiece — the way it sits across the wrist, the quiet sweep of the seconds hand, the assured confidence it exudes. Having started my watch collecting journey more than 20 years ago, it is in sessions like these that truly makes you understand the art, precision and human touch behind every timepiece.
Over the course of two hours, under the steady guidance of a two seasoned Chopard watchmaker, Yves-Marie Kerebel and Owyang Kaiming, we were given a rare opportunity — to take apart and reassemble the Calibre 63.03-C movement. This wasn’t just a look under the hood; it was a deep dive into the mechanical soul of a fine mechanical watch.
The Chopard studio is an elegant, intimate space designed for hands-on horology experiences. Natural light pours in from large floor-to-ceiling windows on the left, offering a view of the Ngee Ann City building and greenery outside. Each of the 6 participant’s station is neatly arranged with a raised white work station accompanied by a comfortable tan leather chair.
On the right side of each table, a dark wooden presentation box — containing the watch tools and the training Calibre — sits ready for use. Bottled water and glasses are set out for each guest, adding a touch of the famed Chopard hospitality. If you know the brand long enough, you will know that they are about discreet luxury and attention to the little details.
We began with a pristine, fully assembled movement (above) laid out before us.
A guide book was also provided showing the step by step disassembly and assembly of the movement. Piece by piece, we disassembled it — bridges, screws, gears, — each removed in an exact sequence.
The watchmaker explained every component’s role: how the gear train transfers energy, how the escapement regulates time, how each jewel minimises friction. Even the tiniest part, barely visible to the naked eye, plays a critical role in the watch’s heartbeat.
We started by releasing the power reserve from the main barrel and then removing the balance cock and the balance wheel. Step by step, we were coached to carefully remove each component, learning along the way the names of the components and how they interact with each other to keep the watch ticking.
A fully disassembled movement with the winding crown intact.
The last piece to disassemble is the winding crown...
The reassembly was where the true challenge began. Taking out is easy... putting it back and ensuring it works is something else altogether! It demanded steady hands, keen eyes, and patience — qualities that professional watchmakers hone over decades. Aligning gears perfectly, setting pivots into their jeweled holes, ensuring the balance wheel came to life again — it was a moment of pure satisfaction when the movement finally ticked back to life under my own hands. Thanks in most part to the watchmakers at hand to assist...
And in true Chopard hospitality, we were hosted to lunch. More time to chat and learn from Yve-Marie and Kaiming. And unlike many other brands, the watchmakers in Chopard Singapore are trained to handle complications including servicing the Perpetual Calendars - no need to be sending them back to Switzerland. Impressive I must say.
Walking away from the session, I can again confirm that a luxury timepiece isn’t just an object of beauty; it’s a masterpiece of engineering and craftsmanship. Every second it keeps is the result of countless hours of design, assembly, and finishing by skilled artisans. The L.U.C range as impressive as it is, houses all in-house movement and whenever I see an L.U.C, I don’t just see a watch — I see the heartbeat of time itself.
Some of the L.U.C timepieces belonging to the attendees.
Thanks Chopard, Garina, Jing Ting and Celeste for hosting a wonderfully organised Watchmaking Masterclass. Looking forward to the next event!
