CHOPARD ZAGATO LAB ONE CONCEPT
An Ultra-Lightweight Concept Watch
The Zagato Lab One Concept stands out for its extraordinary lightness.
Including the strap, the watch weighs only 43.2 grams, making it the lightest titanium-based timepiece ever produced by Chopard. 1
Without the strap, the case itself weighs just 36.5 grams, demonstrating the brand’s obsession with structural efficiency and advanced materials.
Such extreme weight reduction is not simply a technical exercise — it mirrors the philosophy used in motorsport engineering where every gram matters.
A Collaboration With Zagato
This watch marks the third collaboration between Chopard and the legendary Italian automotive design studio Zagato.
The project reflects a shared passion for racing design, mechanical innovation and performance-driven aesthetics.
The design language draws heavily from Zagato’s tubular chassis structures used in racing cars.
Inside the watch, the movement itself is built around a network of tubular structures that distribute mechanical stress in the same way a race car chassis improves rigidity while reducing weight. 2
Advanced Ceramic Titanium Material
One of the most technically fascinating aspects of the watch is its use of ceramic titanium.
This advanced material is created by treating titanium through plasma oxidation, giving it exceptional hardness and durability.
With a hardness reaching around 1000 Vickers, ceramic titanium offers scratch resistance comparable to ceramic while remaining extremely lightweight. 3
Originally developed for aerospace and automotive engineering, the material perfectly suits a watch inspired by high-performance racing technology.
The L.U.C 04.04-L Tourbillon Movement
Powering the watch is the manually wound L.U.C 04.04-L movement, developed specifically for this concept model.
The movement integrates a 60-second tourbillon positioned at six o’clock and a power reserve indicator styled like a racing fuel gauge at twelve o’clock.
Just like the case, the movement bridges and main plate are also made from ceramic titanium.
This construction enhances both rigidity and shock resistance while maintaining extremely low weight.
Motorsport Inspiration in Every Detail
The automotive inspiration runs throughout the watch.
The crown design resembles a mechanical differential gear, while the dial architecture evokes a car dashboard.
Meanwhile, the articulated tubular lugs allow the watch to adapt perfectly to the wearer’s wrist while maintaining the structural aesthetic inspired by racing frames.
This marriage of watchmaking and automotive engineering demonstrates how modern haute horlogerie increasingly draws inspiration from other fields of mechanical innovation.
A Rare Collector's Piece
The Zagato Lab One Concept is an extremely limited creation.
Only 19 pieces will be produced, a number chosen to reference the founding year of the Zagato company in 1919.
For collectors, the watch represents both a technical experiment and a tribute to a century of Italian automotive design.