The company was founded in 1860, when Luis-Ulysse Chopard established his workshop in Sonviller, Switzerland. In a short period of time, its products became famous in Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia. In 1920, the founder’s grandson Paul-Andrè Chopard moved the company to Geneva, the capital of “Haute Horlogerie”, establishing the company in one of the most prestigious watch-making cities in the world. In 1963, the company passed into the hands of Karl Scheufele, a descendant of a dynasty of German watchmakers and jewellers. He led the company through major developments and it quickly became one of the most quoted and recognised names in the industries of fine watchmaking and jewellery. Scheufele’s children are the current co-presidents of the company: Caroline Grousi-Scheufele manages the ladies’ collections and jewellery, whilst her brother, Karl-Friedrich, manages the men’s collections and the Chopard Manufacture (a research foundation where L.U.C. watch movements are produced). In the ladies’ collection, there are very precious Chopard models, crafted in white gold and set with diamonds or made of steel. There are also the chronographs with quartz or mechanical movements, all in a wide range of collections: The Chopard Happy Sport collection, the Happy Spirit and Happy Diamond, the Classic collection, the Chopard Two 0 Ten, Chopard La Strada, Chopard Your Hour and the most precious Chopard Ice Cube and Chopard Imperiale. Chopard also released two special edition models both, dedicated to Elton John. Known as the Chopard Elton John Watch, they were released to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS foundation. In the men’s collection, there are only watches with mechanical movements or grand complication tourbillons and chronographs. The collections are: Chopard L.U.C, Mille Miglia, Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the 1996 limited series dedicated to the famous tenor José Carreras.