Chopard occupies a singular position in the luxury watch world, functioning as both a serious watchmaker with in-house movement capabilities and one of the world's premier jewelry houses — a dual identity that gives its watches a character distinct from purely technical manufacturers. Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Sonvilier, Switzerland, the brand was acquired by Karl Scheufele in 1963 and remains family-owned, giving it an independence that collectors value. Chopard's most celebrated watches include the Happy Diamonds collection — featuring floating diamonds beneath a sapphire crystal — and the L.U.C collection, which stands for Louis-Ulysse Chopard and represents the brand's fine watchmaking ambitions with COSC-chronometer-rated in-house movements. The Mille Miglia collection, created in partnership with the historic Italian road race, and the Alpine Eagle, the brand's modern sports watch, round out the main families. Pre-owned Chopard watches span an enormous range from diamond-set jewelry pieces to serious mechanical watches with Manufacture calibers. The L.U.C Perpetual Calendar, L.U.C Tourbillon, and Mille Miglia GT XL Chronograph are among the most collected pre-owned references. DeMesy & Co. in Dallas has been sourcing and authenticating pre-owned Chopard watches since 1987.