Presenting Five New Timepieces From Laurent Ferrier

Laurent Ferrier has come a long way since it captivated the watch world in 2010 with its Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Hairspring, winning the “Men’s Watch Prize” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for its very first watch ever, acclaimed as much for its technical innovation as for its smooth, rounded shape and clean, easy-to-read dial.

Since then, the additions of a sector dial, dual-time display, a new “square” cushion-shaped case and a micro-rotor with natural escapement (earning a second GPHG award, the “Horological Revelation Prize” for the Galet Square Micro-Rotor in 2015) have developed into four movements driving five watch lines. Approximately 120 timepieces are produced each year at the Laurent Ferrier Manufacture in Geneva.

Here are five from the 2016 collection:

The Galet Classic Square Tourbillon Double Hairspring in 2 Versions: 

With Sector Dial

The Tourbillon Double Hairspring movement is presented for the first time in an 18K white gold “square” cushion-shaped case.  Measuring 41.5 x 41.5 mm and 12.70 mm thick, the three-part case – case middle, bezel and snap-on-case back — surrounds, in this “sector-dial” version, a silver-toned opaline-finish centre dial with hours and minutes display, small seconds at 6 o’clock, circular satin-brushed chapter ring, 18K white gold ruthenium-treated applied hour-markers, and a railway minutes track in slate grey.

Visible through the case back’s sapphire crystal, the calibre construction of this manual-winding system is meant to be heard as much as seen: it replaces the modern winding-stem pull-out piece spring by a long blade ratchet pawl, making a delicate mechanical clicking sound during winding.  We admire the hand-crafted finish, bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, and decoration on the tourbillon carriage bridge.

Calibre reference: LF 619.01. Power reserve of 80 hours. Water-resistant to 30 meters. Hand-sewn anthracite grey alligator leather strap.

With White “Grand Feu” Enamel Dial 

Sharing the case and movement characteristics of the Galet Classic Square Tourbillon Double Hairspring Sector Dial version, this superb white “grand feu” enamel dial with white gold black painted Roman numerals is complemented with a black or taupe alligator leather strap. Also available with a black onyx dial and white gold white painted Roman numerals.

The Galet Square Boréal Micro-Rotor

For the first time, Laurent Ferrier brings light to its dials with Superluminova, or “Boréal” as the brand calls it. This model, a Galet Square case in stainless steel, features a vertical satin-brushed dial enhanced with harmonious tones and textures and a snailed small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.

A fine slate-grey transfer around the periphery perfectly frames the rounded shape of the eye-catching chapter ring markings in raised green or beige Superluminova. The 18K ruthenium-treated gold ‘assegai-shaped’ hands for the hours and minutes are Superluminova-enhanced.

The 41 x 41 mm cushion-shaped case, with a ball-shaped winding-crown for easy handling, houses the self-winding calibre FBN 229.01 equipped with the micro-rotor with natural escapement. Power reserve of three days.

Complemented with straps in hand-sewn leather and composite material with green stitching or light brown barbialla calf.

The Galet Traveller Boréal Micro-Rotor

First presented in 2013, the Galet Traveller is appreciated for its clean aesthetics, easy-to-use time zone adjustment and easy-to-read dial.

Its 41 mm stainless steel round case with ball-shaped crown for winding and time-setting features two pushbuttons (+) and (-) on the left side of the case, respectively positioned at 10 and 8 o’clock, to very simply adjust the hour hand of the local time backwards and forwards, with automatic date correction when the hand passes midnight.

Through the domed sapphire-crystal we admire the black nickel-coloured dial with vertical satin-brushing, snailed small seconds and slate-grey transfer with a miniature track around the circumference.

And with this new “Boréal” version, the bevelled date window at 3 o’clock, small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, and home or ‘reference’ time-zone aperture at 9 o’clock are highlighted by18K gold hands enhanced with Superluminova and by a chapter ring coated with Superluminova in green or beige, matched with hand-sewn straps of leather and composite material with green stitching or light brown barbialla calf.

The self-winding Calibre LF230.01, from the Micro-Rotor line of movements, took 2 years to develop, with the dual time-zone adjustment mechanism as well as the date fully integrated into the architecture of the base calibre.

The Galet Traveller Globe Night Blue

Using the same LF 230.01 movement, case-construction and date and dual-time display as the Galet Traveller Boréal, this new “Globe” Traveller, with case and dial in 18K white gold is positively enchanting with its three-dimensional interpretation of the Earth seen by night. With a convex centre, the dial is brought to life with gold leaf –adorned dots that represent the world’s cities set on the five continents painted in various shades of blue that slope gradually down to the seas of translucent blue champlevé enamel. An outer gold ring with hand-finished circular satin-brushed decoration dipping towards the central sphere accentuates the raised globe effect on the dial. Drop-shaped hour-markers and hands are in 18K white gold. Hand-sewn blue alligator leather strap.

This timepiece joins the Galet Traveller Globe Black with Mirror Polished Continents and the Galet Traveller USA Enamel.

All straps have pin buckles or double-blade folding clasps in 18K white gold or steel.
Prices range from 35,000 excl. taxes to 75,000 + Swiss Francs.

Photo Credit: Haute Time: Follow Haute Time on Instagram to catch all of the new releases as they happen.