When it comes to discussing exceptional independent watchmakers in the industry today, the name "Laurent Ferrier" undoubtedly stands out. Renowned for his remarkable contributions as the creative director at Patek Philippe for a remarkable span of 40 years, as well as his impressive achievement of securing third place at the illustrious 1979 24-Hour Le Mans race, just trailing behind the legendary Paul Newman, Laurent Ferrier has firmly established his eponymous brand as a leading force in the world of Haute Horlogerie. Owning a Laurent Ferrier is quite a special experience for any collector.
What we have here today is a highly revered Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic Micro-Rotor in yellow gold and a beautiful opaline silver dial. The entire watch itself has an extremely distinctive amorphous, bevel-free styling that is quite unique to Laurent Ferrier’s watches. It also features a perfectly rounded and mirror-polished bezel along with the manufacture’s signature onion-shaped crown. The dial on the Galet Micro-Rotor has a very 1960-esque feel to it and it also features the manufacture’s signature long and thin hour markers and ‘Assegai’-shaped hands, as well as a sub-seconds on the 6 o’clock position. I think that the dial on this Galet Micro-Rotor showcases a strict sense of minimalism, yet it still manages to retain a sense of depth and engagement through its textures. There is a certain quality and cohesiveness about the dial that is quite difficult to put into words, but it is easily understood when you see or handle the watch in person. It is almost like seeing colour for the first time – there is just something about the watch that makes you go “yes, this makes perfect sense.”
While I can hark on about how beautiful the dial is, it is the movement that really made people fall in love with Laurent Ferrier in the first place. Turn the Galet Classic Micro-Rotor over to its back and you will find encased within its 18-carat yellow gold case the in-house, 35 jewelled, FBN Cal. 229.01 with impeccable finishing, a solid gold micro-rotor, and a double balance spring. The idea here is that they are meant to cancel out each other’s errors in order to produce a more consistent and accurate timing. The FBN Cal. 229.01 is also COSC-certified and features an impressive 3-day power reserve. The FBN Cal. 229.01 is what made Laurent Ferrier famous when they first launched and to this day, it is still one that I admire. I don’t think I have to explain too much, the photos will do the talking and show how amazing the finishing is.
Undeniably, Laurent Ferrier is renowned for creating exquisitely elegant dress watches that exude a subtle and refined aesthetic, often flying under the radar of mainstream recognition. The true essence of their craftsmanship and superior quality, however, becomes apparent to those fortunate enough to experience and examine their timepieces firsthand.
