It’s been less than a decade since independent Swiss watchmaker Laurent Ferrier introduced his first watch at Baselworld 2010, the Gallet Classic Double Spiral Tourbillon (hands-on here). A hell of a debut that won the award for best men’s watch at Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve that year. Since then Mr. Ferrier’s list of complications has expanded to include a GMT watch featuring champlevé enamelling (the Galet Traveller Globe Night Blue, hands-on here), and an annual calendar with a pocket watch-inspired case which paid tribute to his first creations at watchmaking school (the Galet Annual Calendar School Piece, covered here). Using the same case is this year’s Laurent Ferrier Galet Minute Repeater School Piece, the first repeater watch from the brand.
Specifications
Brand: Laurent Ferrier
Model: Galet Minute Repeater School Piece, Reference LCF.030
Dimensions: 40mm wide by 14.20mm thick
Case Material: Steel, non-water-resistant
Crystal/Lens: Domed sapphire, front and back
Movement: In-house caliber LF707.01, manual winding with minute repeater function
Frequency: 21,600vph (3Hz)
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Brown alligator leather with Alcantara lining or beige calf leather, with a pin buckle or double folding clasp
Price & Availability: TBD
Analysis
The first detail that strikes me (pun intended) about the Laurent Ferrier Galet Minute Repeater School Piece is that dial, which features a vertical satin-brushed finish and “6N red gold” color. In the supplied images it appears almost salmon, a distinctive and very vintage look for a brand whose palette has so far been dominated by white, grey, black, and blue. It’s clear from the press release that the repeater function has been given a lot of thought; steel as the case material was chosen for acoustic reasons, and the watch has been equipped with a two-pitch gong which chimes a D-sharp note for the hours, F-sharp for the minutes, and a combination note for the quarters. Movement finishing is also stellar (as we’ve come to expect from Mr. Ferrier), with Côtes de Genève decoration, hand-chamfered and polished edges, and a quaver-shaped bridge for the inertia flywheel.
Summary
Laurent Ferrier is one of those independent watchmakers who can rank among the best in the world (think Philippe Dufour, Roger W. Smith, F.P. Journe, and Kari Voutilainen) in terms of aesthetics and finish. With timepieces like the Laurent Ferrier Galet Minute Repeater School Piece it won’t be long before his catalog of complications rivals that of the masters’ as well. It’s amazing to think how much this micro-brand has accomplished in the past 8 years, and I’m excited to see what Mr. Ferrier has in store for us next. Price is yet to be confirmed but we will update this article once we know more. laurentferrier.ch