Laurent Ferrier is a true independent manufacture. It is headed by
Laurent Ferrier himself, who worked at Patek Philippe for 40 years, finishing as their creative director.
This Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor is sized at a contemporary 40mm, and has a distinctive amorphous, bevel-free shape. The case features a rounded bezel, thin lugs and the manufactures' signature onion-shaped crown, which work proportionately well together. The entire watch is polished and mirror finished, while the crown itself engraved with a pattern.
The dial is beautifully accented by subtle blue coloration around the sub-seconds, inlaid black roman index markers and Laurent Ferrier’s signature ‘Assegai’-shaped hands. Only a very few grand-feu enamel dials have been produced each year since the end of 2015, and with the reduced weight of its steel case, the watch wears exceptionally well on the wrist.
Powered by the in-house, self-winding calibre LF 230.02, it has an incredibly high-quality movement that combines traditional watchmaking, with modern innovation. Interestingly, where haute-horology often favours a manual-winding movement that’s not blocked by a rotor, Laurent Ferrier decided that contemporary needs, called for an automatic movement. The solution was the incorporation of a micro-rotor as a winding mechanism, allowing the architecture of the movement to be shown completely. The fan-shaped micro-rotor is made of solid gold and is suspended by a large bridge, together, intended to create the impression of a bird standing on one foot. Furthermore, it uses a pawl, allowing it to wind in a unidirectional manner, adding efficiency and reliability.
Impressively, the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor also utilises a double direct-impulse escapement, which improves the efficiency of the movement through its ability to use less power and maintain amplitude, achieved through the escape-lever being locked down between two escape wheels. The finishing of the movement is a major focus for the Galet Micro-Rotor, with contrasts established between the perlage backdrop and the thick circular-grained Geneva Stripes on the bridges. The incredibly precise finishing of the interior angles is achieved through the use of a burin, and the handwork of the manufacture’s skilled craftsmen.
The timekeeping of the Galet Micro-Rotor is equally impressive - it is chronometer-certified by the Besançon Observatory, outperforming its more commonly, COSC-approved peers. It also has a power reserve of 72 hours.
With such a limited number of luxury watches produced in stainless steel, examples such as this Laurent Ferrier Micro-Rotor often reach much higher prices at auction than the same models in precious metals. The combination of the steel case with the beautifully-finished movement and the solid-gold micro-rotor, makes this one of rarest pieces in the Laurent Ferrier collection.
This watch comes on its original black alligator strap, and a matching steel tang buckle.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
