Making only several dozen watches per year, Laurent Ferrier is a true independent manufacture, producing pieces with a quality and know-how which is long lost in many corners of the watch world. It is headed by Ferrier himself, who worked at Patek Philippe for several decades years, finishing as their creative director. This version of the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor was released at Baselworld 2014, retaining many of the series' aesthetics while introducing rounded Arabic numerals and a minute track around the edge of the dial.

The Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor has an amorphous, bevel-free shape. The case features a rounded bezel, thin lugs, and the manufacture's signature, onion-shaped crown. The entire watch is polished and mirror finished, while the crown is engraved, providing a textural contrast. The dial is a delicate eggshell colour, with the Arabic numerals and minute track rendered in a deep black. Ferrier's signature 'assegai'-shaped hands are silvered, in a similar colour to the sub-dial.

Powered by the in-house, self-winding calibre LF 229.01, the watch has an incredibly high-quality movement that combines traditional watchmaking, with modern innovation. Interestingly, where haute-horlogerie 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 using a burin, and the handwork of the manufacture’s skilled craftsmen.

Closer look

This Laurent Ferrier Micro Rotor is in very good condition throughout. The case and lugs show virtually no signs of wear, likely worn on a handful of occasion. The hallmarks and engravings on the case back are crisp and well defined.

The watch has recently (December 2022) been serviced by the manufacture, thus comes with time remaining on the brand's servicing warranty. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee of authenticity from A Collected Man.