Laurent Ferrier’s New Galet Classic Square
Laurent Ferrier continues to reinterpret haute horlogerie traditions, while infusing them with a resolutely contemporary touch.
Since 2015, Laurent Ferrier has adopted a new shape: variously described as a hunter-, cushion- or tonneau-shaped model, the Square was entirely designed to reflect the codes of the Galet that is now inseparably bound up with the Laurent Ferrier universe.
This year, Laurent Ferrier is unveiling an original version of the Galet Classic Square representing a contemporary interpretation of early 19th century pocket watches: the Galet Classic Square ñ Tourbillon Double Balance-Spring Sector Dial.
Polished by time and shaped by experience, this new creation is distinguished by its square profile and its pocket watch-inspired dial favored by Laurent Ferrier since the creation of the first Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Balance Spring.
Modern Classic
The Galet Classic Square Double Balance Spring appears in an all-new livery. Designed to highlight the subtle characteristics of its distinctive design, it features a play on original textures and subtle color shades.
Nestling inside a 41.5mm case in 18-karat white gold, the new dial is framed by a traditional railway minutes track contributing to the overall sophistication of the design and surrounding the luminous silver-toned gleam of a circular satin-brushed chapter ring that ensures maximum legibility of its applied hour-markers. This glowing radiance is gently counter-balanced by a silver-toned opaline-finish center creating a vibrant contrast of textures on this dial distinguished by its pure composition and legibility that are unmistakable hallmarks of Laurent Ferrier models.
The inscription ìTourbillon Double Spiralî appears in powdered silver-toned grey to create a tone-on-tone effect, while the pair of ìassegai-shapedî ruthenium-treated white gold hands make a perfect match with the characteristic Laurent Ferrier drop-shaped hour-markers. The diameter of the hollowed and snailed small seconds display at 6 o’clock has been subtly enlarged. Although the ruthenium-treated white gold baton-type hand occupies its customary place, the seconds markers appear in an outer circle, reflecting the aesthetic codes of the chapter ring and endowing the two-zone dial structure with an appealing halo effect.
The Galet Classic Square is fitted with an anthracite grey alligator leather strap with Alcantara lining, secured by a pin buckle or a double-blade folding clasp in 18-karat white gold.
Distinctive Movement Identity
Inspired by expertise now over 200 years old, the Galet Classic Square incorporates an avant-garde technique that ensures exceptional precision. It is equipped with a tourbillon device conceived by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, complemented by two head-to-tail mounted balance-springs in the center of the balance. The main advantage of this construction developed by Laurent Ferrier lies in maintaining the center of the balance firmly on its axis, while compensating for the effects of gravity. This approach guarantees the extreme reliability of the regulating system.
The timeless style of the movement is inspired by 19th and 20th century chronometry models and represents a nod to the competition watches that testified to the expertise of the finest watchmaking artisans. It notably features a winding system with a pleasingly soft design and free of the modern setting lever spring. Laurent Ferrier has also deliberately opted for the pleasing design of a long-blade-type ratchet pawl system with a smoothly round-polished finish.
A clear view of Laurent Ferrier’s hand-wound movement.
Pure Horological Artistry
Designed right the way through to the finest details so as to find its way across time and successive generations and thereby testify to expertise spanning more than 200 years, the Galet Classic Square movement delivers a winning blend of precision and reliability.
This magnificently hand-crafted caliber is endowed with a number of finishes that can only be performed by the expert hands of experienced and passionately dedicated watchmaking artisans, working in accordance with the most demanding standards of traditional haute horlogerie. The bridges are adorned with a Cùtes de Genëve motif, the baseplate is circular-grained, while the sharp edges and interior angels are chamfered and hand-polished, and the screw heads are also polished.
Restrained Aesthetic
The Galet Square is based on the perfect integration of all case parts, creating the impression of holding a pebble in one’s hand. The whole challenge lay in preserving the spirit of the Galet, and of interpreting this new ìSquareî shape into the initial project without making a break with the past. To achieve this, Laurent Ferrier revisited his original Galet by starting with a blank page. Purpose and design (dessein and dessin in French) merged beneath the swift strokes of his pencil, until a whole new shape was reached that is a first in the brandís collections. The Galet Square is not a culminating point, but instead a new step in the ongoing affirmation of the Laurent Ferrier style.
Galet Classic Square
Technical SpecificationsReference: LCF018-G
Movement
- Caliber reference: LF 619.01
- Hand-wound movement, chronometer-certified
- Diameter: 14” (31.60 mm)
- Thickness: 5.57 mm
- Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
- Power reserve: 80 hours
- 188 parts
- 23 jewels
- Central hours and minutes
- Small seconds at 6 o’clock on the tourbillon carriage pivot
- Tourbillon carriage visible through the caseback
Tourbillon Mechanism
- Tourbillon, two top-to-tail balance springs
- Two Geneva-type balance-spring stud-holders
- Swiss lever escapement with steel escape wheel and lever
- Variable-geometry balance with gold adjustment screws
- Peripheral tourbillon carriage driving system
Case
- 18K / 210Pd non-rhodium plated white gold
- Three parts: case middle, bezel and snap-on caseback
- Size: 41.5 mm x 41.5 mm
- Thickness: including the sapphire crystal 12.70 mm
- Sapphire crystal caseback
- Water-resistant to 30 meters
- “Ball-shaped” crown in 18K/ 210Pd white gold
Dial
- Silver-toned opaline-finish center, circular satin-brushed chapter ring, 18K white gold applied hour-markers in black, railway minutes track in slate grey
- Small second hand recessed at 6 o’clock
Hands
- 18K/210Pd white gold with black ruthenium treatment
- Hours & minutes: ìassegai-shapedî
- Second: baton-type
Strap
- Anthracite grey alligator leather, hand-sewn, Alcantara lining
- 18K white gold 16mm pin buckle or double-blade folding clasp