Anyone who loves high-end watches will know of Laurent Ferrier. Founder Laurent Ferrier was a watchmaker who worked at Patek Philippe for 37 years, and also a car enthusiast. His two passions for watches and cars are the origins of the "Sport Auto" we will introduce today.
The sporty-chic 41.5mm cushion-shaped case features a blue opaline dial, a titanium case and integrated bracelet, and a new automatic movement with a micro-rotor.
We will tell you more about this watch, which is scheduled to be produced in 125 units per year.
Article published on June 2022, 4
Equipped with a new automatic movement with a micro-rotor made of platinum 950.
"As many of you may already know, together with our friend François Servanin, we founded the Laurent Ferrier brand in 2009. To understand the beginning of this journey, we need to go back almost 40 years," says Laurent Ferrier.
He continued, "It was June 9, 1979, at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans. François and I were preparing to start the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We had been a team for several years, but tensions were building. We were 20th from the start line."
"With a qualifying time of 3 minutes 55.080 seconds, we were first in the fifth group. The race started at 2pm, and François set off in our Porsche 935, determined to make a mark in the rankings. After 24 hours of racing, 292 laps of the track, a distance of 3988.254km, a top speed of 312km/h on the straights of the "Hunaudières", a rainy night and a dazzling sunrise, and then, after peak stress and 24 pit stops for supplies, repairs and driver changes, at 3pm on June 10th 1979, my teammate François Trisconi crossed the finish line, just behind Paul Newman and in third place overall. What an achievement for three amateur drivers like us!"
On that day in the paddock, Laurent Ferrier presented François with a Nautilus to express his gratitude for their shared achievement. This gift inspired François, a true businessman, to take his friend on an adventure: "After this great achievement, why not continue the adventure by teaming up to create our own watch?"
However, 30 years passed before the watch brand Laurent Ferrier was born in 2009. As of 2022, more than 40 years have passed since that amazing podium finish at Le Mans, but Laurent Ferrier says, "I still relive this memory every week." He continues, "This memory inspired us to create the ideal timepiece to wear during races, and that's how we came to design the Sport Auto."
Named the "Sport Auto," this watch features a 41.5mm case crafted from grade 5 titanium. The form, consisting of the bezel and the gently tonneau-shaped middle case, is in keeping with Laurent Ferrier's design codes. Each part has a different finish: the bezel is circular and satin-finished, the case sides are mirror-polished, and the middle case is vertically satin-finished. Each contrasts with the others, making for a stunning example of titanium workmanship.
The metal bracelet, made from grade 5 titanium, also features a design that emphasizes polished sides and satin-finished verticals, with a meticulous polishing even down to the sloping sides of the center links.
The brand's signature ball-shaped crown is now screwed down for the first time and is elegantly integrated into the middle case. The precise notches provide a comfortable feel when operating the watch. This screw-down crown and 120m water resistance ensure a comfortable fit for everyday use.
A domed sapphire crystal overlays the watch, revealing the dial, which features Laurent Ferrier's design codes. The blue dial has a gradient opaline finish. The hands and indexes are made of white gold and are filled with green Super-LumiNova, completing the look. A blue small seconds counter at 6 o'clock is highlighted by a gray scale.
The minute track is also grey, as are the logo and central crosshair, and the date display is housed in an aperture at 3 o'clock. As with the tourbillon model, the "SPORT AUTO" inscription, in a similar colour to the background, is placed between the central hand and the small seconds, tying the whole piece together.
The caliber LF270.01 is the second automatic movement with a calendar developed in-house by Laurent Ferrier, and is entirely designed, decorated, assembled, and regulated in the Laurent Ferrier workshops.
"The automatic movement with an off-center micro-rotor is equipped with a Swiss lever escapement. To make it suitable for sports watches, the movement is shock-resistant and vibration-resistant, and features a unidirectional ball bearing instead of the traditional ratchet mechanism," the brand details.
The micro-rotor is fitted with a platinum 950 weight, positioned directly between the baseplate and bridge for optimal stability and maximum winding. When fully wound, the watch offers a reliable power reserve of over 72 hours.
The sapphire crystal case back is secured with special screws like those found in sports cars, following the design codes of the brand's first automatic movement.
Each LF270.01 calibre requires no less than 139 hand-finishing operations. The rotor bridge of movements equipped with a micro-rotor is particularly meticulously hand-decorated. The corners are bevelled and then polished with gentian stems or diamond powder, while the surface is mirror-polished. The movement also features multiple entry angles, lead-polished surfaces, satin-finishing and circular graining, all of which are done by hand in the Laurent Ferrier workshops.
It is also worth noting that, for the first time in Laurent Ferrier's history, the micro-rotor is made of platinum 950, creating a more contemporary contrast with the parallel satin-brushed ruthenium-plated bridges.
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