Grand Sport Tourbillon | ©Laurent Ferrier
©Laurent Ferrier

Laurent Ferrier: Grand Sport Tourbillon

Laurent Ferrier is widely known for creating classical watches imbued with traditional watchmaking crafts and mechanical excellence. At this year’s Watches & Wonders, the Genevan atelier has revealed a new contemporary watch, the Grand Sport Tourbillon. Housed in a sporty 44mm stainless steel case, this is the brand’s first model equipped with an integrated stainless steel bracelet.

A passion for sport

Laurent’s love of sport led to the creation of a new limited-edition watch, the Grand Sport Tourbillon. During the 1970s, Laurent Ferrier was often seen behind the wheel of a racing car. He competed in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times and secured a victory in the two-litre prototype category in 1977.

The Grand Sport Tourbillon is housed in a 44mm stainless steel case and predominantly features circular satin-finished elements. The bezel is cushion-shaped but encompasses contrasting mirror-polished flanks. The middle of the case has a barrel-shaped outline, yet, consistent with other Laurent Ferrier timepieces, every constituent of the case coalesces harmoniously.

In 2010, Laurent Ferrier won the ‘Best Men’s Watch Award’ at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) for its Classic Tourbillon. That watch was equipped with a hand-wound movement featuring a tourbillon and a double balance spring. The new Grand Sport Tourbillon is endowed with the same movement, albeit in a contemporary finish.

Furthermore, the tourbillon is only visible via the sapphire case back, which, in turn, is secured with bolts akin to those used in motorsport. The movement features a long-blade-type ratchet pawl system, delivering a reassuring click as the watch is wound. Laurent Ferrier has embellished the movement with a horizontal satin-brushed finish and a ruthenium treatment, reinforcing the sporty character of the watch.

Finally, like all Laurent Ferrier creations, the Grand Sport Tourbillon, due to its protracted creation, will be very exclusive and, in this instance, limited to just 12 pieces.

Technical details:

Movement:

  • Manual winding
  • Diameter: 14’’’ (Ø 31.60 mm)
  • Thickness: 5.57 mm
  • Frequency: 3Hz (21600 vibrations/hour)
  • Power reserve: 80 hours
  • 188 mechanical parts / 23 jewels
  • Hours and minutes in the centre
  • Small seconds at 6 o’clock on tourbillon frame pivot
  • Tourbillon rotating cage visible through sapphire case back
  • Horizontal satin brushed bridges with a ruthenium treatment

Tourbillon features:

  • Tourbillon, opposite double balance spring
  • Swiss” lever escapement
  • Balance at variable geometry, with screw
  • Tourbillon frame carrier in periphery

Case:

  • Stainless steel
  • Dimensions: 44 mm
  • 3 parts, middle, bezel and bottom hooked
  • Sapphire bottom, tourbillon movement vision
  • Water resistant at 100 meters
  • Tinted sapphire glass
  • Satin finishing on the sides and polished bezel
  • Sporty bolts on the case backDial:
  • Gradient blue opaline in centre and black at the periphery
  • Small second at 6 o’clock
  • Indexes: 18K/750 210Pd white gold with orange superluminovaHands:
  • 18K/750 210Pd white gold
  • Hours and minutes: ‘’Assegai-shaped’’ with orange superluminova
  • Seconds: baton-typeStrap:
  • Stainless steel integrated bracelet with 3 links
  • Folding clasp

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