Laurent Ferrier is glad to participate in the London Craft Week 2018, the event showcasing exceptional and innovative British and international craftsmanship. To celebrate Britishness, Laurent Ferrier drew inspiration from his other passion alongside watchmaking: race driving.
When he was a boy, Laurent Ferrier was impressed by race cars not only for their performance but also for their design. He had a poster in his bed room featuring the Triumph Spitfire racing in Le Mans. Laurent Ferrier recalls: “To me, it was the most beautiful car ever. I wanted to drive it so badly! I was also completely devoted to its shapes and of course the color was striking.”
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The British racing green takes its name from the green international motor racing color of the United Kingdom used till the end of 60’s. At that time, race cars were designed and built by incredible craftsmen. The idea of creating a Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” British Racing Green became obvious to pay a tribute to craftsmanship in the London Craft Week.
The dial is lacquered as cars used to be. The silver sub-dial reminds of car rims. The leather strap is inspired by the bonnet straps that were very common in the 60’s. The railroad and the hour markers are a nod to speedometer. For this very special timepiece, Laurent Ferrier chooses the “School Piece” case because it offers a wider view on this exclusive dial.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
On the movement side, the traditional Côte de Genève motif complements this elegant design.
The Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” British Racing Green cultivates this distinction by featuring three exclusive characteristics:
⦁ A micro-rotor pawl-fitted automatic winding system fixed between the main plate and the micro-rotor bridge
⦁ A silicon escapement with double direct impulse on the balance
⦁ A silent block shock protection system for the micro-rotor
A global approach
The harmonious construction of this Caliber FBN 229.01 stems from the global approach envisaged for each of the movement parts, from development through to realization. The technical specifications are extremely rigorous, since Laurent Ferrier refuses any compromises in this domain.
The automatic winding system was invented in the late 18th century and takes advantage of the watch wearer’s arm movements to wind the barrel spring and thus store up the energy required to run the mechanism. The device has been constantly used and enhanced ever since.
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Laurent Ferrier wanted to create a movement with a micro-rotor and a comfortable power reserve.
To achieve this implied finding a system ensuring perfect winding in order to compensate for the lower inertia of a small oscillating weight. In fact a micro-rotor needs as twice as many rotations (300vs. 150) needed for one complete turn of the ratchet wheel.
The escapement with double direct impulse on the balance
This exclusive silicon escapement with double direct impulse on the balance is inspired by the father of modern horology, Abraham-Louis Breguet. This modern construction, associated with the use of cutting-edge materials, maximises the restitution of energy. The excellent efficiency of this escapement serves to reduce the torque required to wind the mainspring and hence optimises the
movement winding.
Superlative finishing
The exceptional finishing of the movement is crafted in the finest watchmaking traditions in Laurent Ferrier’s Geneva workshops. In addition to a Côte de Genève pattern on the bridges and the circular graining on the mainplate, the flanks are hand-drawn, the wheel spokes are bevelled, the screw heads are polished and the interior angles are hand-crafted.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
The mirror polishing done by hand on the pawl, the balance-clock and the micro-rotor bridge, as well as the guilloché motif on the 18-carat solid gold micro-rotor, give this model an entirely distinctive radiance. The sapphire crystal case-back provides a glimpse of the finesse of this workmanship and reveals harmonious architecture stemming from a clever combination of lines and curves.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
The Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” British Racing Green is fitted with a dark brown leather strap. A pin buckle matching the colour of the case sets a refined finishing touch. The case-back is snap-fastened and can be removed by the watchmaker thanks to the olivette. Its water resistance is guaranteed to a depth of 30 meters.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Model: GALET Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” British Racing Green
Movement
Caliber FBN 229.01,
automatic micro-rotor winding with unidirectional clicket, with a power reserve of 72 hours.
- Natural escapement.
- Balance screw.
- Indications: hours, minutes, small second at 6 o´clock.
- Micro-rotor: fixed between the mainplate and the micro-rotor bridge.
- Silicon escapement with double impulse on the balance spring.
- Micro-rotor mounted on a shockproof system, silentbloc.
Thickness: 4,35 mm
Number of components: 186
Number of jewels: 35
Frequency: 21’600 A/h (3Hz)
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS
Case
⦁Available in stainless steel
⦁Water resistant to 30 m.
⦁Case diameter: 40 mm
⦁Case thickness: 10.70 mm
Dial
⦁Green lacquer, hours circle powdered silver
Indexes: white gold 18K
⦁Small second at 6 o´clock, with a circular satin brushed outer circle and snailed in the center.
Hands:
⦁White gold 18K / 750 210 Pd
Hours and minutes: assegai-shaped. In white gold 18K
⦁Seconds: baton-shaped. In white gold 18K
Leather
⦁Dark brown leather (Nova Nappa)
⦁Pin buckle
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Press release - 2018
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Laurent Ferrier SA
Ms Jessica Gasser
Route de Saint Julien 150
1228 Plan Les Ouates
Switzerland
Telephone+41 22 716 33 87
Telefax+41 22 341 64 08
Contact : PR@LAURENTFERRIER.CH
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