This week, Laurent Ferrier debuted an 18K red gold version of the company’s integrated bracelet sports watch.
The Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown was previously available in two 12-piece stainless steel limited editions, one of which we covered here, and now comes in the exact same cushion and barrel-shaped case and bezel, measuring the same 44 mm x 13.4 mm case, with an integrated bracelet, now as a 24-piece numbered limited edition in luxurious 18K/750 5N red gold, with a chocolate gradient dial that’s lighter in the center and gets darker towards the perimeter.
While the stainless steel versions are obviously lighter in weight by a considerable amount, the faded brown dial juxtaposed against the richness of red gold will surely impress its two dozen future owners. Otherwise, the watch carries the hallmarks of a Laurent Ferrier, like its steel counterparts, particularly the “Assegai”-shaped applied hour markers, and hour and minute hands, which for this iteration are rose gold with white lume. A sunken dial at 6, with a slightly lighter shade of brown, indicates the seconds via a small sweeping baton-shaped hand that’s also made of red gold.
Flip the watch over and the sapphire caseback reveals the other signature element of Laurent Ferrier, the movement. The manual caliber LF619.01 features a dark gray ruthenium treatment on the prominent bridges, finished with a horizontal satin-brushed surface. This 3Hz, 188 component, 23 jewel caliber is distinguished by it tourbillon with two reverse-assembled balance springs, located at the bottom of the movement, and hidden on the dial side of the watch. Although, technically speaking the tourbillon moves the tourbillon cage pivot which in turn moves the sweeping baton-shaped seconds hand on the dial side, its subtle to the point that only the owner and those who know the watch will realize it’s a tourbillon, not a traditional small seconds.
The Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown (Ref. LCF044.R5.B1RC1) is good for up to 80 hours when fully wound, the case is depth rated to 100 meters, and a total two dozen are available to purchase for roughly $225,000.
Photos by Laurent Ferrier.
