Laurent Ferrier is a new kid on the block, having presented its first novelty just two years ago. Nevertheless, Ferrier the man has been around for many years.
A third-generation watchmaker, Ferrier spent 37 years as one of the creative horological talents behind the scenes at Patek Philippe before bursting onto the scene with his Galet Classic. The watch immediately won the Best Men's Watch category of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve, a historic feat for a first timepiece.
The Galet - named after the smooth, round pebble - embodied Ferrier's philosophy of 'less is more'. The rounded case is smooth to the touch, it has a bigger crown, and the clean, stark interface of the dial and the spear-like hands make the watch all the more striking. The timepiece also housed Laurent Ferrier's first in-house movement, a feat for any independent watchmaker these days.
'I see myself as a guide,' he says. 'I'm very sensitive to ensuring certain values are respected. There is a sense of aesthetics and inspiration from the past, and a sense of simplicity and innovation. It is important to be inspired by the past, but not to copy it.
'I have a great advantage. I don't see myself as just a watchmaker. My strength is being able to ensure that there is an aesthetic coherence to the watch, right down to the buckle.'
Most of this year's novelties are minor improvements and adjustments to existing novelties. The Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Balance Spring has undergone some cosmetic red gold touch-ups and now comes with a slate grey dial and 11 applied red gold Roman numerals.
The hour and minute hands and baton-type seconds hands are also made of red gold, while a hollowed seconds counter appears at 6 o'clock. The movement uses two balance springs instead of one to give the movement greater accuracy.
