Laurent Ferrier unveils its new Sport Auto that nods to the unusual motor racing origins of the watchmaker
Laurent Ferrier’s sophisticated and complex horological creations come with a surprising and sporty background. On 9 June 1979, Ferrier and his friend François Servanin took on the challenging 24 Hours of Le Mans car race. They were 20th on the starting grid, but after a gruelling 24 hours of racing covering 292 laps and nearly 4,000km, their teammate, François Trisconi, finally made it over the line to claim third place overall – an impressive finish for three amateur drivers – and just behind legendary Hollywood actor and race car driver Paul Newman.
But while the action on the track was momentous, it would be the following moments in the paddocks that would be truly life-defining. In response to Ferrier offering Servanin a Nautilus timepiece as a token of gratitude for his supreme efforts, he asked, by way of continuing the adventure, ‘Why don’t we make our own watch?!’. It was a dream that would take some time to bring to fruition, with the first Laurent Ferrier timepiece released in 2010. But ultimately, with Ferrier having 37 years of experience in the higher echelons of Patek Philippe under his belt, it was a safe bet.
Now the watchmaker is paying tribute to these origins with a new timepiece that is ostensibly a sports watch, albeit seen through Laurent Ferrier’s refined eye. The Sport Auto is full of retro 1970s charm, thanks in large part to its exaggerated, curvaceous case. The bezel hugs these lines, with a circular satin-brushed finish that contrasts with the mirror-polished flanks and vertical satin-brushed middle case to playfully catch the light. These contrasting angles and finishes are reflected in the fully integrated metal bracelet, also constructed from hard-wearing grade 5 titanium.
The dial brings a contemporary point of view, with its subtle gradients of blue paired with an opaline finish that gives it a soft, powdery effect. Elegant white-gold hands and indexes are illuminated by green Super-LumiNova, not only offering additional legibility but a sporty edge. Completing the carefully balanced design is the small seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and a bevelled date window at 3 o’clock.
Powering the watch is Laurent Ferrier’s new in-house LF 270.01 calibre, its second automatic calendar movement. It features a Swiss lever escapement using an automatic winding system with an off-centre micro-rotor designed to make it more resistant to shocks and vibrations, and ideally suited to everyday wear. Like the exterior it comes impeccably finished, requiring more than 139 operations to complete, all executed by hand in the Laurent Ferrier workshops.
