Why do we love this watch?
It is quite hard not to take joy in the creations of master Laurent Ferrier.
Once a complications specialist at Patek Philippe, the deft hands of Mr. Ferrier have produced a beautiful collection of timepieces that show simplicity, a signature sense of unforced elegance, and an unusually high degree of finissage applied to the movement in the best traditions of haute de gamme craftsmanship. The new Classic Origin Green, as its name suggests, offers us a mysterious dial in a delightful shade of green, brighter and more verdant towards the center–like a forest with sunlight streaming through the leaves–to a darker gradient at the edge. Yellow Arabic numerals at the 5 minute sectors imbue an ever so slight sporting aspiration to the look, but without any hint of being excessive. As always, the spear-shaped “Assegai” hands in white gold immediately provide a strong cue to the Ferrier brand, along with the sumptuous curves of the round Gallet case, in this model 40mm, just 10.7mm thick, and being wrought from feather-light Grade 5 titanium. You can be certain this Laurent Ferrier watch will be as effortless to wear as it beautiful to behold.
Owners will surely spend as much or more time gazing through the back at the LF 116.01. While not quite as open to the eye as some of Ferrier’s micro-rotor automatics, this movement projects a sense of both strength, beauty, and the ability to endure the centuries…rather the point of a truly fine watch, to my mind. The lovely curves of the balance cock, bridges, and escape wheel, large polished jewel sinks, and nearly perfect transitions between edges on components showing a hand-achieved interior angle are but a few of the visual delights. Also distinctive to these Ferrier calibers are the frosted, micro-blasted finish on the bridges, which showcase a restrained sense of luxury while bringing each component into focus. One of my favorite single components is the long bladed ratchet pawl governing the winding mechanism, which sparkles with black polish and just smiles out at you…assuring you of what a delight this piece will be to hand-wind and set.