In relation to elegant, dressy designs, few eras in watchmaking can examine to the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. The small-seconds, stepped-case aesthetic of the period remains to be extremely prized amongst lovers right this moment, and echoes of this stylistic heritage nonetheless ring by means of the trendy luxurious watch market. Laurent Ferrier pays tribute to this age of magnificence with its newest pair of releases, mixing collectively cues from lots of the period’s most beloved designs with seamlessly built-in authentic ideas. Collaboratively designed with Phillips Watches in affiliation with Bacs & Russo, the restricted version Laurent Ferrier Hommage II collection is an impeccably made love letter to the best watches of the ‘40s, utilizing bespoke parts for each a part of the watch besides the motion to create a very distinctive customized look aside from the model’s commonplace choices.
A lot of the eye surrounding the Laurent Ferrier Hommage II collection is targeted round its 40mm chrome steel case design, and with good purpose. The distinctive step-case design is a rarity within the present market, however this unorthodox look was a staple of the time interval Laurent Ferrier goals to emulate. With the Hommage II, the model easily incorporates lots of the period’s singular cues. The stepped bezel design is the instant visible spotlight, including depth to the case in pictures whereas incorporating gentle brushed ending. By making a layered impact, the model additionally tempers the look of the extra-wide bezel, doubtless permitting for an old-school compact really feel on the wrist with out making the case really feel disproportionate total. Laurent Ferrier contrasts the brushed satin look of this bezel with mirror sharpening atop its flowing tapered lugs, whereas the vertical case sides use a basic horizontally brushed end. In lieu of a elegant chamfer, this wider polished part retains the look brilliant and dressy in pictures, however permits the model to keep up the straightforward un-contoured form frequent to the period intact. Laurent Ferrier solely deviates from the period-correct look with the considerably extra up to date case measurement (though that is clearly dictated at the very least partially by the dimensions of the motion), in addition to the broad sapphire show caseback.
Laurent Ferrier affords the Hommage II with two markedly completely different sector dial ideas. The matte black dial mannequin is the extra simple and masculine of the pair, with straight sword arms above a printed Arabic hours scale with playful streamlined dashes connecting every of the softly rounded numerals. A contrasting white outer railroad minutes monitor and the minimalist indices of the 6 o’clock sub seconds show maintain this format from feeling too simplistic or cloying in preliminary pictures. The elegantly slim printed crosshair sample and the broader white rings flanking the hours scale additionally imbue the design with a way of lightness and nuance. It’s the silvery white dial mannequin that steals the present in images, nonetheless, with a extra intricate colorway and a much less aggressive execution. The warmth blued leaf handset helps to set the tone of this total design, with shades of deep navy blue echoing all through all of the dial textual content, scales, and printed Arabic numerals. The model offers depth and complexity to the basic navy blue and white shade pairing with the hours ring, which is rendered in an uncommon however undeniably good-looking pale pink. Whereas nearly remarkable in fashionable designs, pink and salmon dials had been frequent choices by means of the primary half of the twentieth century, and the dusty and delicate execution right here lends the dial a wealth of classic charisma in pictures.
Each variants of the Laurent Ferrier Hommage II use the model’s in-house LF 116.01 handwound motion. Whereas the motion itself has appeared in a number of small-seconds releases from the model over the previous few years, right here the LF 116.01 takes on an all-new frosted gilt end throughout its broad bridges and plates to higher replicate classic motion ending. Though the look could also be classic, the LF 116.01’s efficiency is solidly up to date, with a weekend-proof 80 hour energy reserve at a 21,600 bph beat fee. Laurent Ferrier finishes each variants with suitably classic box-stitched distressed leather-based straps. For the white dial mannequin, the model opts for suede in a heat tobacco brown, whereas the black dial model takes on a mottled leather-based strap in an eye catching saffron yellow tone.
By highlighting and remixing among the best watch designs of the ‘30s by means of the ‘50s, the restricted version Laurent Ferrier Hommage II collection delivers a very breathtaking look that stands as a formidable fashion train in its personal proper. Solely 16 examples of every colorway will likely be made, for a complete manufacturing run of 32 watches. The Laurent Ferrier Hommage II is offered now completely by means of the Phillips Perpetual boutique at an MSRP of 32,000 CHF. For extra info, please go to Phillips Perpetual’s website.
