Laurent Ferrier, known today as an independent master watchmaker, until the 70s, he was seen on the roster of some of the most prestigious car races. He competed in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, even finishing first in the two-liter prototype category in 1977.


The Porsche Kramer Racing 935T driven by Laurent Ferrier and François Servanin

It was during this period that he met the driver and industrialist Francois Servanin. Held by a passion for speed and mechanics, their friendship grew and in 1979 they competed together at the wheel of a Porsche 935T of the team Kramer, coming in third place in the competition. Their performance was even more remarkable considering that many of their competitors were professional pilots of formula 1.

The love of the two gentlemen for mechanics never waned, leading them to form the watch brand Laurent Ferrier in 2009. Today they remember the beginning of their friendship and automotive adventures with this brand new Grand Sport Tourbillon in a limited edition of 12, which captures the spirit of motor racing in the 70s.

The Tourbillon Grand Sport attracts attention with its smoky tobacco dial and luminescent orange hands and hour markers that respect the brand's love of elegance and refinement, while offering a sportier and more sporty design. powerful. The dial is protected by a colored, spherical-shaped sapphire crystal that softens the dial, providing a beautifully rounded profile when viewed from the side.

The 44 mm stainless steel case features all the design codes of a Laurent Ferrier timepiece, with a refined aesthetic, with rounded and soft lines, but also features a new design capable of offering greater resistance and personality. Like all his creations, Laurent Ferrier has designed the case of the new Tourbillon Grand Sport so that it can be extremely comfortable and pleasant to wear all day: from the experience of winding the crown in the morning, to checking the time while you drive or, finally, at home during the night.

A closer look reveals refined crown protectors, sporty caseback bolts and highly polished parts alongside satin-finished elements that accentuate the attention to detail and exceptional workmanship that went into the making of this truly unique case!

The hand-wound mechanical movement (composed of 188 mechanical parts and 23 jewels, guarantees 80 hours of power reserve and works at 21,600vph), entirely developed and produced within the Laurent Ferrier workshops, is equipped with a double tourbillon, made in the best traditional style. Visible exclusively through the sapphire caseback, the mechanism is not intended to be a mere aesthetic improvement, but to guarantee the precision and reliability of the adjustment system. The precious timepiece is completed by a rubber strap with a stainless steel folding clasp.

Therefore, Laurent Ferrier presents a brand new collection in an unexpected sporty style to celebrate the 40 years since the founders of the brand raced together in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but not only. The year 2019 is not only the anniversary of the founders' automotive career, but it is also the tenth anniversary of the “conception” of the brand's first tourbillon.

Il Grand Sport Tourbillon water resistant to 100 meters, it will be available, as already mentioned, in a limited edition of 12 pieces, delivered in a special box that includes a commemorative plaque. Price about 200.000 EURO.