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GTE 2013: Laurent Ferrier ...

The company is still quite young and last year I visited them in their new place, together with two more PuristS. It was an adequate and lovely place, with lots of family spirit. This year they moved again, because they just need more space for their (additional) watchmakers. Sounds like a success story, doesn´t it?

Their first watch was a big hit, which got several awards and found its way into the heart of collectors from all over the world – Galet Classic. The second one was a surprise (at least to me) – Galet Secret. The third watch is probably the most interesting one as there are not many simple watches with the same level of finish and a similar price tag on the current market – Galet Micro Rotor. The fourth watch … stop – there is none, just “rumors” for Basel ...

So what was to see on their booth at the GTE?

New “hidden” secrets, new dials … - let´s have a look.

Galet Secret – invisible setting

“In this case, the baguette-cut diamonds are mysteriously arranged in arches,
like a brilliantly sparkling theatre stage.” (Press Kit)

Technical details

Case ?

·          210 Pd 18K non rhodium-plated white gold ?

·          Total diameter: 42.00 mm?

·          Thickness: 15.20 mm?

·          Water resistance: 30 m?

·          210 Pd 18K white gold crown ??

·          Glareproofed sapphire crystals ?

Dial and hands

·          Dial opening “on demand” and “in passing”

·          18K white gold entirely invisible-set with 154 baguette-cut diamonds (4.60 cts, of TW-IF to VVS quality)

·          “Assegai-shaped” 18K gold hour and minute hands

·          Functions and displays: central hours and minutes

·          Roman numerals painted on the sapphire crystal

The Galet Secret is equipped with the well-known Double Balance-Spring Tourbillon calibre entirely designed, developed and crafted within the Laurent Ferrier workshops.

The “bluish” just shows how difficult it was to shoot with available light, but nonetheless it was nice to see it in the metal. I am not a big fan of diamonds on watches/dials in general, but this one I could imagine for special occasions J

Galet Classic – Roman numerals

Its new dial is lit up by 11 applied gold Roman numerals, while the “assegai-shaped” hour and minute hands and baton-type seconds hands are also made of gold. A hollowed seconds counter appears at 6 o’clock, and the matching dial creates an aesthetically harmonious overall effect.

 Even when I really liked the first pure version of the dial, I think this is a very nice addition to the collection. It has the same kind of spirit, but with a different kind of character.

Please look in detail, it´s worth to do so.

The Classic is still driven by the well-known movement, without changes.

Gallet Classic – Ivoire

“The red gold case enhanced by a generous ball-shaped crown makes a perfect match with the new ivory shade of the grand feu enamel dial.” (Press Kit)

Dial

·          Ivory-coloured grand feu enamel on an 18k gold underplate

·          Black painted Roman numerals for the hour hands

·          Minute track

·          Hollowed small seconds at 6 o´clock, red-painted counter, rhodiumed white gold flange, manually bevelled and polished using a burin

 All I can say, with my shirt of that day it matched perfectly and it was quite hard to take it away from the wrist.

Let me add some pictures of another Classic version shown, which comes with a black dial.

Just for the pleasure of looking:

Of course there have been Galet Micro-Rotor´s on display as well, but this time I didn´t take any pictures of those.

Once again it was a real pleasure to admire the whole collection and to see some lovely evolutions.

Looking forward to Basel …

Oliver

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