Watchmaking simply does not get more refined than Laurent Ferrier. Every detail is meticulously considered and the finishing, some would argue the very finest in the world. When you buy a Laurent Ferrier you know a few things for sure. 1: You are part of a very small club, 2: The watch has been finished by hand and to the very highest standards, and 3: Yore wearing a watch that has overcome one of the great challenges in watchmaking, that being a watch that is instantly recognisable, simple and all without compromising its design.

For 2017, Laurent Ferrier himself has taken a long look at his first creation: his School Piece, or “Montre Ecole”. Based on the 19th century pocket watch Mr Ferrier made, the “Montre Ecole” has all the touch and feel of a hand made pocket watch designed for the wrist. When working on the watch, his objective was clear: to develop a case a delicate shape-  around the full circumference, as the pocket watches of the day.

The “Montre Ecole” boasts a couple new features the brand. To start with an all new 40mm three-piece bassiné case, with a satin and polished finish. The lugs are straight and thin – and finally a new dial vertical satin-brushed finish in a dark silver hue, Assegai-shaped white gold hands and indexes point to anthracite painted indexes.

And finally (a nod to the great English watchmakers of the 18th century) Laurent Ferrier has also chosen to go for a rough decoration finish for its micro rotor movement, recalling the original materials uses in prototyping, such as brass, which offers a contrast with steel. Further hand-finishing skills applied to the movement include shot-blasting, known as microbillé, and mirror polishing for the parts in steel, including the balance cock.

The Galet Micro Rotor “Montre Ecole” will be available in three versions including Red Gold, White Gold or Steel. It is fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap with Alcantara lining, secured by a pin buckle or a double blade folding clasp in steel.

Movement
— Calibre reference: FBN Calibre 229.01, automatic winding with pawl-fitted micro-rotor, 72-hour power reserve

• micro-rotor winding system fixed between the main plate and the micro-rotor bridge
• silicon escapement with double direct impulse on the balance
• a silent block shock protection type system for the micro-rotor

— Indications: hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock
— Movement diameter: 14’’’ = 31.60 mm
— Movement thickness: 4.35 mm
— Number of parts: 186
— Number of jewels: 35
— Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)

Case
— Stainless Steel
— 40 mm three-piece bassiné case
— Thickness: including the sapphire crystal 10.95 mm
— Sapphire crystal case-back
— Water-resistant to 30 metres

Dial
— Dark silver toned vertical satin-brushed finish
— Minimalist small seconds with a snailed finish in the centre and a sandblasted outer section

Hands
— Hours & minutes: “assegai-shaped” hands in white gold
— Seconds: baton-shaped in white gold

Strap
— Dark brown alligator leather, hand-sewn, Alcantara lining
— Stainless steel pin buckle or double-blade folding clasp