Introducing the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto
Laurent Ferrier has just presented its latest creation, Sport Auto, whose origins date back to around 40 years ago when in 1979 Laurent Ferrier and François Servanin, founders of the Swiss watch brand, together with another friend, François Trisconi, competed together as he teamed up in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race behind the wheel of a Porsche 935 Turbo, which after 292 laps and more than 3,988 km, finished in an honourable third place on the podium just behind Paul Newman, a unique feat given that they were three amateur pilots. It was at that time, still in the euphoria of the result achieved, that Laurent Ferrier offered a Nautilus to his friend François as a thank you for his performance and that the latter challenged Laurent to create his own watch together, thus culminating in the creation of his brand in 2009.
The Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto is based on its two previous Grand Sport Tourbillon models launched in 2019 and 2020 both as limited editions of just 12 units of each variant that featured a robust case of 44mm in diameter and a very attractive design reminiscent of the PP Nautilus design but with astronomical prices above €150k.
Thus, the new Sport Auto features a 41.5mm diameter Grade 5 titanium case, whose surfaces alternate between polished and brushed, accentuating the contrast between the different surfaces and maintaining its sporty and curvilinear lines. Still on the outside, domed sapphire crystal, Laurent Ferrier ball-shaped crown, for the first time, screwed down, which thus allows water resistance up to 120 meters.
The dial in different shades of blue comes with an opaline finish, hour indices and hour and minute hands in white gold filled with Super-LumiNova in aqua green tones, at 6 o’clock a small seconds and at 3 o’clock, and for the first time, a date window. Minute track and the brand’s signature inscriptions followed by “Geneve” at 12 o’clock in grey and the watch model in relief at 6 o’clock between the centre of the clock hands and the sub -small seconds dial.
Inside is the Caliber LF270.01 micro-rotor automatic movement, which operates at 28,800 Vph and offers up to 72 hours of power reserve. The meticulously decorated movement can be seen through the sapphire glass of the case back, which is fixed by four screws, from which the micro-rotor in 950 platinum is fixed between the main plate and the micro-rotor bridge stands out.
Finally, to say that the watch is offered with a grade 5 titanium bracelet that matches the watch case and comes with a folding clasp and can be had for the price of CHF 46,000.
Our Opinion
As we mentioned in 2020 when the Grand Sport Tourbillon was presented at Watches&Wonders, the watch impresses with its beautiful lines, but the fact that it is a limited edition in addition to issues such as dimensions and high price, raised many doubts. Now, with the launch of a current model with more realistic dimensions, the story is different. If the 2020 Grand Sport Tourbillon with a navy dial, indices and hands filled with Super-LumiNova in orange tones matched perfectly, in a more classic tone, the new blue gradient dial with indices and hands filled with green lume don’t stay behind, but now in a more contemporary tone. On the inside, the micro-rotor movement also seems to have been an interesting addition to the watch and if to all this we add the case and integrated bracelet in Grade 5 titanium, we can say that the asking price, although not small, is much more justified.
Read more here.
General Specifications:
Brand: Laurent Ferrier
Model: Sport Auto Blue
Reference: LCF040.T1.C1GC5
Dial: Blue
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Case Dimensions: 41.5 mm Diameter, 12.7 thickness
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: Sapphire Glass
Water Resistance: 120 Meters
Strap: Grade 5 titanium bracelet with folding clasp
Calibre: LF270.01
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Winding: Automatic with micro-rotor
Frequency: 28,800 Vph
Jewels: 31
Power Reserve: 72 Hours
Parts: 215
Price: CHF 46,000
Limited Edition: No
