News

Laurent Ferrier unveils a new edition of its versatile tourbillon

• The Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg features an opaline iceberg dial housed in a 44 mm Grade 5 titanium case. • The case is fitted to a Grade 5 titanium integrated bracelet. • A sophisticated manually wound tourbillon movement with a double balance spring drives the hours, minutes, and small seconds. • It was presented at the second edition of Mavericks of Time recently held during October 29th–30th in Abu Dhabi. • It joins the brand’s permanent collection.

What is the new Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg?

It is the latest edition of Laurent Ferrier’s versatile tourbillon wristwatch, one which features a cushion-shaped bezel, a tonneau-contoured middle case, and an integrated bracelet. It is powered by the calibre LF619.01, a manually wound tourbillon movement that powered the brand’s first-ever watch, the Classic Tourbillon White Enamel Grand Feu, which won the Men’s Watch Prize at the 2010 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).

The Grand Sport Tourbillon was introduced in 2019, celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary. It featured a taupe-brown opaline dial with a gradient effect housed in a steel case fitted with a taupe rubber strap. It was a limited edition of 12 pieces. In 2020, the brand unveiled an edition with a blue-to-black opaline dial with a gradient effect housed in a steel case with an integrated bracelet (the latter being the first for the brand). It was a limited edition of 12 pieces.

They were followed by the Grand Sport Tourbillon Golden Brown in 2022. Featuring a chocolate-coloured opaline dial with a gradient effect housed in a 5N red gold case with an integrated bracelet, it was limited to 24 pieces. The Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit of 2023 featured a salmon-coloured opaline dial with a gradient effect housed in a Grade 5 titanium case with an integrated bracelet. Its dial colour was inspired by the colours of sunrise “over the Mulsanne Straight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.” Both Laurent Ferrier (the brand’s namesake founder) and François Servanin (his business partner) raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1970s. Limited to 15 pieces per year, this edition won the Tourbillon Watch Prize at the 2023 GPHG.

The Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg is the successor to the Pursuit edition. Unveiled during the second edition of Mavericks of Time recently held on October 29th–30th in Abu Dhabi, it joins the brand’s permanent collection.

Also Read: The innovative Mavericks of Time exhibition returns for a second time

What is its dial, case, and bracelet features?

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg.
Image: The dial has been “inspired by eternal snow and pack ice.” The Assegai-shaped hour and minute hands, drop-shaped hour markers, and ball-shaped crown are signature design elements of the brand. The hand and hour markers feature ruthenium treatment. Notice the centre cross, discreet lettering for “Tourbillon Grand Sport”, the snailed pattern on the small seconds subdial, and the subtle minute scale on the outer dial. The cushion-shaped bezel features a circular satin-brushed finish and polished edges. The tonneau-shaped case middle features an interplay of vertical and horizontal satin-brushed finishes. Four special screws secure the caseback.

Dial: Opaline white dial with subtle blue nuances. The Assegai-shaped hour and minute hands are made from 18K white gold and coated with white Super-LumiNova. The baton-shaped small seconds hand is made from 18K white gold. The drop-shaped hour markers are made from 18K white gold and are coated with white Super-LumiNova.

Case: The case is made from Grade 5 titanium, measuring 44 mm (diameter) * 13.4 mm (thickness). It comprises of the bezel, case middle, and the case back. The dial side and case back feature domed sapphire crystals. The watch is water resistant up to 10 ATM, which is approximately 100 metres.

Bracelet: The three-link integrated bracelet is made from Grade 5 titanium. It is fitted with a folding clasp made from Grade 5 titanium.

How sophisticated is the movement?

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg.
Image: Notice the tourbillon cage. Calibre LF619.01 features a Swiss lever escapement, two balance springs mounted in opposing directions, and a variable-inertia or free-sprung balance wheel regulated by screws. Movement finishing: The bridges feature a horizontal satin-brushed finish and ruthenium treatment. The tourbillon cage bridge is painstakingly hand-finished. Mirror-polished surfaces. The movement features about 30 hand-finished interior angles.

Extremely! Calibre LF619.01 is a manually wound tourbillon movement that drives the hours, minutes, and small seconds. It measures 31.6 mm or 14 lignes (diameter) * 5.57 mm (thickness), comprises 188 parts and 23 jewels, beats at a luxurious frequency of 3 Hz or 21,600 vph, and delivers a power reserve of 80 hours.

“Why use a double balance spring? To improve chronometric precision. The two opposing balance springs are designed to neutralise lateral displacement of the balance staff, while the tourbillon’s rotation serves to average out rate variations caused by different vertical positions. Laurent Ferrier thus combines two chronometric solutions in a construction that favours function over spectacle: the cage remains hidden beneath the dial, revealing itself to its owner only when the watch is turned over.”

What do we think?

A Geneva-based independent watch brand, Laurent Ferrier excels in crafting wristwatches that adhere to classical Genevan watchmaking codes yet is not afraid to look ahead. Whether you see their watches in the flesh or go through their tempting printed catalogues (a rarity these days), their range of classical wristwatches, with or without complications, is second to none among independents. After all, Laurent Ferrier, the man, spent about 37 years at Patek Philippe. He held the role of technical and product director before he resigned to establish his namesake brand.

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg.
Image: Laurent Ferrier spent about 37 years at Patek Philippe, the influence of which is evident in his namesake brand’s wristwatches. The tourbillon is only visible on the caseback side, which is one such influence. (Patek Philippe never showcases tourbillons on the dial side.) The Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg is a gem of Genevan watchmaking, one that is extremely light at 118 grams.

The Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg will appeal to experienced collectors seeking a three-hand versatile luxury sports wristwatch, yet one that is powered by a sophisticated tourbillon movement. It is a sublime example of an IYKYK (if you know, you know) kind of wristwatch, minus the hype.

The brand has a penchant for GPHG awards. Their Sport Traveller Slate Grey and Classic Origin Beige are both nominated for the upcoming GPHG awards, which will be held on November 7th. The former is nominated for the Sports Prize, and the latter for the Time Only Prize. The Classic Origin Beige was unveiled a year ago during Dubai Watch Week to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary. A beautiful wristwatch, I had the opportunity to handle it.

Also Read: Laurent Ferrier unveils the new Classic Origin Beige

Additional Details

Name: Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg

Reference: LCF044.T1.C3GC1

Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 175,000 (excluding taxes)

Warranty: 5 years

Please click here to learn more.