IN-DEPTH: The Racing Story of Laurent Ferrier and the Creation of The Sport Auto Watch

#laurentferrier #monochromewatches
--------------------
The Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto isn’t the first attempt of the brand to enter the highly competitive market of the luxury sports watch. Two years ago already, LF presented a watch that showed most attributes of the category, with an integrated design, a combination of robustness and superior mechanics, and a rather personal touch to make this Grand Sport unique in the sports watch field. Yet, the production was highly confidential and the price, since the watch was equipped with a complex tourbillon movement, was equally exclusive.

Behind the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto – as you’ve probably guessed by the name – is a story of a friendship and passion for motorsport and watches. The brand Laurent Ferrier was founded by two long-time friends; watch industry professional Laurent Ferrier on one side, François Servanin, entrepreneur and investor on the other side. The creation of the independent watchmaking company is, however, just another step in their shared odyssey, which began next to racing circuits. In June 1979, behind the wheel of a Porsche 935 Turbo, the two friends will manage to finish 3rd overall, just behind a certain Paul Newman, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As a token of gratitude, Laurent offered Servanin a Patek Philippe Nautilus (remember that Ferrier spent more than 35 years working at Patek). The answer of Servanin to this gift was the starting point of the next adventure “What if after this feat, we continued the adventure as a team by making our own watch?!” And thirty years later, in 2009, the watchmaking brand Laurent Ferrier was born. The new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto is where the friendship between the two men, as well as their passion for watches and sports cars, meet.

Based on the nice reception this watch got when presented, the brand now introduces a model that feels far more relevant, with a simpler (sort of) automatic movement and a classic time-and-date display. And if the look feels familiar, the habillage has evolved too.
--------------------
2023, all rights reserved to MONOCHROME Watches
For more about horology, check https://monochrome-watches.com​​​​​​​ for reviews, news, collector's insights, and more.