The Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic

Perhaps you are unaware that Laurent Ferrier’s Galet Classic has achieved a watch making technological achievement.  It has not been attached to a submersible traveling to the deepest point on Earth.  It has not been strapped to a Jetman’s wrist.  It has gained a much more “traditional” accolade bereft of sensationalism – it has been certified as the most precise chronometer ever certified by the Besançon Observatory since 2006, and it has done it in style. The benchmark is set at between -4 and +6 seconds, the Galet Classic when rigorously tested produced an average daily variation of just 1.29 seconds.

The Galent Classic is not aesthetically technical, quite the opposite.  It is understated and elegant with an outer plainness which belies its innovative timekeeping skills.  From the start it was devised to be accurate beyond compare.  It’s Tourbillon, often a showcased feature has been “hidden” at the back of the movement, safely shaded from light which could affect its lubrication and therefore its precision.  A Straumann double-spring has been used in its construction, each tiny spiral beating in opposing directions, but regulating each other to maintain consistent amplitude and the Tourbillon is supported by a double bridge adding strength.

The astounding results published last week have not been widely reported.  The press release from Laurent Ferrier simply states that “this is a crowning achievement for our watchmakers” – quite.