A contemporary masterpiece of striking and immediate beauty, which recalls a classic era of Swiss watch manufacture and design, the Classic Micro Rotor by Geneva based independent watch brand Laurent Ferrier is a quite superb wristwatch, whose immaculate, minimalist styling, and the horological sophistication contained within are distilled holistically into what is an exclusive and distinctive example of understated refinement, where less is more.

Originally inspired by the pleasing tactile sensation of holding a water-smoothed riverbed pebble in the palm of his hand, the case was first known as Galet, the French word for pebble, and for Laurent Ferrier, whose previous thirty-seven year career at Patek Philippe included the responsibility for transcribing Gérald Genta’s two dimensional drawings into the three dimensional reality which would become immortalised in the shape of the iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus, the muse for his eponymous brand was resting quite literally in the palm of his hand.

Defined by this combination of gentle yet powerful styling, the Laurent Ferrier Classic Micro Rotor is elegant and distinguished. The rounded case is manufactured in 18ct white gold, measuring 40mm across and featuring the hallmark ball-shaped crown which is finely fluted. The case is completely curvilinear and bereft of any flat edges or lines, save for the inner sides of the lugs which flow from the lines of the case, before tapering off to rounded ends.

Beneath the gently domed sapphire crystal the silver toned dial is austere, with long and slender white gold applied indices tapering to fine points, their gleaming polished finish contrasting with the vertical grain of the dial’s brushed surface. The delicately crafted hour and minute hands are in the in-house Assegai spear style and are also made in 18ct white gold. In the recessed subdial at the six o’clock position the seconds are displayed with a thin but beautifully formed hand.

On the underside, a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback reveals the spectacle of the in-house Calibre FBN 229.01 self-winding movement. Across the plates, the traditional Côtes de Genève stripes are deep and pronounced, and the plates are defined by flawless mirror polished anglage, which is painstakingly finished by hand, and curves inwards, outwards and around the edges. The movement plate further on in is finished with the circular swirls of perlage decoration, while the bridges above the balance and the micro rotor are also meticulously mirror polished.

The micro rotor is made in solid gold, and its oscillations maintain the 72 hour power reserve, beating at 21’600vib/h, while the energy of the barrel spring is dissipated and regulated by the double direct impulse escapement, to ensure optimal accuracy.

A magnificent piece of contemporary haute horlogerie watchmaking from an independent Maison, where the pursuit of perfection in all aspects is an obsession, the Classic Micro Rotor by Laurent Ferrier is presented on a dark grey alligator leather strap with 18ct white gold pin buckle.