Following on from the Square Micro-Rotor California and the Classic Traveller Magnetic Green, today, Laurent Ferrier is unveiling its latest model, the second limited edition exclusive to the North American continent, the Classic Traveller Meteorite. The Classic Traveller was launched in 2013 as a contemporary timepiece for globetrotters, it offers a new way to read the dual time zone.
By paying close attention to detail and balance, but also to the sense of proportion and curves —which defines the spirit of Laurent Ferrier— the piece combines perfect legibility with the classic vision of fine watchmaking. This unique timepiece in a limited edition of only 15 pieces was designed for the modern adventurer.
The dark blue dial is made of real meteorite and a true work of art that will definitely impress lovers of fine watchmaking. Each dial is unique and comes from a particular and completely different fragment of a meteorite called Muonionalusta. This meteorite struck northern Scandinavia, west of the border between Sweden and Finland, around 1 million years B.C. It is one of the oldest meteorites to have struck the Earth.
Originally anthracite in color, the blue is obtained by immersing the meteorite fragment in a galvanic bath to give a deep metallic blue. A slightly raised white silkscreen print adorns the blue dial and enhances the natural motifs of the meteorite. The hours are indicated by white printed baton-Roman numerals and both the markers of the small seconds —at 6 o'clock—, and the logo, are white printed. The famous Laurent Ferrier Assegai-shaped hour and minute hands and the baton seconds hand are in 18K white gold and are also white coated.
Delicately incorporated into the left side of the grade 5 titanium case measuring 41 mm in diameter, two perfectly symmetrical oblong pushers are used to adjust the local time, which is indicated by the central hand. When moving to another time zone, this central hour hand can be moved forwards or backward, hour by hour, simply by pressing. The upper pusher moves the hand forwards by one hour while the lower pusher does the opposite, all without moving the minute hand.
In addition to this rapid local time adjustment, the date, indicated in the aperture at 3 o’clock, automatically changes when the hand passes midnight, adapting to journeys between different time zones without any additional operations. The aperture at 9 o'clock retains the reference time —home time. Its 24-hour display ensures a clear distinction between day and night. The watch is delivered on a midnight-blue cork strap with tone-on-tone stitching and titanium pin buckle.
The Classic Traveller Meteorite is powered by the automatic Laurent Ferrrier calibre LF 230.02, which incorporates the second time-zone setting mechanism as well as the date. It has a pawl-fitted micro-rotor unidirectional self-winding system, backed by a double direct-impulse natural escapement. This escapement is especially unique in that it sends two impulses directly to the balance with each oscillation, giving it excellent efficiency and a 72-hour power reserve.
