Quill & Pad
  • Home
  • Articles
  • About
  • Glossary
  • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Watch Brands & Horology2 / Laurent Ferrier3 / Lady F Reinterprets Laurent Ferrier’s Stunning Galet For The Feminine W...

Lady F Reinterprets Laurent Ferrier’s Stunning Galet For The Feminine Wrist

by Elizabeth Doerr

Lady F in red gold by Laurent Ferrier

Lady F in red gold by Laurent Ferrier

The movement beating within the Lady F by Laurent Ferrier is the brand’s emblematic Galet Micro-Rotor movement. Despite all the highly visible outer beauty of this timepiece, its less obviously conspicuous inner beauty is perhaps more important for female enthusiasts to understand.

Caliber FBN229.01 blends vintage ideas from none other than Abraham-Louis Breguet with modern manufacturing technology and an eye for perfection.

The movement, Laurent Ferrier’s third to be developed, assembled and adjusted within the brand’s own Geneva workshops, boasts great harmony between its mechanics and finishing. But horological enthusiasts will likely be fixated on one particular point of interest: the escapement inspired by Breguet’s échappement naturel.

The beautifully finished Laurent Ferrier caliber FBN229.01 with solid gold micro-rotor and silicon double direct impulse escapement

The beautifully finished Laurent Ferrier Caliber FBN229.01 with gold micro-rotor and silicon double direct impulse escapement

In search of better energy efficiency for his automatic movement wound by micro-rotor that made its original debut back in 2011, Ferrier and his team (which is led by Laurent’s son Christian, but also included Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini of La Fabrique du Temps) stumbled upon a revised version of Breguet’s escapement. One that the extraordinary watchmaker could never quite make work properly.

Laurent Ferrier’s team was able to solve the problem that perplexed Breguet by changing the original geometry slightly: this in itself was only made possible by utilizing a silicon lever and two silicon double direct impulse escape wheels − a solution not available in Breguet’s day − to optimize angles in the escapement and eliminate the need for lubrication.

“Good watchmaking is about optimizing a lot of small things,” Ferrier explained.

The double direct impulse of this escapement style was inspired by detent escapements, considered by many to be one of the most precise types in history. Ferrier agreed with the idea of providing his escapement with two impulses per oscillation (instead of the usual one), finding that it boosted accuracy.

Inserting the solid gold micro-rotor into the Laurent Ferrier caliber FBN229.01

Inserting the gold micro-rotor into Laurent Ferrier’s Caliber FBN229.01

This 31.6 mm, three-hertz movement is automatic, though Ferrier opted to utilize a micro-rotor so as to leave the movement’s mechanics as visible as possible when viewed through the sapphire crystal case back.

Ferrier also replaced the usual ball bearings for the unidirectionally winding rotor with pawls to reduce the noise associated with them. He further reduced noise by adding shock-absorbing anti-vibration pads. Despite all the new elements, this movement boasts a healthy 80 hours of power reserve.

Polishing the balance wheel bridge of the Laurent Ferrier caliber FBN229.01

Polishing the balance wheel bridge of Laurent Ferrier Caliber FBN229.01

Gawk-worthy mechanics

Since Laurent Ferrier’s debut in 2009, one characteristic has accompanied its movements above all else, seriously making the enthusiast heart beat a little faster: the meticulous attention to finishing.

The fine finishing is eminently visible through the case back’s sapphire crystal: côtes de Genève generously applied to the bridges, while perlage is detectable on the base plate. Anglage (highly polished bevels) also play an obvious role, right down to the inner angles that are evidence of skilled handwork rather than machine.

The gold micro rotor has been embellished with hand-applied guilloche. Combined with the harmonious architecture of the movement as a whole, the mechanics are, for me anyway, as lovely to look at as the dial side of this beautiful timepiece.

Laurent Ferrier Lady F in white gold

Laurent Ferrier Lady F in white gold

Dressed for success

The Lady F is very beautiful to look at from the front as well, and the addition of a few embellishing attributes differentiates it substantially from the Galet Micro-Rotor model for men. This starts with the case size, which has been reduced by one millimeter from the men’s 40 mm to 39 mm for the feminine wrist. It comes in either 18-karat white gold or 18-karat red gold.

The dial colors were chosen to complement the case metal. Blue mother-of-pearl for the white gold version, and a shimmering brownish-coppery Tahitian mother-of-pearl for the red gold. Both dial variations were given a refined push with the addition of a stylized fern motif, which is extremely hard to apply to a thin sliver of brittle mother-of-pearl that is a mere 0.4 mm in height.

The exquisitely engraved mother-of-pearl dial of Lady F by Laurent Ferrier

The exquisitely engraved mother-of-pearl dial of Lady F by Laurent Ferrier

Lady F in white gold by Laurent Ferrier

Lady F in white gold by Laurent Ferrier

Adding to the sensuousness of the Lady F are a brilliant-cut diamond placed at 12 o’clock on the dial and a cabochon-cut sapphire set into the beautifully shaped crown.

The case is also available with snow-set diamonds on the case band. Snow-setting is a tricky skill, which only an experienced gem-setter can achieve with authority. Introduced to the watch world by Jaeger-LeCoultre around the turn of the millennium, snow-setting involves the setter choosing a variety of different-sized diamonds to create an effect that looks haphazard, but is in reality planned and difficult.

The various-sized diamonds used on the gem-set Lady F total 1.4 ct (approx. 218 individual diamonds) and have been meticulously selected and arranged to provide the unique carpet of radiance that only this technique displays.

The cherry on top is provided by the beautiful silk strap lined with alligator skin for good resistance to wear and real comfort.

For more information, please visit www.laurentferrier.ch.

Lady F in white gold by Laurent Ferrier

Lady F in white gold by Laurent Ferrier

Quick facts
Case: 39 mm, white gold or red gold
Dial: Tahitian or blue mother-of-pearl with a brilliant-cut diamond at 12 o’clock
Movement: automatic Caliber FBN 229.01 with silicon double direct impulse escapement and micro-rotor
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Price: 50,000 Swiss francs without diamonds or 65,000 Swiss francs with diamonds

2 replies

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Quill & Pad | The Twelve Watch Days Of Christmas says:
    December 28, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    […] Garden of Eden Magnolia 3. Harry Winston Midnight Diamond Drops 4. Laurent Ferrier Lady F (See Lady F Reinterprets Laurent Ferrier’s Stunning Galet For The Feminine Wrist.) 5. Breguet Reine de Naples Jour/Nuit 6. Hermès Arceau Temari 7. Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Aventurine 8. […]

    Reply
  2. Quill & Pad | Round Table Discussion Of The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2014: Pre-Selected Ladies says:
    September 12, 2014 at 7:22 am

    […] For more on the Lady F, please check out Lady F Reinterprets Laurent Ferrier’s Stunning Galet For The Feminine Wrist. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Watch Brands & Horology
    • New for 2025
    • New for 2024
    • New for 2023
    • Affordable Luxury
      • Swatch
      • Ball Watch
      • Louis Erard
      • Gorilla Fastback
      • Ikepod
      • Oris
      • Reservoir
    • Auctions
    • Behind the Lens
    • Boutiques
    • Collectors and Collecting
    • Events, Fairs & Exhibitions
    • Give Me Five!
    • History
    • Quill & Pad
    • Round Table
    • The Naked Watchmaker
    • Thoughts & Opinion
    • Video
    • WatchCharts
    • Wrist Watching
    • A. Lange & Söhne
    • AHCI
    • Akrivia
    • Andersen Genève
    • Alexandre Meerson
    • Andreas Strehler
    • Angelus
    • Antoine Martin
    • Antoine Preziuso
    • Armin Strom
    • Arnold & Son
    • Audemars Piguet
      • Royal Oak Offshore
    • Bélier
    • Bell & Ross
    • Blancpain
    • Bovet
    • Breguet
    • Bremont
    • Breitling
    • Bulgari
    • Carl F. Bucherer
    • Cartier
    • Chanel
    • Chopard
    • Christiaan Van Der Klaauw
    • Christophe Claret
    • Chronoswiss
    • Clocks
    • Corum
    • Cyrus
    • Czapek & Cie
    • De Bethune
    • de Grisogono
    • Derek Pratt
    • Dior
    • Divers' Watches
    • Eberhard
    • Emmanuel Bouchet
    • Fabergé
    • Ferdinand Berthoud
    • Fiona Krüger
    • F.P. Journe
    • Franck Muller
    • Garrick
    • Gérald Genta
    • Girard-Perregaux
    • Glashütte Original
    • GoS
    • Graff
    • Graham
    • Greubel Forsey
    • Grieb & Benzinger
    • Grönefeld
    • H. Moser & Cie
    • Habring2
    • Hajime Asaoka
    • Harry Winston
    • Hautlence
    • Hermès
    • Hublot
    • HYT
    • Independents
    • IWC
    • Jaeger-LeCoultre
    • Jaquet Droz
    • Jean Daniel Nicolas
    • Jean Dunand
    • Kari Voutilainen
    • Kees Engelbarts
    • Kobold
    • Konstantin Chaykin
    • Kudoke
    • Ladies watches
    • Lang & Heyne
    • Laurent Ferrier
    • Linde Werdelin
    • Louis Moinet
    • Louis Vuitton
    • Ludovic Ballouard
    • Manufacture Royale
    • Maurice Lacroix
    • MB&F
    • McGonigle
    • Ming Watches
    • Montblanc
    • Moritz Grossmann
    • Nomos Glashütte
    • Ochs und Junior
    • Officine Panerai
    • Omega
    • Parmigiani
    • Patek Philippe
    • Paul Gerber
    • Philippe Dufour
    • Piaget
    • Pocket watches
    • Rebellion
    • Ressence
    • RGM
    • Richard Mille
    • Roger Dubuis
    • Roger W Smith
    • Roland Iten
    • Rolex
    • Romain Gauthier
    • Romain Jerome
    • Sarpaneva
    • Schwarz-Etienne
    • Seiko
    • Silberstein
    • Singer Reimagined
    • Soviet / Eastern Europe watches
    • Speake-Marin
    • Struthers
    • Tag Heuer
    • Tudor
    • Tutima
    • Ulysse Nardin
    • Urban Jürgensen
    • Urwerk
    • Vacheron Constantin
    • Van Cleef & Arpels
    • Vianney Halter
    • Vintage
    • Wempe Glashütte
    • Zenith
  • Luxury, Experiences, Science & Nature
    • Arts
    • Book reviews
    • Cars
      • Porsche
    • Fashion & Grooming
    • Jewelry
    • Nature
    • Photo Captions
    • Photography
    • Science
    • Shoes
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Wining, Dining and Cigars
    • Writing instruments
      • Caran d’Ache
      • Grayson Tighe
      • Montblanc
      • Montegrappa
  • General
    • Featured
    • Highlights
© Copyright - Quill & Pad - Enfold Theme by Kriesi
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT