Laurent Ferrier x Hervé Di Rosa Classic Micro Rotor

Laurent Ferrier has always dedicated himself to the art of creating timepieces that seamlessly blend modern sophistication with timeless elegance. His watches embody a perfect harmony of technical excellence, functional precision, and aesthetic purity. To celebrate the enduring legacy of his flagship piece, Laurent has infused his iconic Classic Micro-Rotor with a touch of playfulness and artistic expression through a collaboration with the renowned artist Hervé Di Rosa.

Hervé Di Rosa is a key figure in the French and international art scene, known for his work rooted in free figuration and his rejection of high art conventions. Drawing inspiration from comics, science fiction, rock, and punk, Di Rosa has dedicated himself to “modest arts,” even establishing the International Museum of Modest Arts (MIAM) in Sète. He explores everyday objects, comic figurines, and tourist souvenirs, often taking on an ethnological role to understand how artistic techniques transform through encounters with new civilizations.

A long-time friend of the brand, Di Rosa’s collaboration with Laurent Ferrier merges two distinct visions—the imaginative creativity of the artist and the classic, traditional minimalism of the watchmaker. Both share a passion for meticulously crafted pieces using age-old techniques. Di Rosa created a unique universe for the watch’s dial, featuring a character from his “Diromythology.” This 12-armed figure, named “Ah! Ah! Ah!,” is the master of time, symbolizing both the divine nature of time and the modesty of the arts. The hand-engraved dial, made from 18-carat white gold and crafted by engraver Jeanne Valentine Ulrich from Cadranier de Genève, showcases anthracite tones with matte and shiny finishes, reflecting the minimalist standards of Laurent Ferrier. The character, “Ah! Ah! Ah!,” appears on the dial, emphasizing the significance of time.

“Time is the only true power. The only divine thing a man can have besides life is time passing on his wrist.” Hervé Di Rosa

The Classic case, inspired by 19th-century pocket watches, features a 40mm round stainless steel case. It includes a “ball” shaped winding crown for easy manipulation and a sapphire glass back to admire the movement. The case design ensures visual clarity and easy access to the calibre, with water resistance up to 30 meters.

The FBN 229.01 automatic winding calibre in the Classic Micro-Rotor combines traditional watchmaking principles with modern advancements. Equipped with a natural escapement micro-rotor, it features a double direct impulse escapement on the balance wheel, inspired by Abraham-Louis Breguet. This design enhances efficiency and autonomy, providing a power reserve of over 72 hours. The exclusive Laurent Ferrier movement was designed, assembled, and adjusted in the LF workshops.

The sapphire glass back reveals exceptional finishes, a hallmark of Laurent Ferrier. The movement showcases finely circular-grained main plates, hand-bevelled and rhodium-treated Côtes de Genève bridges, a mirror-polished and skeletonized anchor bridge, and a bevelled and guilloché micro-rotor. These details highlight the craftsmanship and traditional horological techniques.

Over his 40-year career, Di Rosa has embarked on a world tour to discover and create with vernacular artistic techniques in places like Bulgaria, Ghana, Benin, Ethiopia, Réunion, Mauritius, Corsica, Vietnam, South Africa, Cuba, Mexico, Cameroon, Miami, Tunisia, Israel, Spain, and Portugal. Di Rosa’s retrospective exhibition “Hervé Di Rosa–The Worlds-Passer” at the Centre Pompidou in Paris showcases his work until August 26th, 2024. The Classic Micro-Rotor Di Rosa is an exclusive edition, limited to just 5 pieces.