Laurent Ferrier Galet Traveller: While in Basel we stopped off at Laurent Ferrier for our scheduled appointment and while we’ve featured the Galet Traveller before right here. We thought you might want to see just how downright cool the Slate Grey variation looked on a matching grey leather strap and as a bonus, also have a look at the 2015 novelty chocolate dial 5th anniversary edition too.
The Galet Traveller encompasses everything the modern gent with a jet set lifestyle needs, in a contemporary but yet classically styled timepiece. You would’ve heard me mention before that I truly believe that Laurent’s timepieces are what I would consider to be perfection, simply because of how sophisticated they are, aesthetically and technically. The timepieces he produces are just so well thought-out. In a time where the usual suspects dominate the haute horlogerie market, its nice to see a refreshing, classic, yet very contemporary design that is in every way unique.
The Galet Traveller makes changing time zones a pleasurable experience. Positioned on the case band are two beautifully sculpted, oblong shaped push buttons at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock, which are seamlessly integrated to follow “pebble” shaped curves of the 41.5 mm case. And while we are on the subject of cases, the new 5th anniversary edition of the Galet Traveller makes use of a 18-carat 5N red-gold case, which only emphasises the brown chocolate details.
As well as the quick-set local-time function, the date displayed via an aperture at 3 o’clock will also simultaneously advance when the hand passes midnight. The aperture at 9 o’clock maintains the home time displayed over 24-hours, making it easy to check whether it is day or night in one’s place of residence even from the other side of the world.
Like the midnight blue variation the slate grey dial has two contrasting finishes: a vertical satin-brushed finish in the centre and a circular satin-brushed pattern around the outside. Long minute indices emphasize these two textures along with ten white-painted hour-markers, with two at 12 o’clock. The beautifully sculpted “assegai-shaped” hands sweep over the three-dimensional dial. While the 5th anniversary edition doesn’t feature the circular satin -brushed finish, it makes use of an intense, vertical satin-brushed, chocolate-brown dial that is graced with white chocolate-toned hour-markers.
As mentioned before on our previous Galet Traveller article, both of these variations still make use of the self-winding Calibre LF 230.01 (that has been certified by the Besançon Observatory), from the famous line of Micro-Rotor movements with natural escapement. It took Laurent Ferrier two years to develop this movement and the reason behind this is because the dual-time function is fully integrated into the movement, meaning that it is an integral part of the base calibre. And in true Laurent Ferrier style, the beautifully finished movement can be observed through the sapphire crystal case back.
The Galet Traveller is one of my favourite timepieces from Laurent Ferrier, the simple appearance, refined aesthetics and beautifully finished movement, is the true hallmark of a haute horlogerie timepiece. While the Galet Traveller isn’t classically sized the 41.5 mm case does wear a lot smaller than you’d expect.
The Laurent Ferrier Galet Traveller is available in White Gold or Red Gold. There is an option of a Silver-Toned, Slate Grey, or Midnight Blue dial, with white or gold hour-markers. The Galet Traveller is price at £44,800 in Red Gold and £46,400 in White Gold. The 5th anniversary chocolate edition Galet Traveller, which is only available in red-gold, is priced at £47,800.
For more information on the Galet Traveller, visit the official Lauren Ferrier website.
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