Laurent Ferrier is an independent watchmaking brand that many know and, more importantly, hold in high regard, despite being a relatively young name that was officially launched just 15 years ago in 2010. This reputation is no accident. From the outset, the brand has set exacting standards in classical watchmaking, producing beautifully constructed and finished tourbillon and micro-rotor movements that comfortably stand alongside, and in some cases rival, those from century-old maisons long considered the benchmark of the industry.

This should come as little surprise. The brand was founded by its namesake, Laurent Ferrier, who spent decades at one of Geneva’s most respected watchmakers, where he eventually rose to lead product development. That depth of experience, combined with a desire to express his own beliefs about watchmaking, led Ferrier to establish his brand in his early sixties — at an age when most would be contemplating retirement. The result was not a tentative debut, but a remarkably assured opening chapter that immediately set the tone for everything that followed.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

The brand has since built a coherent range of classical watches, not only with its simple but instantly recognizable and appealing pebble-shaped case, but also with well-designed and executed complications, including the dual time, annual calendar and even minute repeater.

Laurent Ferrier’s story, however, goes beyond dress watches. Long ago, it was also tied to the world of motor racing — a chapter that has remained little known and largely absent from the brand’s watchmaking until recently. This aspect may become one of the pillars of the brand’s identity going forward, alongside its excellence in classical watchmaking.

A Le Mans Racer Turns Watchmaker

Laurent Ferrier’s life in watchmaking tells only half the story behind the brand that bears his name. The other half belongs to a career few would expect of a watchmaker: motor racing. It was on the track, not at the bench, that Mr Ferrier first met François Servanin, who would later become co-founder and president of Laurent Ferrier.

In 1979 the two men were teammates in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of motor racing’s most demanding events and a setting that has produced enduring figures such as Ken Miles and Paul Newman. Ferrier and Servanin, joined by a third driver, François Trisconi, were not merely taking part. After 24 hours of racing they finished third overall. Second place that year was claimed by a team that included Mr Newman himself.

Laurent Ferrier and Francois Servanin at Le Mans 1979

What mattered more came afterwards. Ferrier gave Servanin an integrated bracelet sports watch as a token of gratitude. Legend has it that Servanin then joked they should continue their adventure beyond racing by making their own watches, a remark that would, some 40 years later, become reality.

Racing Roots Realized

The brand’s racing heritage first took tangible form in 2019 with the launch of the Grand Sport Tourbillon. With its tonneau-shaped case, a rubber strap, and “lumed” hands and indexes, it was a genuinely sporty watch and the first time the brand acknowledged its motorsport roots. Despite its more robust proportions, the Grand Sport Tourbillon retained clear visual links to the classical Galet Square, which was a reassuring sign of coherence in Laurent Ferrier’s design language.

2019: Laurent Ferrier Tourbillon Grand Sport

In 2020 the Grand Sport Tourbillon was fitted with an integrated bracelet, something Laurent Ferrier had not previously offered. Yet, as is often the case with integrated-bracelet sports watches, collectors hoped for something simpler and more restrained. That direction was fully realised in 2022 with the introduction of the Sport Auto. Conceived as an evolution of the Grand Sport rather than a departure from it, the watch dispensed with the tourbillon in favour of a time-only display and adopted more compact dimensions. At 41.5 mm wide and 12.25 mm thick, it was smaller and thinner and, as a result, more wearable and comfortable than the original 44 mm Grand Sport.

2020: Grand Sport Tourbillon with Steel Bracelet

Much of that distinction stems from its design language, a subtle but original approach that charts a new course for integrated-bracelet sports watches. The case is soft and supple rather than angular, giving it a distinct presence on the wrist. Despite being around 12 mm thick, which is thicker than most high-end integrated-bracelet sports watches, it feels surprisingly balanced and comfortable, demonstrating that an integrated-bracelet sports watch can succeed without following the conventional thin and angular formula. This is possible because the watch is made entirely of lightweight titanium instead of the more typical steel, allowing it to have visual presence without feeling uncomfortable.

This careful balance of presence and comfort reflects Ferrier’s signature design philosophy. He has long drawn inspiration from pebbles when shaping his dress watch cases, and the Sport Auto follows the same logic. Rather than emphasizing sharp edges, the tonneau case flows organically, giving it a distinctive presence on the wrist. It feels immediately comfortable, perhaps because the eye is drawn to forms that are natural and inviting rather than cold or overly geometric.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

Despite appearing simple at first glance, the tonneau case reveals subtle, clever details upon closer inspection. The bezel, for instance, is roughly square but never rigid; its lines are gently softened throughout. Contrasting finishes further enhance the form: the top of the bezel is brushed, the sides polished, and the changing width of the polished surfaces becomes apparent as the watch is viewed from different angles. This attention to detail never feels showy. It’s a statement that innovation in watch design doesn’t need to come from adding more elements; even in a watch meant to look sporty, beauty often emerges from knowing what to leave out. As a result of this restraint, the Sport Auto avoids closely tracking prevailing sports-watch conventions, giving it a character that feels likely to remain distinctive over time.

The bezel is roughly square but never rigid

The Sport Auto’s design makes it a versatile companion for daily life. Never over the top yet far from basic, it moves easily across a wide range of occasions. Intended to be lived with, it feels just as natural at the dinner table as it does on a diving adventure, thanks to its 120 m water resistance and screw-down onion-shaped crown, a first for the brand, ensuring both water tightness and protection against accidental crown pulls during demanding underwater activities.

Sound Engineering, Luxury Execution

For the longest time, Laurent Ferrier has been known for its exquisite movement construction and finishing, particularly the micro-rotor movement LF 270.01, which put the brand on the map as one of the finest on the market. Remarkably, that very movement has found its way into the Sport Auto, offering one of the most compelling views of any luxury sports watch available today. At first glance, the open view may resemble a manual-winding movement, allowing deep appreciation of the finishing, but at heart it is a convenient automatic with a micro-rotor.

Caseback of Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

In a sports watch, the LF 270.01 required a few technical updates to ensure durability and stability. The natural escapement, a sophisticated feature cherished by enthusiasts of horological history, has been replaced with a Swiss lever escapement, which is standard in sports watches and provides greater stability during active wear. The winding system has also been upgraded: the earlier ratchet-click mechanism has been replaced with a unidirectional ball-bearing system, offering superior shock resistance and reliability.

The micro-rotor movement LF 270.01

What remains unchanged is the level of finishing, and that is what truly matters. This meticulous craftsmanship makes the Sport Auto a true luxury sports watch, inside and out, and gives it some of the finest finishing among integrated-bracelet sports watches. The bridges are treated with ruthenium for a modern gray tone, while wide rounded bevelling, with carefully executed interior and exterior angles, demonstrates that this is, at its core, traditional haute horlogerie. No corners have been cut. Sports watch enthusiasts will be genuinely impressed when they discover this for the first time.

For these reasons, the micro-rotor inside the Sport Auto stands out as a defining element. Its engineering and level of finishing ensure that the watch offers more than visual appeal alone, anchoring it in solid watchmaking substance. That depth gives the Sport Auto a sense of completeness that remains compelling over time.

Details on the dial

A Watch That Makes Its Mark

Over the past fifty years, the appeal of the luxury sports watch has seen its highs and lows. The true greats, defined by strong design, genuine history, and precise execution, endure across generations. Today, integrated-bracelet sports watches are more common than ever, yet few feel truly grounded.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

That is what makes Laurent Ferrier distinctive. With a career that spans both motorsport and haute horology, the brand was in an ideal position to introduce a watch like the Sport Auto, and it did so with distinction. The watch has an original case and integrated bracelet that break from the usual formula, offering a natural, pebble-like warmth, and a micro-rotor movement that is as beautifully engineered as it is finished. Most importantly, its story runs even deeper. A day at Le Mans did not just inspire this watch; it helped give birth to the brand itself. For all these years, the brand has been known for its elegant dress watches, and now it is bringing its motorsport origins to the forefront.

Might this be a luxury sports watch that collectors come to value as a standout of its generation? Only time will tell, but the signs are already there. It is a watch with a story to tell, one that does not simply follow the crowd and one that offers substance in every detail, from design to engineering to finishing. On the wrist, however, all such questions fade, leaving only the quiet pleasure of wearing it and the smile that comes naturally.

Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

Tech Specs: Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue

Reference LCF040.T1.C1GC5
Movement Self-winding Caliber LF270.01; 72-hour power reserve
Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Case 41.5mm × 12.7mm; Grade 5 titanium; water resistant to 120m
Dial Blue gradient with opaline finish; drop-shaped 18K white gold hour markers with green Super-LumiNova
Strap Grade 5 titanium bracelet
Price CHF 49,000 (incl. taxes)

Discover the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto at Sincere Fine Watches, Takashimaya S.C. #02-12A/B/C, and SHH (Sincere Haute Horlogerie), The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands #B2M-202.