Louis Erard’s latest collection is based on the 39 mm Petite Seconde, with three variations (slate, salmon, tobacco) on a New York-inspired Art Deco style revisited in a resolutely contemporary spirit – neo deco!
The watch has more than just one function; it doesn’t just politely tell the time, it carries a message: together we’re stronger. It is a collaboration between Manuel Emch, Louis Erard’s visionary Director and Amr Sindi, better known by his Instagram handle @TheHorophile, a marketing consultant to watchmakers and independent producer of limited series.
This Metropolis watch is based on the Louis Erard Petite Seconde, classic in its 39 mm steel case, with its ‘LE’ signature crown – the only place where the brand logo appears. Everything else is new, built like a journey between two times, between two centuries, between the Roaring 20s and our own 20s. The result is the invention of a new style: neo-deco, a concatenation of Art deco and the contemporary spirit.
It’s a tribute in spite of itself: Louis Erard was born into the Art deco fever at its height, in the darkest year of the decade, 1929. It is also a tribute to its home region: the Jura, the Franches-Montagnes, La Chaux-de-Fonds, the birthplace of the fir tree style, the Art deco of the forests, which here takes on a more metropolitan flavour.
The start point for the design was typography. With one line of research: ‘Reinterpreting Art deco numerals’. Extensive work was carried out, from the selection of the typeface to its final design. The numerals are architectural, open-worked like façade elements. A sophisticated and subtle interplay of lines that has its own visual effect. The small seconds is not indexed, but simply marked with a single dot.
It was decided that the numerals would be circular, as if placed on a disc. The disc motif in turn becomes central, worked graphically in two dimensions to emphasise the two time display areas: the large hour-minute dial and the seconds sub-dial. The disc is also worked in three dimensions at the centre of the watch, with a series of concentric gadrooned grooves to give materiality to the dial and catch the light.
The ‘Empire’ baton hands feature a universal heritage motif: the Empire State Building, an Art deco skyscraper emblematic of modernity. Here again, maniacal attention has been paid to detail, to the proportions, floor by floor, from the foundations to the spire, and to the skeletonisation at the centre. The end result is a small, mobile skyline on a pure, logo-free disc.
The design comes in three variations: slate, salmon and tobacco. Three moods, three warmths, three contrasts. 5N red gilded hands and numerals on the anthracite and brown dials, anthracite and black on the salmon dial. The harmony of tones continues on the strap, in grained calfskin: cool brown on the anthracite version, black on the salmon, chocolate on the brown.
This watch is produced in 178 pieces, 3 times 59 pieces plus a unique model for The Horophile.
Technical Specifications:
La Petite Seconde Metropolis Louis Erard x The Horophile Slate ref. 34248AA44
Limited series of 59
Price excl. tax: CHF 2,300.—
Movement: Automatic, Sellita SW261-1 calibre, 3 hands with small seconds at 6 o’clock, 11½”’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 5.60 mm, 31 jewels, 28,800 VpH (4Hz), élaboré grade movement, special openworked oscillating weight with black lacquered Louis Erard symbol, approx. 38 hours of power reserve
Functions: HMS; Central hour and minute hands, second hand at 6 o’clock
Case: Polished stainless steel, Ø39 mm, lug width: 20 mm, lug to lug: 45.90mm, thickness: 12.82 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible through the transparent caseback, water resistant up to a pressure of 5 bars (50 m/165 ft), signature fir tree crown, caseback engraved with ‘The Horophile 1 of 178’
Dial: Anthracite, circular satin-finish exterior and counter, gadrooned centre, 5N red gilded transfers
Hands: 5N red gilded ‘Empire’ shape (skeletonised stepped baton) hands
Strap: Dark brown grained calf leather with tone-on-tone stitching, black grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
Dimensions: 20/18 mm width, 80/115mm length
Collaboration: Watch developed in collaboration with The Horophile, limited series of 178 pieces
La Petite Seconde Metropolis Louis Erard x The Horophile Salmon ref. 34248AA64
Limited series of 59
Price excl. tax: CHF 2,300.—
Dial: Salmon, circular satin-finish exterior and counter, gadrooned centre, black transfers
Hands: Anthracite ‘Empire’ shape (skeletonised stepped baton) hands
Strap: Black grained calf leather with tone-on-tone stitching, black grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
Dimensions: 20/18 mm width, 80/115mm length
La Petite Seconde Metropolis Louis Erard x The Horophile Tobacco ref. 34248AA66
Limited series of 59
Price excl. tax: CHF 2,300.—
Dial: Brown, circular satin-finish exterior and counter, gadrooned centre, 5N red gilded transfers
Hands: 5N red gilded ‘Empire’ shape (skeletonised stepped baton) hands
Strap: Brown grained calf leather with tone-on-tone stitching, black grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
Dimensions: 20/18 mm width, 80/115mm length
For more information please visit Louis Erard