New Release: Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Horizon Watch
In the world of independent watchmaking, Laurent Ferrier continues to carve out its own lane of soft-spoken sophistication. Introduced at Watches & Wonders 2025, the new Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Horizon watch expands the Classic Auto family with a new permanent collection model clad in polished stainless steel and dressed in a fresh gradient “horizon blue” dial. While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Classic Auto — it debuted previously as a limited Série Atelier edition in Sandstone — the Horizon version solidifies its place in the brand’s regular production catalog. The Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Horizon retains the signature pebble-shaped case that defines the Classic collection, its rounded profile inspired by 19th-century pocket watches. Crafted from polished stainless steel, the case measures 40mm in diameter and 11.94mm thick. It’s topped with a domed sapphire crystal and fitted with the customary ball-shaped crown, which adds a tactile counterpoint to the streamlined case. As expected from Laurent Ferrier, the finishing is top-notch, and the proportions sit comfortably in the sweet spot between dressy and relaxed. The case is paired with a hand-stitched taupe goat leather strap lined with tone-on-tone Alcantara, secured by a stainless steel pin buckle. The Horizon blue dial is a clear focal point, designed to evoke an open sky stretching across an uninterrupted landscape. A fine layer of translucent blue lacquer is applied to a base, then treated with a silver galvanic coating. A discreet vertical satin-brushed finish runs through the center, paired with a circular satin-brushed minute track around the perimeter, adding contrast and texture without overcomplicating the design. The composition reflects the type of restraint and balance you’d expect from someone like Laurent Ferrier himself — who, before launching his eponymous brand, spent decades at Patek Philippe. White gold, slim and elongated drop-shaped indices mark the hours while the brand’s signature Assegai spear-shaped hands (also in white gold) sweep across a subtle central crosshair. A finely snailed small seconds subdial sits at 6 o’clock, strewn with dark blue markers and a matching baton-style seconds hand. At 3 o’clock, the date window is framed by a gently sloped stamped aperture with a dark blue transfer outline, a detail borrowed from the Sport Auto collection. The white date disk and slate gray numerals keep it legible without drawing too much attention — no, it’s not a color-matched disk, but given the lightness of the blue it sits against, it’s certainly not jarring. Inside is the in-house Caliber LF270.01, a self-winding movement with a 950 platinum micro-rotor. Originally developed for the Sport Auto collection, the LF270.01 is engineered for durability and daily wear, featuring a unidirectional ball-bearing winding system and a Swiss lever escapement for robustness and reliability. The micro-rotor itself is housed between the mainplate and rotor bridge to maximize efficiency and stability, supplying 72 hours of power reserve. The view through the sapphire crystal caseback reveals the type of hand-finishing that Laurent Ferrier is celebrated for: softened and polished angles, rhodium-plated Côtes de Genève, circular graining, and the platinum rotor engraved with a feather-like motif to coordinate with the beak shape of the automatic bridge. Accompanying the etched feathers are chevrons to indicate the winding direction. Each movement requires more than 139 manual finishing operations, and it shows. As is par for the course at Laurent Ferrier, the Classic Auto Horizon offers a compelling mix of technical refinement and quiet elegance. Simply put, it’s a beautiful timepiece — both mechanically and aesthetically. Unfortunately, the brand had not shared the price of the Classic Auto Horizon (ref. LCF046.AC.CG1) at the time of publishing; however, for context, the limited Classic Auto Sandstone was priced at CHF 50,000, so it’s fair to assume this regular production version will land somewhere near that range. For more information, please visit the Laurent Ferrier website. "); });