Laurent Ferrier Ecole Annual Calendar Bleu

The Watch

Fifty years after graduating from watchmaking school with his school pocket watch, in 2017, Laurent Ferrier experienced a full circle moment with the launch of a new reference bearing the same name, Montre École. Two years later, things got complicated: the École Annual Bleu. 

This basinné 40mm stainless steel case prides itself on smooth, seamless surfaces and beautifully soft lines. The sans sharp angles connect closely to the early stages of wristwatches, with a profile perspective highlighting the case body's pocket watch origins. The pastille lugs speak to the conversions of watches from the pocket to the wrist during the early 20th century, with a period-correct form and flair. These lugs attach directly to the three-piece polished case. Compared to Ferrier's School Piece, the low profile, elegantly rounded bezel bears an uncanny resemblance. This appetite for smooth lines is a firm favourite of Ferrier, and with a shared DNA with the Galet, it's no wonder the flowing pebble-like execution of the case is indisputable.

Equally as striking as its case is the Annual Bleu's dial, a design and rendering from arguably one of the strongest and most individual independent watchmakers today. Fundamentally, the dial is a vertically brushed blue execution with contrasting white elements and a pop of colour, but there's so much more to it. Firstly, the assegai handset–a signature of Laurent Ferrier– is rendered in white gold and then painted white. The central date hand is a striking red, with the only other instance of red being the 31st date around the dial. Then, there is the nuance of the white printing across the dial. From the cross-hair design perfectly meeting the cardinal markers while cutting right through the sunken seconds register at six to how the date scale has a modern, almost Bauhaus font. Every element of this dial has so clearly been thoroughly considered.

The Movement

Inside is the calibre LF126.01, a manually wound calibre developed in-house by Laurent Ferrier. Using a standard Swiss lever escapement, the movement boasts 80 hours of autonomy, beating at 21,600 vph (3Hz), with the calendar being able to be corrected forwards or backwards via a push button at 10'clock.

Neatly integrated into the back of this movement is a power reserve indicator, a valuable complication for manual wind pieces, all while being decorated with Côtes de Genève striping, a ruthenium treatment throughout the bridges and perlage of the mainplate.

How It Wears

With an entirely round case possessing zero sharp edges and a set of lugs that suspend the watch's appearance while also down-turning in favour of the wrist, the Laurent Ferrier Annual Bleu is wonderful on the wrist. As Ferrier envisioned for the brand, it's both archetypal and contemporary, expertly straddling the line between the two ideologies. An elegant piece at heart with the complication and style to become an easy-wearing daily, this Laurent Ferrier stands out by maintaining a reserved execution.

Condition

Dating from 2024, this Laurent Ferrier École Annual Bleu is offered as a full set in like new condition. The watch is fitted to a Mr Watchley Mid Grey Grained leather strap.

Origin

After spending nearly four decades at Patek Philippe overseeing the development and launch of references such as the Nautilus and the Aquanaut, Laurent Ferrier was anything but new to the game in 2009. At 63, alongside his son Christian and friend François Servanin, Ferrier went solo and realised his eponymous brand. The objective was simple: Build a brand that embodies craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation—core values Ferrier held from the day he graduated watchmaking school in 1968 to his final days at Patek in the 2000s. 

Today's range is based on three core cases: the Classic, the Square, and the Sport. Variations in these collections occur, such as the Grand Sport models and perhaps the most notable deviations, the École. Directly translating to 'School 'in French, École pieces build upon the tenets of the brand to define an exterior evocative of pocket watches. There's a more rounded case and bezel style, along with pastille lugs that most notably recall when pocket watches began to be converted to wristwatches. It's an era of watchmaking seldom used for inspiration past specific dial executions, yet for Laurent Ferrier, it's a special period. First debuting in 2018, the Galet Annual Calendar École is a riff on the Galet Micro-Rotor, and the collection debuted in 18k pale "sand" yellow gold. At the time, this new complication was a huge step forward for the brand, debuting a new calibre and new materials, complications, and displays. Since then, the École Annual has matured and developed tastefully, with classic expressions, such as the Opaline Black & White, and more youthful dynamic takes with the Annual Bleu.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. No stock is kept on site.

* Every watch is delivered in a Mr WATCHLEY Membrane Protection Box for a safe transportation in addition to its original set *