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The Grand Sport is yet another collection that houses a GPHG winner, this time the prestigious Tourbillon Prize in 2023. The Grand Sport Tourbillon celebrates three major achievements. Firstly, it honours the 40th anniversary of Laurent Ferrier and François Servanin's third-place victory at the 1979 Le Mans. Secondly, it marks the 10-year anniversary of the brand's creation in 2009 and the conceptualisation of the Tourbillon Double Spiral. The third reason for launching this collection is to commemorate the successful debut of Laurent Ferrier's first Grand Sport Tourbillon which fully embraces the world of sports timepieces.
Design
Laurent Ferrier drew inspiration from his Square model, his sportiest timepiece at the time, to conceptualise a new chassis. He favoured a tonneau shape for its comfort and aimed to create a case with the rigidity of a car's structure. His design featured stems or rods connecting the bezel to the caseback, secured with hexagon socket-headed screws, a nod to his racing experience.
At 44mm in diameter, the Grand Sport is the largest in Ferrier's collection. Despite the size, the watch fits comfortably on smaller wrists. The case of the Grand Sport showcases Ferrier's dedication to detail, with every surface smoothed and seamlessly integrated with the steel bracelet. He designed the dial for maximum visibility, using bright luminous indexes and hands to ensure clarity even during endurance racing. With a water resistance of up to 100 metres, the Grand Sport is the ultimate stealth sports watch.
Iterations
While the earlier models came with a rubber strap, in 2020 the Grand Sport Tourbillon was updated to include an integrated steel bracelet. The bracelet features a three-link tapered design, reminiscent of a car engine block. The matte finish of the watch provides a timeless, weathered look. The dial, which previously featured a brown hue, now includes more hues, while the hour markers and hands retain their original design.