ReviewTimeless Gems: Presenting Louis Erard’s Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Lapiz-Lazuli, And Malachite Editions

Independent watchmaker Louis Erard have established themselves well in the horological universe with unique and distinct designs that stand out for displaying some quirky elements—executed in the brand’s signature style. Established in 1929, the company have mastered the art of crafting elegant watches, which fuse classical elements with contemporary details. While they also manufacture sports watches, they are perhaps best-known for their Excellence line—which has a fair mix of complications as well as sophisticated timekeepers—inspired by a bygone era. Introduced in 2011 to celebrate the brand’s 80th anniversary, this collection personifies neo-classic aesthetics, in sync with the brand’s DNA. This is led by mechanicals, crafted in their iconic regulator style—replete with functions such as small seconds, chronographs, moon phases, and power reserve indicators—high-quality pieces at an affordable cost.

This is also highlighted in their Le Régulateur timepieces introduced at the Geneva Watch Days 2021, featuring dials carved in stone and glass. The gorgeous trio—the Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Excellence Régulateur Lapis-Lazuli, and Excellence Régulateur Malachite—come in a limited-edition, each numbered to 99 pieces only.

These horological creations are a result of aesthetic fusion, fine craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology. Here, the challenge is twofold, since the dial has two levels and the material is cut to reveal the regulator’s snailed, opaline dual-counter. The hours are displayed at the top, the seconds at the bottom, and there’s a large, signature fir tree minute hand, right at the centre. These counters are adorned with glossy silver indexes, which enhance the overall appeal of the timepiece. Let’s take a closer look at the three editions.

Terrific Trio—The Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Lapiz-Lazuli, And Malachite Timepieces

This line is for people who appreciate watches that use stones and glass for their dials. Louis Erard have opted for their historic model, Le Régulateur to present these three 42mm stainless-steel models—the Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Lapis-Lazuli, and Malachite—where each of the three editions is limited to 99 pieces, but every piece is unique since no stone is identical in nature. The Aventurine version stands out with its gold-speckled surface, the Lapis-Lazuli looks rich with a deep, cobalt hue dotted with silicate particles, and the Malachite looks regal with its verdant surface that imbues a calming effect on the wearer. All three versions are powered by the automatic Sellita movement with an open-worked rotor, beating at a frequency of 28,800vph to supply a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.

This line is for people who appreciate watches that use stones and glass for their dials. Louis Erard have opted for their historic model, Le Régulateur to present these three 42mm stainless-steel models. The Aventurine version stands out with its gold-speckled surface, the Lapis-Lazuli looks rich with a deep, cobalt hue dotted with silicate particles, and the Malachite looks regal with its verdant surface that imbues a calming effect on the wearer

The Excellence Régulateur Aventurine stands out with sparkling inclusions. It takes its name from the Italian ‘aventura’ meaning adventure or chance and was first created by Venetian glass-blowers in the 17th century. It is said that the technique owes its name to the fact that its discovery was a pure coincidence, when a glass artisan is said to have accidentally dropped some metal shavings into the glass mixture. Over the years, this material has become a popular choice with jewellery makers due to its sheer celestial allure, as well as with watchmakers since it perfectly replicates a starry night sky, and is often used by brands in their moon phase and poetic complications.

The Excellence Régulateur Aventurine stands out with sparkling inclusions as it perfectly replicates a starry night sky. It is presented on a matching nubuck leather strap

All three versions are powered by the automatic Sellita movement with an open-worked rotor, beating at a frequency of 28,800vph to supply a power reserve of approximately 38 hours

Louis Erard Excellence

₹3,14,000

Check Our Selling Price

The Excellence Régulateur Lapis-Lazuli represents the deep blue azure of the sky during early dawn. This watch stands out for its vibrant hue dotted with silicate inclusions. Lapis lazuli is a blue metamorphic rock that has been used as a gemstone, sculpting material, pigment, and ornamental material for thousands of years. High-quality lapis lazuli can be a costly gem, and the most desirable specimens have a rich, solid blue colour and perhaps a few reflective pieces of gold pyrite. Unlike most other semi-precious stones, lapis lazuli is not a mineral, and is a rock composed of multiple minerals. The blue colour comes from the presence of lazurite—a blue silicate mineral of the sodalite group.

The Excellence Régulateur Malachite is a burst of energy on the wrist with its verdant hue. Malachite was a popular stone back in the 1960s but here, it has been used in a more contemporary manner

₹3,14,000

Check Our Selling Price

Here, the challenge is twofold, since the dial has two levels and the material is cut to reveal the regulator's snailed, opaline dual-counter

₹3,14,000

Check Our Selling Price

The hours are displayed at the top, the seconds at the bottom, and there’s a large, signature fir tree minute hand, right at the centre

₹3,14,000

Check Our Selling Price

01

The Excellence Régulateur Malachite is a burst of energy on the wrist with its verdant hue. Malachite was a popular stone back in the 1960s but here, it has been used in a more contemporary manner. Malachite is a green copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. It was one of the first ores used to produce copper metal and has an opaque transparency, and sometimes has a patterned surface. Malachite is a rich shade of green and it’s used for channelling positivity, progress, transformation and prosperity. It has been used as a gemstone and sculptural material for thousands of years and is still popular. Today, it is most often cut into cabochons or beads for use in jewellery. The colour doesn’t fade over time, even when it’s exposed to light and that’s why it’s also popular with watchmakers. Just like this piece, which gives the vibe of a vintage watch albeit with a modern design.

Water-resistant to 50m, each watch has a matching calf nubuck leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching, replete with a polished stainless-steel pin buckle and functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly. Once again, Louis Erard have balanced the art of fine watchmaking and contemporary design with sheer aplomb!