ReviewA Toast To Monochromatic Brilliance: Louis Erard Petite Seconde
Three new Petite Seconde watches from the Louis Erard Excellence range stand out for their minimalist frames and striking hues
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Louis Erard have earned repute for their Excellence Petite Seconde range of formidable dress watches. Usually slender and light on your wrist, dress watches are non-obstructive to your cuff or jacket sleeve. Inspired by the codes of modern high-end watchmaking, the minimalistic entrants thrive and shine in vibrant, full-bodied singular colours—bleu nuit (midnight blue), violette (purple), and bleu glacier (ice blue) with matching straps.
Style wise, the purple version is redolent of red wine and royalty, the ice blue reflects the omnipresence of winter and water bodies, while the midnight blue marks the fast approaching night. Each tone evokes a mood, and a complementing occasion. Only 100 to 150 models of each hue will be produced each year.
The Petite Seconde Dance Of Contrasting Textures
Previous Petite Seconde models have had dials in diverse materials. The Excellence Email Grand Feu line had enamel dials, while the Excellence Petite Seconde Terracotta had 42mm models with the watch face made in terracotta stone. The new 39mm steel models have an uncluttered, classic silver dial. Each dial is defined by a wide chapter ring in circular-brushed finishing; a direct contrast to the diamond-cut snailing on the small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock and the matt finish at the centre and on the outer-minute track.
While the purple and midnight blue sport glossy silver numerals, indices, and rhodium-plated hands, the ice blue has the above finer elements in dark blue polish. A domed sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment protects the dial, while the case itself is water-resistant up to 50mm.
A Nod To Swiss Heritage
Harking to the fir and spruce trees native to the Jura mountains along the French-Swiss border where the eponymous founder is based, the watch hands are shaped like fir trees, while the chunky crown is knurled with triangular shapes.
All Louis Erard watches function on the Sellita SW-200 range of calibres, and the new models have the automatic Sellita SW261-1 in elaboré grade finishing. The transparent caseback features an open-worked rotor and the ‘LE’ emblem. When wound up, the movement completes 28,800vph or 4Hz, while it offers an overall power reserve of 38 hours.
Each model has a matching grained calf leather strap, with blue lining, and a polished stainless steel pin buckle. Two of the models have tone-on-tone stitching close to the lugs, while the lighter blue model has stitching in dark blue. Quick-release spring bars near the caseback let you remove and interchange the straps without hassle.
