Laurent Ferrier is 10 years old, and to make the occasion the brand is launching the Classic Origin Opaline, a time-only, hand-wound watch with a slim, titanium case.

In many ways, the new watch is a minimalist take on the standard Laurent Ferrier time-only watch – the style is beautiful, restrained, and typical of the brand, with a new(ish) and significantly simpler movement inside, allowing for a fairly affordable price.

Initial thoughts

The Classic Origin Opaline has the much-loved Laurent Ferrier look – fluid lines and elegant forms on the case and dial. And in the usual manner of the brand, the dial is unadorned but executed with fine materials – the hands and hour indices are solid white gold.

The movement, however, falls a bit short. Laurent Ferrier’s earliest movements – the LF229.01 of the Galet Micro-Rotor and the LF619.01 of the Galet Tourbillon – were best-in-class calibres that excelled in construction, finishing, and details, which unfortunately set a very high bar.

But since the company entered a prolonged period of management turmoil, its movements have lost the magic. The quality is still good, but they are no longer outstanding.

The LF116.01 in the new Classic Origin Opaline is essentially a variant of the movement in the annual calendar and also found in the Bridge One with a reshaped base plate and bridges. It has large bridges with simple silhouettes, as well as solid, clean finishing.

Granted, a handful of the traditional Laurent Ferrier flourishes are still found in the movement, like the elongated, black-polished winding click, but overall it is a plain but solid movement.

That said, the Classic Origin Opaline is probably the most affordable Laurent Ferrier wristwatch in the catalogue – the retail is a bit under US$30,000 – making it a sound proposition in terms of price to quality. For someone who wants the familiar Laurent Ferrier look and a little bit of the technical achievement, for the lowest possible retail, this is the watch.

The LF116.01 of the Classic Origin Opaline

Still Galet

The Classic Origin Opaline has a titanium case that’s 40 mm high and 10.7 mm thick, so it is the same diameter but slightly slimmer than the automatic Galet Micro-Rotor. It will surely sit beautifully on the wrist, light and thin at the same time.

A bit more modern than usual for the brand, the dial has a “crosshair” along with a 24-hour scale in red on the periphery of the dial, creating a slightly retro-sporty look.

And the movement is visible through the display back. The bridges have fine, frosted finish and dark grey rhodium plating, along with polished bevels and countersinks. In almost any other watch this would be very, very good, but Laurent Ferrier’s set its standards very, very high.

Key facts and price

Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Opaline
Ref. LCF036.TI.G1G

Case diameter: 40 mm
Height: 10.7 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: LF 116.01
Features: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Hand-wound
Power reserve: 80 hours

Strap: Calfskin with titanium pin buckle

Availability: From authorised retailers and Laurent Ferrier
Price: 28,500 Swiss francs before taxes

For more, visit Laurentferrier.ch.