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Laurent Ferrier’s first sports watch is a homage to 1970s motorsport

Did you know that the Swiss master watchmaker Laurent Ferrier had a successful spell in motorsport in the 1970s? Now, together with his former co-pilot and current business partner, he’s revealed the Tourbillon Grand Sport, a stainless sports watch with obvious echoes of that evocative era…

Laurent Ferrier competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the Everest of the endurance racing world – an impressive seven times in the 1970s. In 1977 he won the two-litre category and in 1979, partnered with François Trisconi and his good friend and industrialist François Servanin, he placed third overall driving a Porsche 935 for the Kremer team. Fast-forward 30 years to 2009 and, having never lost their passion for mechanics, Ferrier and Servanin founded Laurent Ferrier. 

Ten years on and we’ve got the limited-edition Tourbillon Grand Sport, a 44mm stainless-steel sports watch that commemorates the 30th anniversary of that Le Mans podium and the tenth anniversary of both the company’s conception and the launch of its signature tourbillon. It’s a drastic aesthetic departure from the brand’s usual dressy and much more complicated pieces, but the Tourbillon Grand Sport still packs a serious punch – a peek through the exhibition case back into the heart of the beguiling movement is enough to confirm that. We really love the bold 1970s-style smoked taupe-coloured dial and orange hands and markers. Laurent Ferrier will produce just 12 Tourbillon Grand Sports, priced at 185,000 US dollars each. 

Photos: Laurent Ferrier 

You can find hundreds of vintage and modern timepieces listed for sale in the Classic Driver Market.