Louis Erard could have followed the path of many of its competitors: open up its archives, patiently curated since 1929, pull out an iconic model and update it. But under Manuel Emch’s leadership, Louis Erard preferred the path of creation, surrounding itself with the best partners: designer Nicolas Barth Nussbaumer and movement manufacturer Sellita, not to mention all the other suppliers.

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The soul of this new family of watches lies in the Jura Mountains, in the small village of Le Noirmont where the brand is based, surrounded by grassy pastures and fir trees. These incredibly distinctive trees inspired the design of the hands and are featured as functional decoration on the crown, in subtle reference to Art Sapin – a variation of Art Nouveau from the Jura.

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Each of the three models forming this triptych has its own technical and aesthetic defining features. But they are all built in the same spirit, with common aspects between them, such as a family portrait spanning several generations.

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The cases sport the roundness of old pocket watches, although tightened by sapphire crystal, which projects slightly beyond the case, giving the overall piece a highly modern style. The matt silver dials are reminiscent of the elegant simplicity of the 1950s but revitalised with shifting levels and contrasting finishes: satin-finished, brushed, snailed and diamond-cut. And each detail has been finely crafted, from the typography and metal index to the hand bushings, in order to produce an original, groundbreaking and decidedly contemporary result. All with the natural, sensual touch of the chocolate calf nubuck leather strap.

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The Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde is the entry-level model (CHF 1,500), identifiable by its counter at 6:00. The Excellence Régulateur (CHF 2,500) sports two distinctive vertical counters – hours at the top, seconds at the bottom – and a large central minute hand. The Louis Erard Excellence Chronographe Monopoussoir (CHF 3,500) completes the trio with its 30-minute counter at 12:00.

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Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde

Technical specifications:

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·       Reference: 34237AA01

·       Movement: Automatic, Sellita SW261-1 calibre, 3 hands with small seconds at 6:00, 111⁄2’’’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 5.60 mm, 31 jewels, 28,800 VpH (4 Hz), élaboré grade movement, meticulously decorated, special openwork oscillating weight with Louis Erard symbol, around 38 hours of power reserve

·       Functions: HMS; Central hour and minute hands, second hand at 6:00

·       Case: Polished stainless steel, Ø42 mm, thickness: 12.25 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible through the transparent back, water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft), signature fir tree crown

·       Dial: Opaline (matt silver) with circular satin-finished area, snailed counter at 6:00 with diamond-cut area, anthracite transfers, glossy silver indexes

·       Hands: Signature fir tree blue hands

·       Strap: Chocolate calf nubuck leather with tone-on-tone stitching, polished stainless-steel pin buckle

The price for the Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde Ref. 34237AA01 is CHF 1,500 and will be available from mid-October 2020.

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Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur

Technical specifications:

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·       Reference: 85237AA21

·       Movement: Automatic regulator, Sellita SW266-1 calibre, 111⁄2’’’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 5.60 mm, 31 jewels, 28,800 VpH (4 Hz), élaboré grade movement, meticulously decorated, special openwork oscillating weight with Louis Erard symbol, around 38 hours of power reserve

·       Functions: HMS; Hour hand on counter at 12:00, central minute hand, second hand on counter at 6:00

·       Case: Polished stainless steel, Ø42 mm, thickness: 12.25 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible through the transparent back, water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft), signature fir tree crown

·       Dial: Opaline (matt silver), snailed dual counter with diamond-cut area, anthracite transfers, glossy silver indexes

·       Hands: Signature fir tree blue hands

·       Strap: Chocolate calf nubuck leather with tone-on-tone stitching, polished stainless-steel pin buckle

The price for the Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur Ref. 85237AA21 is CHF 2,500 and will be available from mid-October 2020.

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Louis Erard Excellence Chronographe Monopoussoir

Technical specifications:

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·       Reference: 74239AA01

·       Movement: Automatic monopusher chronograph, Sellita SW500MPCa calibre, 131⁄4’’’, Ø30.00 mm, height: 7.90 mm, 25 jewels, 28,800 VpH (4 Hz), élaboré grade movement, meticulously decorated, special openwork oscillating weight with Louis Erard symbol, around 48 hours of power reserve

·       Functions: HMS + chronograph; Time: central hour and minute hands; Chronograph: central second hand, 30-minute counter at 12:00

·       Case: Polished stainless steel, Ø43 mm, thickness: 15.70 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible through the transparent back, water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft), signature fir tree push-button crown

·       Dial: Opaline (matt silver) with circular satin-finished area, snailed counter at 12:00 with diamond-cut area, anthracite transfers, glossy silver indexes

·       Hands: Signature fir tree blue hands

·       Strap: Chocolate calf nubuck leather with tone-on-tone stitching, polished stainless-steel pin buckle

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The price for the Louis Erard Excellence Chronographe Monopoussoir Ref. 74239AA01 is CHF 3,500 and will be available from November 2020.

For more information please visit Louis Erard Online.