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The Natural Escapement, by Laurent and Christian Ferrier

Laurent Ferrier, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Montres Laurent Ferrier (Geneva, Switzerland)
Christian Ferrier, Movement Creator at
Montres Laurent Ferrier (Geneva, Switzerland)

Video recordings of lectures are available immediately to HSNY members, and the general public with a 2 month delay.

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From the beginning, Laurent Ferrier’s aim was very clear: to deliver his personal interpretation of the horological theories proposed by his peers. Some of these principles were essentially functional, and Laurent Ferrier, mindful of his heritage, would work to improve them. Others were restricted by the limited technical means of their era.

Such was the case with the natural escapement. In 1802, Abraham-Louis Breguet completed his first watch using the ultra efficient escapement. Unfortunately, Breguet was unable to ensure its reliability because of the manufacturing techniques and materials available at the time. Two hundred years later, Laurent Ferrier gave the natural escapement a new lease on life. At the October 2021 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Laurent and Christian Ferrier will discuss the principles of the natural escapement and how they succeeded in manufacturing it.


Exhibition

To accompany the lecture, Montres Laurent Ferrier will hold an exhibition of timepieces, including some with natural escapements, at the Horological Society of New York, on the afternoons of October 5 and 6. HSNY members and the general public are welcome to attend. Timed tickets are required, as well as proof of vaccination. Masks are optional but strongly encouraged.


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About Laurent Ferrier

The son and grandson of watchmakers, Laurent Ferrier, the emblematic figure of the brand that bears his name, is profoundly attached to the excellence of traditional watchmaking crafts. His lengthy experience in the fields of horological design, technical research and watch design demonstrates his inventive nature.

Laurent Ferrier develops his own watches, from conception through to production. After 37 years of working for the same firm, the Geneva-based watchmaker decided in 2009 to found a brand dedicated to fine watchmaking. He develops his own watches, from conception through to production and in doing so is backed by his son Christian, a guarantee of continuity.

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About Christian Ferrier

After a training in mechanics, Christian Ferrier started his career in a research lab specialized in aerospace. Soon enough, his passion for watchmaking took over and he left the aerospace industry. When Laurent Ferrier decide to launch his new venture, he immediately asks his own son to join the team. Since the beginning, Christian Ferrier managed the technical design of the very first movement ever made by the brand. He now works with his father in the creation department, perpetuating the family tradition.