Day Two of Geneva Watch Days: Hotter than the Day Before.
The morning boat ride across Lake Geneva felt magical again amplifying my sense of freedom regarding my decisions and schedule. The morning plan was to visit Laurent Ferrier and check out one or two more brands.
I recalled the first time I met Laurent Ferrier at one of the last Baselworld editions. We bumped into each other in an elevator at a nearby hotel and I didn’t hold back on the compliments about his watches. However, the brand had always slipped through my fingers professionally over the years.
So, starting the day with Laurent Ferrier seemed like a solid plan. While enjoying my morning coffee at the Watch Box, I prepared my gear with a fresh approach: one camera, one lens, three batteries, and a diffuser/reflector. Unlike other events, I decided to carry just the essentials, along with my writing buddy, who was armed with only a notebook and a pen.
With this sense of freedom and minimalism we crossed the street to visit Laurent Ferrier at the Beau Rivage hotel. We headed up to where the brand had its HQ, and even before the official presentations for the day kicked off, the friendly team welcomed us with another cup of coffee.
Our visit wasn’t casual; aside from the unveiling of the Atelier Série VI: Classic Auto Sandstone, we were there to schedule a visit to the Laurent Ferrier manufacture a few days later! I was soaking up the morning light streaming through the window, coffee in hand, Leica on my lap, breathing in the atmosphere I had missed while details of the visit and various métiers were being discussed.
Then suddenly, the much-talked-about new release appeared. If I was already feeling Zen, I went even deeper. The new Classic Auto Sandstone is a stunning 40mm gentleman’s watch, impeccably crafted, and the design instantly conjured a vivid image.
I pictured it on a wrist peeking out from under the sleeve of a weathered leather jacket, all set against a dusty gas station on Route 66 as someone fills up their 1967 Pontiac GTO. The sun begins to set at the end of the open road. Long shadows and soft light highlight the extraordinary dial of the Classic Auto Sandstone. My rebellious driver hits the road again, cranking up the volume when “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd comes on and following one of those wise unspoken rules, when “Freebird” plays all speed limits are off.
“Hey, don’t you want to take a picture?”
I realised I was still holding my coffee in one hand, the Leica in my lap, and the Classic Auto Sandstone in the other. Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s the watch, or maybe it’s a mix of both but when a timepiece makes me drift off like this it has clearly struck a poetic and aesthetic chord.
Hats off to the rebel gentleman the Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Sandstone!
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