Watches And Wonders 2024: Laurent Ferrier's Classic Moon Beams Brightly

The moon phase complication is having a major moment at Watches And Wonders 2024! From icons like Patek Philippe to rising independents, seemingly every brand is unveiling their own distinctive take on this romantic celestial display. But for those in the know, all eyes are squarely focused on Laurent Ferrier and their entrancing new Classic Moon collection.

The young but revered watchmaker from Plan-les-Ouates has been steadily building a cult following since winning the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève's coveted Men's Watch Prize for their debut Galet Classic Tourbillon back in 2010. Now, over a decade later, Laurent Ferrier has finally answered their fans' calls for a poetic moon phase with two spellbinding additions to the time-only Classic line.

Available in an elegant stainless steel model with a mesmerizing grey-blue opaline dial or a warmly refined 18K red gold iteration with a vertical satin silver finish, both new Classic Moon references make an unforgettable first impression. The dials seamlessly blend all the signature Laurent Ferrier touches we've come to cherish - double-curved fluted bezels, elongated Assegai hands, railway minutes tracks with an eclectic mix of applied Roman numerals and delicate baton indices.

Yet look closer, and the first moon phase complication in the brand's history takes center stage at 6 o'clock. Here, a recessed subdial surrounds the running small seconds with a totally unique lunar display rendered in scintillating Aventurine glass. This specialty glass from Murano is first hand-engraved with a crescent moon and sparkling stars, detailed with luminescent paint, and then fired to create a swirling, starry night illusion unlike anything else on the market.

To add even more depth and mystery, the lifelike moon disc has then been lavishly adorned with a translucent petrol blue enamel applique for the silver dial or matching powder grey accents on the blue edition. So transfixing is this avant-garde moon phase design that it's easy to overlook the array of thoughtful details surrounding it.

Unlike most annual calendars today, Laurent Ferrier's new LF126.02 movement utilizes the watchmaking tradition of flush-fitted corrector pushers for quick adjustments, rather than cumbersome buttons protruding from the case middle. The moon phase can be precisely adjusted via its own corrector near 9 o'clock, while the date is seamlessly advanced by a second recessed pusher at 10. Small but vital conveniences like these are a signature of any Laurent Ferrier creation.

Flip the Classic Moon over, and the impeccable hand-crafted finishings are on full display through a transparent caseback sapphire. The watchmaker's signature long ratchet pawl takes pride of place, while the micro-circular graining, hand-polished angles, and radiant Geneva striping elevate the aesthetic to its fullest haute horlogerie prestige.

On the wrist, the 40mm Classic case proportions feel refreshingly contemporary against most of the competition's vintage-inspired moon phase revivals. The gently curved lugs drape comfortably over the wrist, while the "ball" crown, so recognizable from previous Laurent Ferrier offerings, provides an intuitive and easy grip.

Whether one prefers the cosmopolitan monochrome tones of the grey-blue steel edition on a brooding graphite nubuck strap or the sophisticated silver dial model on classically luxurious brown calfskin with Alcantara lining, the new Classic Moon lives up to the exalted reputation Laurent Ferrier has forged over the past 13 years.

With an 80-hour power reserve from the robustly updated LF126.02 caliber, precision moon phase tracking, and annual calendar convenience rolled into one sublimely artful expression, this may very well prove to be the ultimate moonphase watch of 2024. And in a year where the complication is ubiquitous across Switzerland's product launches, that's really saying something.

For Laurent Ferrier devotees who have patiently awaited the maison's poetic take on this time-honored astronomical complication, the new Classic Moon handsomely delivers. More than just another moon phase, it establishes new boundaries in imaginative craftsmanship while firmly reinforcing Laurent Ferrier's status as an undisputed leader in 21st century haute horlogerie.