Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Lapis Lazuli and Malachite (Live Pics & Price)
Three new regulator models with unique dial materials that are surprisingly accessible.
Whenever there’s a mention of regulator watches, the brand that comes to mind is Chronoswiss and its unprecedented commitment to the style. Louis Erard has also embraced this old-school design with standard collections and unique, limited pieces like the Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter and Le Triptyque Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein. The brand is now introducing a trio of Excellence Régulateur models with rare dial materials, including dark aventurine, blue lapis lazuli and green malachite, each limited to 99 pieces.
The stone or glass dials add a lot of character to the models, and each has a distinctive theme. The Excellence Régulateur Aventurine has a black background with sparkling inclusions that resemble a clear night sky. First created by Venetian glass-blowers in the 17th century, aventurine brings a positively celestial vibe to the wrist. The Excellence Régulateur Lapis Lazuli brings a sense of early dawn with a deep blue that represents the hour between night and the new day. Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock in cerulean blue with dots of silicate inclusions. The Excellence Régulateur Malachite brings a woodland green hue like a pasture painted by German artist Gerhard Richter. This stone was common in luxury watches from the 1960s, and Louis Erard has given it a more contemporary twist.
All models share twin silver sub-dials that overlap to form an 8 – hours at the top and seconds at the bottom with the minute hand centralized and prominent. The hands are rhodium-plated with the brand’s signature fir tree style. Both sub-dials have a matte finish and snailed pattern with applied Arabic numerals every two hours at the top. The stainless steel case is polished with a diameter of 42mm and a height of 12.25mm (lug-to-lug is 49.6mm).
A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coatings on both sides protects the dial, while a sapphire exhibition caseback reveals the automatic movement. Water-resistance is rated at 50 metres. Each watch comes with a matching 22mm strap of calf nubuck leather with a polished pin buckle, coupled with the always appreciated quick-release levers.
An élaboré grade Sellita SW266-1 calibre powers the watches with 31 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and a 38-hour power reserve. The rotor is partially openworked with the brand’s logo. Functions include hours, minutes and seconds in a vertical regulator set-up.
All three Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur models retail for CHF 2,900, which is a value proposition for such unique and well-finished regulators. For more information, please visit Louis Erard’s website.
