The Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg

While the more compact and more accessible Sport Auto and Sport Traveller are often seen as the cool kids on the block, we tend to forget that the whole integrated sports watch style at Laurent Ferrier started with a far more complex and larger watch, the Grand Sport Tourbillon. Born from Mister Ferrier’s passion for motorsport (remember that he raced Le Mans in 1979 on a Porsche 935, finishing third), it was first introduced in 2019, while its most accomplished version, pairing a titanium case/bracelet with a salmon dial, was launched in 2023. Well, I’m sorry to announce to you that this version is now discontinued… Only to be replaced by today’s newcomer, the Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg, combining a titanium construction with a subtle white dial with icy shades. 

Following the brown and orange contrasts of the original model, the deep gradient blue of the 2020 version, the chocolate tones of the Golden Brown and the salmon glow of the Pursuit, the latest creation explores an almost mineral aesthetic. More subtle, more discreet than before, but no less captivating. Named the Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg, it brings a breath of fresh air (quite literally) to the collection with its entirely new shade, far from the hype of the saturated ice-blue dials we can see everywhere. No, LF is too refined for that.

The overall construction of this new Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg remains unchanged, packing the same technical specifications as the salmon Pursuit version. Presented here in grade 5 titanium (the best material for such a watch, also used on the Sport Auto), the GST is a large watch that measures 44mm in diameter and 13.40mm in thickness. There’s no hiding the truth: these are large dimensions, at least on paper. In the metal and on the wrist, the story is slightly different. First, the use of titanium makes the watch much lighter than expected – only 118 grams in total. Second, despite the claimed 44mm measurement, the length of the case is well under control, and this watch feels more like a 41/42mm model, as you can see on the wristshot below (on my small 16.5cm wrist).

The design of the Grand Sport Tourbillon, later used on the Sport Auto and Sport Traveller, steers clear of the classic angular codes of the luxury sports watch genre, and in classic LF, plays on soft surfaces and curves. The barrel-shaped case and cushion-shaped bezel give the watch a compelling 1970s vibe. The onion-style screw-down crown – somewhat an anachronistic design in a sports watch, but a signature LF trait – is protected by smooth-flowing crown guards to ensure the 100m water-resistance of the case.

Now, the real deal with this Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg is the dial. One with a distinctive approach to sophistication, as its tourbillon can only be admired through the caseback. And now, there’s an equally sophisticated colour. Not white, not blue, somewhere in between… A delicate, pale white shade with subtle blue reflections, only reinforced by the opaline finish. The result is almost mineral, extremely fresh and has a snow-like effect that feels quite novel. This pared-back backdrop gives way to expressive and superbly finished hands and markers. Crafted in white gold, the drop-shaped hour markers and Assegai-shaped hands are coated with a ruthenium treatment for more contrast, and filled with white Super-LumiNova. The inscriptions are similarly reduced to a minimum. Beneath the central hands, the words Tourbillon Grand Sport are discreetly transferred tone-on-tone onto the dial. And as said, contrary to most watches on the market, the tourbillon remains invisible from the front.

Things are far less restrained on the back, with the in-house calibre LF619.01. This movement made its debut inside the Classic Tourbillon, which won the Men’s Watch Prize at the GPHG in 2010 and was the brand’s first watch. Measuring 31.60mm in diameter and 5.57mm in thickness, comprising 188 components including 23 jewels, it beats at 21,600 vibrations/hour and offers more than 80 hours of power reserve. More importantly, its one-minute tourbillon is equipped with two balance springs mounted in opposition, alongside a variable-inertia balance wheel adjusted by screws, all in the name of chronometric precision. The decoration applied over the ruthenium-plated bridges and plates includes horizontal satin-brushing, polished chamfers with 30 hand-finished internal angles, a delicate tourbillon cage bridge decorated by hand and every other decoration technique you can expect from LF. A nice touch, the calibre uses a long-blade click that produces a soft, distinctive mechanical whisper when winding the watch.

Last, the GST Iceberg retains the same integrated bracelet, with its softly finished links and its titanium construction. The finishing of the bracelet is exemplary, with satin-brushing on the links and mirror-polished bevels on the central elements and outer edges, and a comfort on the skin that few can rival. One can only regret the absence of a micro-adjustment system on the folding clasp.

Released as part of the permanent collection and a replacement for the Pursuit Salmon model, the new Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Iceberg is priced at CHF 175,000 before taxes (same price as before). For more details, please visit laurentferrier.ch.