The Lorige BL-Endurance, a Watch that Couldn’t be Closer to Motorsports

Lorige is a new French independent watchmaking company that broke cover not that long ago. Founded in 2018 by long-time friends and genuine car enthusiasts Emeric Paraud and Clement Etienvre, the BL-Endurance was the first model to be released in April 2021. By now, three models along the codes of the initial concept have been presented, and we thought it was about time you got to know them too. So without further ado, here’s the Lorige BL-Endurance collection.

As both founders and part of the MONOCHROME editorial team have a keen interest in cars and motorsports (hence the Petrolhead Corner), the BL-Endurance is riddled with race-inspired details. But there’s one thing that stands out big time from other motorsport-derived watches: its case.

The case for the Lorige BL-Endurance is made from a brake pad taken off a prototype endurance racer, the kind of cars you see competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, for instance. Such cars rely on carbon brake discs and pads to slow down, as they are able to withstand extreme temperatures and pressure. Each BL-Endurance watch has a case crafted from this ultra-resilient material and measures 51.6mm from end to end, 43.6mm in width and 10.5mm in height. It’s finished with grade 5 titanium parts with various types of finishing.

The Lorige BL-Endurance Gris Circuit

The dial is integrated into the carbon case and has milled out hour indices set on the sloped outer flange. Additional hour numerals are placed on the flat top surface of the “dial”. The sharply pointed central hour and minutes indicate the time, accompanied by a date window at 3 o’clock and a power reserve in the bottom section. The first model, the Gris Circuit, has a black, grey and orange theme. Joining forces with both the United Autosports racing team and Peugeot’s 9X8 developmental Le Mans Hypercar program resulted in the Bleu 24H and Hyperblack variants. The cases are machined from used braked pads of the cars during racing or testing.

The movement comes from Régence Production/Timeless (a movement maker we covered here) and is a proprietary calibre equipped with a peripheral rotor. Its skeletonized, technical-looking construction can be seen from both sides through sapphire crystals. It uses 294 components, including 37 jewels and ticks, at a rate of 28.800vph. The power reserve is a decent 45 hours.

The Lorige BL-Endurance Bleu 24H

The Lorige BL-Endurance Hyperblack

Each Lorige BL-Endurance watch is worn on a vulcanized rubber strap with a titanium folding deployment clasp. This clasp is fitted with spring-loaded blades and a 6mm fine adjustment. Production is limited to just 24 pieces per colour, with the Gris Circuit costing EUR 27,360 incl taxes, the Bleu 24H costing EUR 28,560, and the Hyperblack priced at EUR 35,040 incl. taxes.

For more information, please visit Lorige.com.