Complications

Louis Erard 1931 Anniversary Regulator - Unique and Memorable with Great Economics

It's hard to find a Swiss brand with a value proposition better than Louis Erard.  Based in Le Noirmont, Erard's small and talented group of watchmakers are producing some fantastic watches and many experienced watch collectors are starting to take notice. 

When you first lay eyes on the Louis Erard 1931 Anniversary Regulator, it's the skeletonized (completely) dial that highlights the Cotes de Geneve of the backplate that gets your attention.  The center minutes hand circles an outer track that's sectioned in one minute increments.  North of center is an hours subdial that's quarter sectioned and requires a closer look if your not already aware of the time of day.  In the traditionally 6 o'clock position is another subdial that indicates seconds.  True to the concept of a regulator watch, the Erard 1931 Anniversary Regulator makes the minutes the mainstay of the dial - the hours and seconds take a back seat and require a bit more than a passing glance. 

The 40mm case of the Erard is neither small or big - perfect for a watch that will undoubtedly do duty in both formal and much more casual environments.  An exhibition caseback reveals the ER Caliber 1001 movement that beats inside.  It's a reworked ETA Peseux Caliber 7001 that's manually wound and nicely finished.

In the world of sub-$2000 Swiss watches, usually compromise is the order of the day.  Creating unique design elements and implementing them isn't cheap and most manufacturers take the course of least resistance and skip anything creative to deliver the goods at a low retail price.  Erard obviously has another philosophy.  The Louis Erard 1931 Anniversary Regulator delivers a nice complication with a unique and striking look backed up by high quality workmanship at just $1300 US.   

Louis Erard 1931 Big Date GMT - Open Wheel Style

Louis Erard is an old Swiss brand that, after 10 years of dormancy and a cash infusion from a group of investors, began producing watches again 5 years ago.  While the company is very small (only 20 employees) and produces a minuscule number of watches each year, the quality-to-price ratio is excellent.  While many watchmakers of this size would be happy with a collection that closely mirrors that of a larger firm, the design crew at Erard has a taste for the unique and dramatic.  In it's 1931 Collection, modern movements and a fresh look at several different complications are combined with design elements present in the brands offerings during it's first year of production (1931). 

One of my favorites in the 1931 line is the Louis Erard 1931 Big Date GMT.  The skeletonized dial of this watch allows you to view both of the date wheels that come together to indicate the day of the month beneath a black bridged aperture that's suspended between the minute rail and the cannon pinion.  The perlage on the bottom of the movement is a prominent element of the dial space and offers both an added perception of depth and a nice contrast with the black minute rail, date window, and subdial (GMT).  Time in a second time zone is indicated with a separate set of hour and minute hands that revolve around a subdial in the 6 o'clock space.  The hour and minute hands on both the main dial and GMT subdial are gunmetal in color and half polished / half brushed - a treatment that draws the eye into the dial and conveys a sense of the attention to detail that is becoming synonymous with Louis Erard.

The 40mm stainless steel case is nicely finished and supplied with a leather strap that's stamped in a crocodile pattern.  Powering the 1931 Big Date GMT is an ETA 2892 Movement (with a TT651 Module). 

By virtue of it's small annual production and limited distribution, owning a Louis Erard puts you in an exclusive group of watch buffs.  Erard is a brand that I think will receive a lot of attention in the future.  It's designs are fresh without being overdone and it's price-points (the 1931 Big Date GMT is $2,500 US) reasonable.