The Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 now in Red Gold

The Sport Auto, first released in 2022, wasn’t the first attempt of Laurent Ferrier to create an elegant sports watch with an integrated bracelet. This must be credited to the Grand Sport, a large and high-end model with a tourbillon. However, the Sport Auto was even more important, as it entered the coveted category with a classic time-and-date movement, a titanium case and refined proportions. It is also a watch that results from a long-time friendship, born on the race track and infused with a passion for motorsport. Following the lightweight titanium edition, the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 now enters its luxurious phase with an 18k red gold case and bracelet, and a more elegant overall look. 

This new edition of Laurent Ferrier’s luxury sports watch celebrated the 15th anniversary of the brand, but also reminds us of the very origins of the brand, the story of a friendship that began on the Le Mans racetrack. On a fateful day, June 9, 1979, two visionaries and the eventual founders of the brand, François Servanin and Laurent Ferrier, embarked on a daring journey at the 47th edition of this legendary race. Driving the storied Porsche 935 Turbo, they defied the odds and secured a remarkable third place overall behind two other Porsche 935 cars – one of them being driven, among others, by Paul Newman… The new Sport Auto 79 in red gold is a tribute to the friendship that led to the creation of the company in 2010.

Until now, the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto consisted of two watches, the classic titanium/blue dial edition from the permanent collection, and the Sport Auto 40, also in titanium, with a green dial and limited to 40 pieces. Without changing the technical base and the specs, a third version is now joining them, this time crafted entirely in 18k red gold. Streamlined and soft, as every watch designed by Laurent Ferrier, the Sport Auto 79 is an elegant sports watch with integrated bracelet measuring 41.5mm in diameter and 12.7mm in thickness. Don’t let the numbers fool you, it is one of the most comfortable watches of its kind. The interplay of rounded curves and sinuous lines gives it a unique personality, which also includes the signature ball-shaped screw-down crown. Satin-finished with polished accents, equipped with two domed sapphire crystals, the case is water-resistant to 120 metres.

Beyond the use of gold for the case, this new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 also adds a touch of refinement and calmness to its dial. Cream-coloured, it is finished with an opaline finish that imparts a powdery texture, the result of a galvanic treatment that gives the surface a rose-silver hue. It is paired with solid red gold applied markers and assegai-shaped hands, all filled with lume. The classic design cues found on other editions have been retained, such as the snailed small seconds, the crosshair in the middle of the dial and the sloped aperture for the date window at 3 o’clock. All transfers are done in powder grey, avoiding a too strong contrast with the rest of the watch… It’s subtle, as always with LF.

The consistency of the design continues on the bracelet, as the Sport Auto 79 is fitted with a 3-link red gold bracelet featuring satin-finished surfaces and polished edges. It is closed by a folding clasp, and despite the absence of a micro-adjustment system, this bracelet (at least in titanium) proved to be very pleasant to wear.

Under the sapphire back is the calibre LF270.01. While looking familiar, it is a slightly simpler movement than what’s found in the Galet models with natural escapement. Meant to be worn as a sports watch, this movement is equipped with a classic Swiss lever escapement, but is still wound by a micro-rotor in platinum. This oscillating weight features a laser-engraved decoration which discreetly reveals numerical nods to the 1979 race. It runs at 4Hz and stores about 72 hours of power reserve. The decoration is impeccable, with ruthenium-treated satin-brushed bridges and hand-made polished bevels, including interior angles. The decoration of the rotor bridge stands out, with its mirror-polished surface and bevelling of the corners, all done by hand.

Released as part of the permanent collection, the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 Red Gold will be priced at CHF 79,000 excluding taxes. For more details, please visit laurentferrier.ch.