Manuel Emch, who leads Louis Erard, wanted to give the Excellence Petite Seconde one more distinguishing feature: colour.
Louis Erard today introduces the Excellence Petite Seconde in three new colours: Violette, Bleu Glacier and Bleu Nuit, in a newly reworked 39mm steel case.
Violette's matt purple dial and Bleu Nuit's midnight blue both carry a circular satin-finished zone and a snailed, diamond-cut counter at 6 o'clock, with rhodium-plated fir tree hands, the brand's signature shape. The case is 12.82mm thick, with a transparent case back and the brand's fir tree crown. Each watch comes on a grained calf leather strap in its own dial colour, with a blue leather lining. Inside is the automatic Sellita SW261-1, its oscillating weight openworked and lacquered with the Louis Erard symbol.
Louis Erard calls midnight blue the return of a classic tied to prestige watchmaking, and purple a reminder that fine watchmaking can follow trends and bend its own rules.
It is Louis Erard's argument that the codes of luxury need not stay out of reach, proof this time in colour.
The Basics
Brand: Louis Erard
Model: Excellence Petite Seconde (Violette, Bleu Nuit)
Reference: 34248AA06.BVA142 (Violette); 34248AA05.BVA134 (Bleu Nuit)
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 12.82mm
Case material: Polished stainless steel, 3 pieces; domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective on both sides; transparent case back; signature fir tree crown
Dial: Violette: matt purple, circular satin-finished zone, snailed diamond-cut counter at 6 o'clock, white transfers, glossy silver indexes. Bleu Nuit: matt midnight blue, same construction, white transfers, glossy silver indexes. Both: rhodium-plated fir tree hands
Water resistance: 5 bar (50m/165ft)
Strap: Grained calf leather in the dial colour (purple; midnight blue), blue grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin buckle, quick-change catch spring bars
Limited edition: Series of 100–150 pieces per year
The Movement
Calibre: Sellita SW261-1, Élaboré grade
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds at 6 o'clock
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: Approx. 38 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Jewels: 31
Images courtesy of Louis Erard.