In review: Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin 250

Just in time for America's semiquincentennial

Given that America is marking off 250 years, there’s going to be a LOT of themed stuff you can buy to commemorate the milestone. Watches, of course, love a good anniversary addition, and we’ve covered a number so far. If your tastes go to the more subtle, then perhaps the Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin 250 is where you should look.

Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin 250: what it is

It’s a watch that is based, of course, on the Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin line (you can see those here). For the brand, this is considered an entry level watch. The movement, while visually stunning, is hand-wound (no micro-rotor here), and contains the barest of complications - a sub-seconds dial (along with the main time). Where this limited edition (of 25 pieces) separates itself from the rest of the collection is on the dial.

At first glance, it looks like a cream dial, albeit with a bit of red text on it. A closer look reveals that red text to say “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”, a quote directly from the Declaration of Independence. Further examination shows that even more of that founding document is written on the dial, giving some visual play to the dial while not feeling overwhelming or cluttered.

Wearing the watch

While many patriotic designs can feel like they’re smacking you in the face with a stars-and-stripes motif, this design exudes a quiet elegance. To the casual eye, it’s not going to look like a watch out of the ordinary, let alone one for the occasion. The white gold indices and handset - while narrow - did not cause any issues for me when it came to reading the time.

The 40mm case fits the wrist quite well, and the it’s decently thin, given that it is a manually-wound movement. Paired as it is to the soft leather strap, this watch fits comfortably on the wrist. And with the larger onion crown, it’s a quick way to fidget and put a few winds into the spring, even while it’s still on your wrist.

Wrapping things up

If you’d like to put one of these on your wrist, hopefully you’ve been saving up. While this is an entry-level design from Laurent Ferrier, they are a luxury brand. Add in the fact that this is a limited-edition commemorating the USA’s founding, and you shouldn’t be surprised at the price tag of $44,000 that it carries. For more information, and to look into getting yours, you can head over to Exquisite Timepieces and let them know you’re interested. Tell them WWR sent you!

Tech Specs

• Reference: LCF036.T1.B2G1.1

• Case

  • Material: Grade 5 Titanium

  • Caseback: Exhibition

  • Case Diameter ⌀: 40mm

  • Thickness: 10.70mm

  • Glass: Sapphire Crystal

  • Crown: Ball-shaped Crown In Grade 5 Titanium

  • Water Resistance: 30m

  • Shape: Round

• Dial & hands

  • Color: Ivory-colored with opaline finish, brown railway minute track and red numerals

  • Dial Markers: Indexes, 18k white gold

  • Hands: 18k white gold, “Assegai”

• Movement & functions

  • Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds

  • Movement Type: Manual

  • Movement Description: Mechanical Manual, Caliber LF116.01, 21 jewels, 80 hours power reserve

• Strap

  • Type: Leather strap

  • Material: Hand-stitched brown calfskin leather with beige Alcantara lining

  • Buckle Type: Pin Buckle In Grade 5 Titanium