The Galet Traveller is a contemporary and exceptionally beautifully-made take on the classic travel watch. First debuted back at Baselworld in 2013, it took the immaculately-finished micro-rotor, double-impulse escapement Laurent Ferrier calibre and added something akin to a travel time, where time zones could be easily scrolled through with small pushers on the left-hand case side that jump the hour hand incrementally. The aperture at 9 reveals an unchanging 24-hour 'home' time. The Traveller is one of the most exceptionally considered and finished travel watches which has ever been made.
The Traveller is built around the calibre 230.02, which is a bastion of traditional watchmaking techniques. Laurent Ferrier rather impressively devised his own double direct-impulse, natural escapement for his micro rotor, which remains one of the most impressive independent watchmaking feats of the prior decade. This greatly improves the efficiency and stability of the balance. For a contemporary watch, Ferrier wanted a contemporary calibre. This architecture was the result, as thin as any manual yet self-winding. All details are considered, for instance the rotor bridge was inspired by a bird standing on one foot, bevelled and mirrored perfectly. Bridges are Geneva striped with hand anglage performed with a burin. The rotor is a guillcohé performance, where other elements are contrasting black polish. It is a deeply impressive calibre in architecture, function, and beauty.
Laurent Ferrier's Galet case is inspired by time itself. In Ferrier's own words, 'I wanted to create a case that had all the satisfying tactile smoothness of a pebble you find in a river whose surfaces has been worn smooth by time and water, so that no matter where you touch it you feel this sense of tranquility and perenniality'. This example is in 5N red gold, a deeply saturated pink gold with immense lustre. Importantly, it is just 10mm thin.
The dial of this Traveller is a restrained slate, which contrasts the red gold subtlety in a lovely way. Its dial base is vertically grained, where the slightly-sector dial outer is radially grained. The applied, elongated indices are only interrupted at 3, 6, and 9 to add the utility of a true GMT function. Where the 9 aperture links to a 24-hour scale home time, the 3 aperture is a date. The date is tied to the local jumping time, which should always be the case yet many watches overlook this element as it is technically difficult to accomplish. The tiny applied dot indices at 3 and 9 seem almost a direct reference to Laurent Ferrier's time working at Patek Philippe as creative director. It is a contemporary design which respects and nods to what has come before.
The Traveller is arguably not just one of the most refined and elegant dual time zone watches, but indicative of Laurent Ferrier as a watchmaker. It directly ties to his time at Patek Philippe in design and the movement architecture, undoubtedly inspired by the ref. 2597. However, it is a far more technically accomplished calibre which features his signature architecture, unbelievable finishing standard, and an evolved escapement. The Galet Traveller follows the very core of good design, its form follows its function. But it is also full of clever solutions; emblematic of true independent watchmaking, the Traveller is clearly suffused with Laurent Ferrier's personality and, arguably, presents deeper innovation and beauty than any other travel watch today.
