In our new interview series spotlighting some of the most forward-thinking figures in independent watchmaking, we speak to Laurent Ferrier, co-founder of his eponymous brand, on how the new Sport Traveller is balancing contemporary edge with classical watchmaking
One gets the sense that Laurent Ferrier is a perfectionist. How else would you explain the aesthetic purity woven through every element of the brand’s classically styled watches? Perhaps it should come as no surprise. Laurent Ferrier, after all, spent 37 years at Patek Philippe, where he ultimately rose to the role of creative director.
With a résumé like that, few would’ve faulted him had he decided to step away from the industry to enjoy a well-earned retirement. Instead, Laurent Ferrier chose to begin anew, launching his eponymous brand in 2010 alongside his longtime friend François Servanin. The result has been one of independent watchmaking’s most revered maisons, celebrated for its neoclassical timepieces that balance traditional design codes, visual splendour, and haute horlogerie.
The brand has in recent years introduced a more contemporary edge to its watchmaking language. Chief among these efforts is the Sport Auto from 2022 that expresses the brand’s signature elegance, restraint, and refined detailing in a more versatile form.
At Watches and Wonders 2026, Laurent Ferrier expands that sporting vision with the new 42mm Sport Traveller Slate Grey, a dual-time sports watch that brings genuine travel functionality to the collection. Powered by the all-new LF275.01 micro-rotor calibre, the watch features a GMT complication that allows the local hour hand to be adjusted in one-hour increments via integrated pushers on the left side of its titanium case.
“Following the strong interest in the Sport Auto, this model confirms that the Sport line is no longer an experiment or side note, says Laurent Ferrier. “It shows a brand that is confident enough to evolve its own codes rather than reinvent them from scratch.”
What makes the Sport Traveller special?
It introduces a new chapter in the brand’s Traveller story: a second-generation interpretation that keeps the dual-time-zone spirit, but reimagines it in a more sporty, contemporary, and mechanically robust form. The watch is also powered by the new LF275.01 automatic calibre, with over 72 hours of power reserve, a micro-rotor construction, and shock-resistant architecture, which gives it a distinct technical identity.
How does the timepiece express where your brand stands in 2026?
It shows continuity with what clients already responded to, while pushing the Sport universe forward in a more permanent way. The result is more technical, more versatile, and still unmistakably Laurent Ferrier in its finishing, proportions, and attention to detail. Put differently, 2026 seems to be about combining performance, travel utility, and elegant watchmaking in a way that broadens the brand’s reach without losing its identity.
Why do you think the Sport Auto has resonated so well with collectors?
The Sport Auto resonated so well because it brought something fresh to the brand without feeling disconnected from what Laurent Ferrier stands for.
It combined a more dynamic, contemporary attitude with the same sense of refinement, balance, and finishing that collectors expect from us. It also answered a genuine desire from clients for a sportier Laurent Ferrier watch, while still preserving the elegance and mechanical sophistication that make the brand distinctive.
How will the Sport Traveller shape the brand’s long-term story?
We hope the Sport Traveller will become one of those pieces that helps define the Sport line over time; not as a short-lived novelty, but as a watch that remains relevant and desirable for many years. What matters to us is that the Sport family continues to earn its place through its own merits: technical integrity, strong identity, and the ability to speak to collectors beyond the moment of launch.
