Introducing the Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur x Label Noir Limited Edition
Wednesday - 31 August 2022
Just 178 pieces of the new Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur x Label Noir watch have been released. The collaborative model boasts vivid green injections inspired by the last ray cast by the sun before it disappears behind the horizon at sunset.
When Louis Erard decided to venture into watchmaking on his own and leave his former partnership, many hurdles would lie ahead. The company survived the Second World War and supplied watch cases and parts to other Swiss watch manufacturers up until the 1980s. Having founded its roots in La Chaux de Fonds, Louis Erard finally settled in Le Noirmont in the Swiss Jura mountains in 1992. After this, the brand focused on creating more affordable wristwatches and collaborated with Soprod to make an independent movement in 2003. Since then, Louis Erard has gone from strength to strength, manufacturing refined and sophisticated timepieces for both men and women. One of its signature watch designs is the Regulateur. These models are both highly functional and steeped in horological history. The Regulator watch is still uncommon within the watch industry, leveraging Louis Erard’s reputation for creating these exceptional timepieces. Each model presents the minutes, hours and seconds in a remarkably unique way.
Louis Erard Regulateur watches are instantly identifiable because of their unique layout. One large hand in the centre of the dial is used to reference the minutes, whilst the hours and the seconds can be found in smaller off-centre sub-dials. Separating the displays in this unusual way makes referencing the time super easy, hence why regulator clocks were originally used by watchmakers to keep track of accurate time and set their instruments to the correct time in their workshops. Louis Erard still remains one of the very few brands in the world that offer a varied selection of regulator watches. These belong to the company’s Excellence Regulateur watch collection.
Louis Erard watches from the Excellence Regulateur collection follow the company’s mission of providing fine Swiss timepieces to an elite audience of watch collectors that can really appreciate the beauty in such a unique and elegant-looking display. Arguably the finest range of watches supplied by Louis Erard, the Excellence collection was initially launched to mark the brand’s 80th anniversary and features a plethora of timepieces, all imbued with the signature blue hands best associated with Louis Erard.
To mark the next chapter in Louis Erard’s heritage, the new Excellence Le Regulateur watch is a collaborative effort between the watchmaker and Label Noir. The Geneva-based atelier has upheld a renowned reputation for watch customization for over a decade, making this collaboration with Louis Erard a perfect match. Both companies have come together to create a timepiece inspired by the colour green – the last ray from the spectrum sent by the sun over the earth before it disappears behind the horizon at sunset. These flashes of green colour can be observed in the “Label Noir” lettering at the south of the dial, together with the central hand of the running seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock and the stitching seen on the model’s strap. One of the stand-out elements of the new Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur Label Noir watch, however, is the glossy black centre of the hour dial, positioned at the top of the dial, punctuated by the silvery tones from Louis Erard’s fir-tree-inspired hand and the silvery shards that represent each hour marker, all crafted from mirror-polished steel.
Vertical brushing has been applied to the rest of the matte dial, creating a sense of depth and complimenting the surface of the model’s matte black case. To achieve the design of the case, strap and dial, multiple prototypes were developed during the collaborative period between Louis Erard and Label Noir. Many proposals and iterations were explored before resting upon the final design of the new Excellence Regulateur. The back of the case is executed in a vivid green glass to create the exhibition caseback feature, putting the internal heart of the watch on show. This design feature, one that originated from the Louis Erard family, reinforces the strong green colour elements running throughout the design, as well as the watchmaker’s ability to push boundaries in creating new colourways.
Inside the new Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur x Label Noir watch is the Sellita SW266-1, which performs at a rate of 28,800 oscillations per hour and comprises 31 jewels. It also provides a reliable power reserve of 38 hours and has been meticulously decorated, with a special openworked oscillating weight adorned with a black lacquered Louis Erard symbol. The model’s case measures 42mm in diameter and has been crafted from stainless steel with a stealthy black PVD coating. The three-piece case construction is integrated with 50-meter water resistance and a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front. The crown at 3 o’clock is also executed in the signature fir tree design, whilst the back of the steel case is engraved with the limited-edition number “X of 178”.
To complete its elegant styling, the new Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur x Label Noir watch features a black nylon band with green stitching and black calf leather lining. It secures to the wrist with a sandblasted stainless steel pin buckle engraved with the Louis Erard logo and a black PVD-coated finish. The functional catch spring bars can be used to alternate the strap with another option easily and quickly.
If you’d like to own one of the new 178 pieces of the Louis Erard Excellence Regulateur x Label Noir watches, you can discover more details about the watch on the product page here, or call and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453
