Alain Silberstein had not made a tourbillon watch in over a decade, until his friendship with Manuel Emch, CEO of Louis Erard, brought him back to it.
Louis Erard today introduces Le Régulateur Tourbillon Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Black, limited to 78 pieces. It is the first time Silberstein's tourbillon collaboration comes as a single watch rather than part of a triptych, and the first time on a black dial.
Silberstein's primary colours, red, blue and yellow, stand out against the black dial and flange, in the Bauhaus-inspired style he has used since the 1990s. A silvered counter at 12 o'clock carries the hour hand, and the dial is cut away at 6 o'clock to reveal the tourbillon, which turns once every 60 seconds. The Swiss-made BCP T02 calibre, hand-wound, comes from watchmaker Olivier Mory, built within a few kilometres of his workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
“Real happiness is being passionate about one's work,” says Alain Silberstein.
After more than a decade away from the tourbillon, Silberstein returns to what the brand calls its most alive mechanism, now paired with the regulator format Louis Erard has used since 1929.
The Basics
Brand: Louis Erard
Model: Le Régulateur Tourbillon Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Black
Reference: 89356TT02.BTT82
Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 11.80mm
Case material: Microblasted grade 2 titanium and polished grade 5 titanium, 2 pieces; sapphire crystal, anti-reflective on both sides; transparent case back; Alain Silberstein red lacquered signature crown with the Louis Erard symbol; case back engraved Louis Erard x AS 1 of 78
Dial: Matt black with a silvered counter at 12 o'clock, white transfers; cut away at 6 o'clock to reveal the tourbillon; black flange with white transfers and yellow and red indexes
Water resistance: 10 bar (100m/330ft)
Strap: Black nylon and microblasted grade 2 titanium, hook-and-loop fastener, quick-change catch spring bars
Limited edition: 78 pieces
The Movement
Calibre: BCP T02, tourbillon régulateur, hand-wound
Functions: Hour hand in a counter at 12 o'clock, central minute hand, seconds hand in a counter at 6 o'clock (tourbillon)
Winding: Manual
Power reserve: Approx. 100 hours
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)
Jewels: 19
Images courtesy of Louis Erard.