La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/
La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/ is the latest collaborative effort between the watch brand from Le Noirmont and the ‘enfant terrible’ of the watch world, Romaric André. Incorporating macabre influences, this limited edition model has just been unveiled to coincide with Halloween.
A successful formula
In recent times, Louis Erard has gained prominence within the watchsphere by selling attractive timepieces that deliver an impressive quality/price ratio. The Swiss Maison has conceived some exquisite creations and has shown a remarkable talent for democratising hitherto expensive materials and crafts.
Made in limited numbers, demand for Louis Erard watches invariably outstrips supply. It has repeatedly shown it has a well-developed capacity for design, stylishly combining colours, textures and lines to glorious effect.
In addition, Louis Erard has not been afraid to collaborate with third parties, eager to endow its products with fresh artistic and/or watchmaking influences. Examples include, Alain Silberstein, atelier oï, Eric Giroud, Vianney Halter and seconde/seconde/, all of which have delivered impressive synergistic outcomes.
Image – Le Régulateur Louis Erard x seconde/seconde/ (2021)
Last year, Louis Erard released Le Régulateur Louis Erard x seconde/seconde/, a watch that has proved a commercial success and is currently nominated for the GPHG Challenge Prize. Created in collaboration with seconde/seconde/ aka Romaric André, the model was inspired by the annoying ‘404 Error’, the scourge of the internet that frequently blights everyday life.
Now, the Jura-based Maison has chosen to collaborate again with Romaric André, creating a new model, La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/. I will return to this later, however, first I wish to focus on the matter of watch design. Bare with me, all will become clear.
The Golden Ratio
Over the years, I’ve interviewed a number of watch designers and quite often the words ‘Golden Ratio’ come up in conversation. Widely discussed in mathematical circles, the Golden Ratio is approximately equal to 1.618. It’s a ratio that is manifest in nature and often seen in architecture, art and even music. Most commentators agree that by adhering to the principles of the Golden Ratio, objects exhibit optimum proportions and appear more harmonious.
The enfant terrible of the watch world
Enter stage left, seconde/seconde/, aka Romaric André. Based in Paris, Monsieur André could be described as the ‘enfant terrible’ of the watch world. The French firm came to prominence by taking classical, vintage watches, some of which were exquisite exemplars of Haute Horlogerie, removing the original, factory-fit hands and substituting them with oversized, pixelated items instead.
seconde/seconde/ clearly doesn’t subscribe to the idea of the Golden Ratio. It deliberately breaks design convention with its own interpretation of avant-garde style. Everything is intended to be disruptive and rebellious. Visit the company’s website and view the home page and you will discover the following statement made by Monsieur André, ‘I vandalise other people’s products only because I failed at building mine’.
Conceiving his own brand of contemporary, ticking art, Romaric André has gained many admirers for his original take on horological aesthetics. Moreover, he has collaborated with a multitude of brands, including Bamford, H. Moser & Cie, Massena Lab and Nivada.
La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/ – Trick or Treat
Returning to La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/, it appears the Jura-based brand has provided Romaric André with an example of its elegant, Excellence Petite Seconde and challenged him to shock them with his ideas. And, true to form, Monsieur André has lived up to his reputation and created a horological ‘horror’. I’ve chosen my words carefully, the resultant collaboration has just been released in time for Halloween.
The scary theme is referenced in the model’s name and reinforced with the word ‘Horror’, executed in blood red, replacing the nomen ‘Erard’. The silver indexes and blued hands of the ‘regular’ model have been supplanted with anthracite-coloured items. Oh and just in case you thought there are no pixelated hands, look again. The small seconds display features a prominent how-could-you-miss-it hand intended to resemble a ‘pixelated ectoplasm’ – just call it a ghost. This fiendish ghoul is luminescent, delivering a green nocturnal glow, coming out to play when all sensible people are tucked up in bed.
This watch is beautifully made, incorporates an automatic Sellita movement and is presented on a dark black grained calf leather strap. It’s all very sensible, trustworthy and notably Swiss. However, seconde/seconde/ has also imbued the model with a high quotient of originality, fun and irreverence. Who says you should always observe the Golden Ratio?
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: La Petite Seconde Louis Horror x seconde/seconde/
- Reference: 34238AA61
- Case: stainless steel, diameter 39 mm, height 12.25mm, water resistance 5ATM (50m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition case back.
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
- Movement: Sellita SW261-1 calibre, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz), 31 jewels; power reserve 38 hours
- Strap: dark black grained calf leather with blue stitching, blue grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
- Price: CHF 1,975 (RRP as of 28.10.2022)
- Limited Edition: 178 pieces