Arpal One to Bridge One: Watch Reference Guide

quattro · 2025-01-16T09:36:25Z

Explore the design evolution of Laurent Ferrier's Bridge One, from its Urwerk collaborations (Arpal One, LF-UR 2) to its unique architectural inspiration and caliber LF107.01.

quattro

WPS member · Independents forum

17 replies3376 views55 photos

Quattro's insightful post meticulously chronicles the fascinating design evolution from Laurent Ferrier's avant-garde collaborations with Urwerk to the brand's distinctive Bridge One. This journey highlights how a master classicist like Laurent Ferrier can integrate futuristic concepts into his own horological language, offering a unique perspective on independent watchmaking. Understanding this progression is crucial for appreciating the nuanced design philosophy behind one of Laurent Ferrier's most architecturally inspired timepieces.

In 2017, for the Only Watch auction, the classicist Laurent Ferrier teamed up with the Urwerk masters of avant-garde, Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, giving birth to the Arpal One : a futuristic wandering hours watch powered by Urwerk's caliber UR5.03 with a case made of Arpal+ designed by Laurent Ferrier.

One year later, in 2018, the same team introduced a new model made of titanium and limited to 4 pcs: the LF-UR 2 .

Finally, in 2019, Laurent Ferrier introduced his own model inspired both by the two collaborations with Urwerk and by his personal more classical aesthetic: the Bridge One , named after the Passerelle de l'Ile (a Geneva bridge Laurent Ferrier saw from his window as a child) and powered by a specially made shaped caliber, the LF107.01.

Enjoy!

1/ The Arpal One (or LF-UR 1)

credit: Alkiro1, here on WPS

credit: quill & pad (and Urwerk for the 1st one)

2/ The LF-UR 2

credit: monochrome

3/ The Bridge One

a/ Ref. LCF032.AC.E01 in stainless steel with a white enamel dial

credit: horobox

credit: monochrome

credit: horobox

Historic image of the Passerelle de l'Ile in Geneva

credit: monochrome

b/ Ref. LCF032.AC.AG1 in stainless steel with a slate grey grained dial with white gold XII Roman numeral

credit: dunaliga

c/ Ref. LCF 032.AC.BG1 with a special moka dial for GPHG

credit: @h.m.uhren

d/ Unique piece for Verona retailer Andrea Concato (which seems directly inspired by the special GPHG variant, the only visible difference being the "pièce unique" and "1/1" engraved on the case back)

credit: chroneo.pl

e/ Ref. LCF032.R5.E01 in rose gold with an enamel dial

credit: @totallyworth

credit: the 1916 company (screenshots from a Tim Mosso review)

Review of the LCF032.AC.AG1 by Tim Mosso

Review of the LCF032.R5.E01 by Tim Mosso

Key Points from the Discussion

The original author notes a potential aesthetic inconsistency in the rose gold version of the Bridge One, suggesting it deviates from the primary industrial inspiration of the design.
The author finds the blend of modern and traditional aesthetics in the Bridge One particularly compelling, despite its concave form contrasting with the convex design of watches like the Kalpa.
A key consideration for collectors is the wearability of the Bridge One, with the author referencing Tim Mosso's videos which suggest the watch conforms well to the wrist.
This thread is discussion-light, with the original author providing most of the commentary and follow-up insights.

The Discussion

piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1)

Jan 16, 2025

I wish they had a more curved back, it would make them perfect

myles721

Jan 16, 2025

From afar I thought it was a Hebdomaire…

quattro

Jan 16, 2025

Thanks for the kind words.

quattro

Jan 16, 2025

I really wonder how they would fit on my wrist. In Tim Mosso's videos the watch seems to wrap nicely around the wrist.

quattro

Jan 16, 2025

even if the Kalpa is rather convex and the Bridge concave! What I find interesting is this mix of modern and traditional aesthetics.

quattro

Jan 16, 2025

which is very coherent. The rose gold version was a second thought and is perhaps a little less coherent with the primary industrial inspiration of the design.

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Arpal One to Bridge One: Watch Reference Guide

Key Points from the Discussion

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