A year after unveiling their collaborative art deco-inspired Capsule Collection, Louis Erard and The Horophile return with a fourth rendition of La Petite Seconde Metropolis, this time with a sleek green dial that looks to the future rather than the past. Originally conceived as an alternative to the archetypal three-hand watch, La Petite Seconde Metropolis takes a page from New York-style art deco design of the 1920s, revisited in a resolutely contemporary spirit – neo deco!
Like all Louis Erard collaborations, the Petite Seconde Metropolis is first and foremost a human adventure, born from a close bond between Amr Sindi and his online watch-loving alias The Horophile, who has championed independent and niche watchmaking for years, and Manuel Emch, the brand’s CEO and creative visionary. More than just a meeting of minds, La Petite Seconde Metropolis is a tale of two seemingly disparate worlds seemlessly coming together. It is the result of sharing cultures, views, desires and passions with an open mind, stemming from a friendship between the two parties that has been nurtured for over 16 years. Indeed, we are stronger together.
This Metropolis watch is based on the Louis Erard Petite Seconde, a contemporary classic coming in a compact 39 mm steel case, with its “LE” signature crown – the only place where the brand logo appears. Everything else is new, built like a journey between two times, between two centuries, between the roaring 20s and our own 20s. The result is the invention of a new style: neo-deco, a concatenation of Art deco and the contemporary spirit.
The starting point for the design
Was typography. With one line of research: “reinterpreting art deco numerals”. Extensive work was carried out, from the selection of the typeface to its final design. The numerals are architectural, open-worked like façade elements. A sophisticated and subtle interplay of lines that has its own visual effect: are the indexes applied or engraved? The small seconds is not indexed, but simply marked with a single dot.
The design of the dial and hands came next. How should the numerals be displayed? Upright? Circular? They will be circular, as if placed on a disc. The disc motif in turn becomes central, worked graphically in two dimensions to emphasize the two-time display areas: the large hour-minute dial and the seconds sub-dial. The disc is also worked in three dimensions at the center of the watch, with a series of concentric gadrooned grooves to give materiality to the dial and catch the light.
Louis Erard The Horophile La Petite Seconde Metropolis Green
One of the Metropolis’ signature features is the “Empire” baton hands, inspired by the most iconic of Art Deco skyscrapers that is synonymous with modernity: the Empire State Building. Here again, maniacal attention has been paid to detail, to the proportions, floor by floor, from the foundations to the spire, and to the skeletonisation at the centre. The end result is a small, mobile skyline on a pure, logo-free disc.
After the three warm tones of the original trio’s anthracite, salmon and tobacco dials, Louis Erard and The Horophile decided to explore chromatics that are less common in the world of Art Deco, but very much in line with a vision of contemporary architecture. The dial’s green colour takes on a warm shade, shifting with the light as its metallic base adds texture and contrast. The silver Empire hands and powdery silver hour numerals on the dial recall the steel frames of today’s most impressive buildings towering over a green landscape, as if blending in with them harmoniously. The light brown grained calfskin strap completes the modern, easy elegance of this piece.
What sets every Louis Erard collaboration apart?
Each embodies a non-conformist mindset and reflects the brand’s disruptive vision: a confluence resulting in a collective of creative artisans and artists, asserting simplexity both aesthetically and technically, daring to defy norms, breaking new ground, and using the existing framework as an unlimited springboard.
The Horophile
Influencer
Born of a lifelong passion for all things horological, The Horophile is Amr Sindi’s alter ego; a journey down the rabbit hole of independent and creative watchmaking. Founded in 2013, The Horophile has a mission to turn the spotlight on lesser-known brands and creators while also bringing forth his own aesthetic sensibilities. A candid voice within the watch-collecting community as well as a behind-thescenes consultant to numerous watchmakers and independents, The Horophile has collaborated with many brands over the years to reinterpret their models and bring their work to a wider audience with sincerity and conviction.
Louis Erard x The Horophile La Petite Seconde Metropolis Green Technical Specifications
Ref. 34248AA69.BVA158 – Price excl. Tax: CHF 2’300
Functions
- Hms
- Central hour and minute hands, seconds hand at 6 o’clock
Movement
- Automatic, Sellita Sw261-1 Calibre, 3 hands with small seconds at 6 o’clock,
- 11½”’, Ø25.60 Mm, Height: 5.60 Mm,
- 31 Jewels, 28,800
- Vph (4hz),
- élaboré grade movement,
- special openworked oscillating weight with black lacquered Louis Erard symbol,
- approx. 38 hours of power reserve
Case
- Polished stainless steel, ø39 mm, lug width: 20 mm, lug to lug: 45.90mm, thickness: 12.82 mm, 3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal
- With anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible
- Through the transparent caseback, water resistant up to a
- Pressure of 5 bars (50 m/165 ft), signature fir tree crown,
- Caseback engraved with “The Horophile”
Dial
- Green, circular satin-finish exterior and counter, gadrooned
- Centre, silver transfers
- Hands: Polished rhodium-plated “empire” shape (skeletonized stepped baton)
Strap
- Light brown grained calf leather with tone-on-tone stitching,
- Black grained calf leather lining, polished stainless steel pin
- Buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
- Dimensions: 20/18 mm width, 80/115mm length
Louis Erard. A Convention-Defying Take On Time. Exclusive Expertise. Affordable Luxury.
LOUIS ERARD makes light of existing codes, creating watches challenging the very essence of time., boldly reinventing tradition. Since 1929, its independence is a perpetual strength, a source of freedom inspired by the pioneering spirit of the Swiss Jura and expressed through its now iconic regulators and mechanical watches. Under Manuel Emch’s leadership, LOUIS ERARD prioritizes innovation over conformity and lasting excellence over fast growth. Its collaborations with artisans and visionaries, such as Alain Silberstein, Olivier Mosset and Sylvie Fleury, are blazing new trails in both art and watchmaking.