Geneva Watch Days 2023: The Louis Erard x The Horophile La Petite Seconde Metropolis

Louis Erard and watch Instagram veteran Amr Sindi (@TheHorophile) have united to create more than a trio of timepieces that are all about human connection. The captivating “La Petite Seconde Metropolis” is a limited-edition collection that reimagines Louis Erard’s 39mm Petite Seconde model into a trio of variations – slate, salmon, and tobacco. These watches pay homage to New York’s Art Deco style while embracing a contemporary spirit, giving birth to a new aesthetic dubbed “neo-deco.” This collaboration hasn’t emerged from thin air either; it’s born from shared cultures, visions, desires, and a deep friendship that spans over 15 years between Manuel Emch, Louis Erard’s director, and Amr Sindi.

Colors infuse each variation with distinct character: slate, salmon, and tobacco dials are complemented by grained calfskin straps, all on-trend colors. This collection is also an ode to Art Deco, a tribute to both Louis Erard’s birth year in 1929 and the Jura region’s Art Deco heritage. The watches feature a novel design, starting with reinterpreted Art Deco numerals that are architectural and open-worked, playing with light and shadow. Dramatic concentric rings con emphasise the strong geometric harmony of the watch, and the Empire State Building inspires the stepped “Empire” baton hands, adding a touch of modernity.

Combine these elements together, and you’ve got a lovely watch that feels remarkably contemporary but also clearly rooted in a historical context and one of the most distinctive design movements of the twentieth century. 

Only 178 pieces will be produced — 59 pieces per dial, plus three unique pieces for The Horophile. The only question is, which dial do you prefer?

La Petite Seconde Metropolis Louis Erard x The Horophile Specs and Price

Movement: Automatic Sellita SW261-1, 38 hours of power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Case: 39mm, polished stainless steel, water-resistant to 50 m
Dial: Anthracite, salmon or brown, circular satin-finish exterior and counter, gadrooned centre, black transfers 
Strap: Grained calf, colour matched to the dial
Price and availability: CHF 2300, limited to 59 pieces per dial