We covered the release announcement of the new Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde Terracotta. The selling stock arrived in Singapore, and we managed to get a hands on and photo session. Here are the live photographs with handling impressions of the 42mm version.
Review: Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde Terracotta
The essential information, including Editorial Commentary on the new Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde Terracotta is found here. In this article, we give our impressions as we handle and examine the watch. We had both the 42mm and 39mm models on hand during our hands-on session, but the watches are so well proportioned that without the benefit of a side by side comparison, it is difficult to tell one from the other. Both very beautiful to behold, and easy to fall in love with. Especially when coupled with the rather modest pricing of SGD 2,830 inclusive of GST.
The case
The case is very classical, round single body case with soldered lugs. The entire case is finished in a glossy polish. The finish on the case is very good, with smooth transitions between the steel and sapphire crystals. The crown feels nice to manipulate, both winding and time setting feel is smooth and precise.
The dial and hands
Perhaps the most important feature of this watch is the dial. First the colour is a very beautiful hue of a copper brown, clay tone, apt for the terracotta name. The finish of the dial is also distinctive, and offers to showcase several different finishing techniques. The base dial is a matte, grained finish and this shows as a slightly sunken medallion in the center. A a chapter ring for the hours encircles it, and this is finished a circular graining. The seconds sub-dial is sunken deeper than the matte center, and finished in a snailed texture of concentric circles. To complete the dial, a minutes chapter ring in matte finish surrounds the ensemble at the periphery. The markers are transfer printed in anthracite grey, with arabic numbers for the even hours, and tapered bars for the odd ones. The hands are the signature fir tree hands are treated in anthracite grey and polished.
The overall look and feel is that this is a very beautiful, classically proportioned watch. The dial is the star of the watch, and imbues it with a great presence, picking up from the staid case.
The movement
The movement used in both the 42mm an 39mm models are the same Sellita SW261-1. Thus, on the 42mm that is the subject of the review here, a rather large movement ring is used which makes the sapphire display back look like a smallish window. In the 39mm model, the display back is proportionally larger. The movement is nothing to look at. Movement finishing is basic, and meets engineering requirements. But at this price point, it is more important to have a movement which is rugged, reliable and able to keep good time, and there is no doubt the Sellita is able to do that job well.
Concluding thoughts
On the wrist the 42mm Petite Seconde Terracotta feels right sized for the average masculine wrist. In fact, both sizes fit well on our chief editor’s 7.5″ diameter wrists, and both look equally good, though our preference is for the 42mm case as it has a bit more wrist presence. But the 39mm will do well on slimmer wrists and on ladies. And as a pair, the 42mm and 39mm will make a good couple watch set if one so desires.
In conclusion, the Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconds Terracotta is a beautiful watch, and a great value in its price class and considerable good value buy for those seeking a classical watch with a bit of pop.
Photo Notes
The Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconds Terracotta was photographed during our hands-on session in the The Hour Glass offices in Singapore. Watches of Switzerland Singapore, a subsidiary of The Hour Glass is the official retailer for Louis Erard. Photographed with the Fujifilm GFX 50S II with Hasselblad HC 4/120 Macro and HC 2.8/80 + H26 with H Adapter G. Lighting is by Profoto strobes.
