The Excellence Petite Seconde, the entry-level model in the Excellence collection redesigned in 2020, needs no introduction. Evolving with the times, it has seen only one modification: the addition of a second case size, 39mm alongside the original 42mm. Over the past four years, it has cemented its status as the quintessential contemporary classic – elegant, reliable, and timelessly distinctive. More than a tool watch, it’s a companion watch. A must-have even, by turns discreet or iconoclastic, it has demonstrated its versatility through numerous variations, colors, materials (gemstones, grand feu enamel) as well as capsule creations – with Seconde/Seconde/ and The Horophile.
This year, it returns with two variations on a theme dear to Louis Erard: haute horlogerie finishing. Always with the same motive in mind: to make know-how accessible. Excellence Petite Seconde Guilloché 42mm in anthracite black and Excellence 39 Petite Seconde Guilloché in anthracite blue born of an ancient technique that flourished in the 18th century, championed by luminaries such as Abraham-Louis Breguet and Urban Jürgensen.
This technique, known as guillochage, represents the essence of mechanical decoration, blending dexterity and imagination. Louis Erard has already explored this field with a viscerally contemporary piece of craftsmanship – Excellence Guilloché Main, limited edition, 2021. This time, the aim is to explore the classic side of guilloché, embracing codes from haute horlogerie to create a sophisticated art form that intertwines motifs and colors.
The Excellence Petite Seconde Guilloché duo features a four-part dial. The center catches the eye with its radiant draped pattern, a light trap where the flatness of the dial deepens into evolving waves, growing from the center. A classic effect of flinqué guilloché – traditionally practised manually on a rose engine. This central panel is encircled, a classic transition that leads to the large hour circle, covered with a panier motif, finely staggered like scales. A new hoop closes the design, followed by a minute “rail track”. The small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock displays the same guilloché patterns in darker tones.
The visual impact of guillochage is further accentuated by two-tone combinations – anthracite tones for the 42mm model, and a blend of anthracite and blue for the 39mm variant.
Remaining true to Louis Erard’s ethos, every detail is meticulously crafted, from the signature fir tree hands to the monogrammed crown and Sellita caliber movement. And with its affordable price point, it stands in stark contrast to other manufacturers in this category, making it an accessible luxury timepiece.
