Johnathan Chan's Tantalum Galet Collection

quattro · 2025-09-13T09:43:42Z

Explore Johnathan Chan's bespoke Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic micro-rotor. A unique tantalum case, frosted dial, and rose gold movement make this a one-of-a-kind timepiece.

Johnathan Chan's bespoke Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic micro-rotor stands as a testament to personalized horology, showcasing a unique collaboration between a collector and a revered independent watchmaker. This article delves into the specific design choices that make Chan's tantalum Galet a singular creation, offering insights into the intricate process of crafting a truly one-of-a-kind timepiece. His vision for a frosted autumn-like dial and a rose gold sandblasted movement, encased in a never-before-used tantalum, pushes the boundaries of customization.

Johnathan Chan is a Hong-Kong based watch enthusiast and the co-founder of The Horology Club and Earthen Company.

Here's how he describes this bespoke Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic micro-rotor in an interview with Sfwatchlover:

"It’s a fully unique piece that I designed with the brand in 2021. I designed the fully frosted autumn like dial and customised the movement to be sandblasted in rose gold as well as the request for a one of a kind tantalum case. They’ve never made it before and don’t plan to redo it so it’s a truly special piece for me."

All photos belong to him, aka @watchbruh.

Best, Emmanuel

credit: Johnathan Chan aka @watchbruh

Key Points from the Discussion

The original author, Johnathan Chan, expressed his excitement about the feature and confirmed the challenging journey involved in bringing this unique piece to fruition, solidifying its status as his personal favorite.
A contributor noted that while tantalum typically presents a darker aesthetic, the exceptional combination of the dial and hands on this specific Laurent Ferrier piece transcends the usual expectations for the material.
Another collector drew a parallel between the unique aesthetic of Chan's Galet and previous intricate work by Chopard, highlighting the exciting and distinctive nature of this particular piece unique.
A reply suggested that tremblage, a decorative technique, could be considered even more special than sandblasting, offering a comparative perspective on movement finishing techniques.

The Discussion

Ichiran

Sep 13, 2025

Nice bloke and nice watch he is wearing there 👍🏻

KMII

Sep 13, 2025

Reminds me of some work Chopard has done years ago and is exciting here as much as there. Very nice piece unique 👌🏻👍🏻

Goh

Sep 13, 2025

Interesting that the manufacturer agreed to make a tantalum case just for him.

Goh

Sep 13, 2025

and I think tremblage is even more special compared to sandblasting. A special watch with a one of a kind tantalum case.

Marc Obermann

Sep 13, 2025

Although I have to say Tantalum usually looks much darker than it does here but the dial and hands just look so good on this watch who really cares. Marc.

quattro

Sep 13, 2025

I personally prefer the more classic LF, but this watch is very nice nonetheless.

Key Points from the Discussion

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