Independents

I was wondering what LF owners experience have been with their watches with regards to durability, accuracy and reliability. I’m finally in the market for getting my first “big boy” watch and I have been enamored with LF for quite some time. In particular... 

I know others may not have such a great experience. But honestly I have had issues with two other indies so it seems the indies are prone to possibly more issues than the main houses. That being said it’s a gorgeous watch and well finished. I wouldn’t wor... 

Yeah my general take is that indies will likely be more receptive to making things right so I think I’m ok with that. Additionally the dealer I’m working with seems pretty reasonable. Thanks for confirming that a qualified watch maker should be able to se... 

Others haven't had the same experience. LF is better equipped than most independents to survive in the long term thanks to the string design language and the LMVH connection. In theory an independent watchmaker can service some of their watches. In practi... 

Thanks for sharing the detail.

Oh interesting! Is the connection a direct investment in the company or that they source movement parts from Fabrique du Temps?

I just think that if the company ends up being in financial trouble it is highly likely that it will be added to the LMVH stable.

You've brought up an excellent question. Reliability is generally hard to predict; especially if you're considering a used watch. In general, smaller brands are not great when it comes to reliability. Even large brands like AP, VC, Breguet, which make tho... 

Man, NYC is such a treasure. It always wows me that NYC has such talent every where. My interest in Laurent is that they are an independent manufacturer that takes pride in form and function. I love the clean dial and the movement finishing is absolutely ... 

Your last sentence says "I also don't love PM watches" and I don't know what you mean by "PM watches" could you clarify? I also concur, the Laurent Ferrier pieces do have a beautiful and handsome look. One that is both casual and elegant. While most peopl... 

Thanks for your input. PM as in precious metals. I’m indifferent to white gold or platinum and the movement/finishing matters more to me. Thankfully, my wife has accepted I will be always on the hunt so I’ve gotten permission to getting a Patek in additio... 

I'm not especially drawn to precious metal watches neither. Perfectly okay with steel or lesser metals. That being said, I do have a lot of gold watches since many brands prefer to work in that medium. Enjoy the hunt!

I ended up stretching for the Laurent Micro Rotor. The natural escapement is super cool and I love the aesthetics.

Geniuses think alike! I'm a big fan of micro rotors myself!

I’m sure if you research the threads you can read my issues at that time. I am no longer an owner and quite honestly at this point. I’m staying clear of any independents due to concerns about their viability and customer service.

I saw your post which definitely caused some of the concerns that I had. That being said I’ve also had some service issues with Omega (granted my crown didn’t fall apart). I’m a bit more flexible assuming the brand or AD tried to make things right. Thanks... 

Direct experience. Positive or not. Is a valuable data point.

I bought the watch second hand and it has never been serviced, but works and keeps time very fine. Best, Emmanuel PS: and (late) warm welcome on WatchProSite! ...