Comments:
Red-Gold + Black Dial vs Slate Grey Dial
I will admit, I had previously always thought grey was a boring color. I thought of it as just a washed out shade of black. I still can't figure out if it is spelled "grey" or "gray".Then I started to take an interest in the Laurent Ferrier Galet. My first instinct was to zero in on the gold case with the black dial. The crisp, straightforward elegance of gold and black seemed like it should be the perfect match for such a sleek watch. But after looking at just about every picture on the internet I could find, I could not help but be drawn to the pairing of the slate grey dial with the red gold case. It's breathtakingly beautiful, but I can't figure out why...
Slate grey dial on the left, Black dial on the right
Without doubt, the red gold with black dial is an absolute knockout. But there is something extremely compelling about the satin-brushed grey dial when paired with the red-gold case that is completely unexpected - to me at least. Something about the luminescent sheen of the the grey brings out the glowing warmth of the red gold. The black and gold is strikingly, classically elegant. The gray and gold seems somehow sophisticated and seductive.
It is highly unlikely that I will ever have the chance to see both side-by-side in person. I'll have to take a leap of faith on one or the other. I know I can't go wrong with a black dial. But that slate gray gives the watch such compelling character. I'd be interested to hear others' take on the red-gold and slate grey pairing. As a case/dial combo, it's completely new territory for me.
Slate grey dial on the left, Black dial on the right
Slate Gray dial is more elegant, the Black dial more aggressive. For me this watch is an icon of elegance for shapes and design, so opterey for Gray. Bye Claudio [nt]
No message body
Firstly,
Gray=US spelling
Grey=UK spelling
Now I got that out of the way, I would go for the grey (I'm Canadian) and gold. This combo seems to stir your soul in a way that the classic black and gold cannot/does not at this moment.
The only thing I would really weigh is whether the grey and gold have the same staying power as the classic black and gold or whether it is just a "fad".
To that question, we would have to see inside your heart.
IMO, the grey and gold is not only beautiful, but also timeless.
Hope this helps,
Alfred
Another thing...
black is not a colour but a shade. It is an absolute value that eats up all other colours in the spectrum. On a practical value, it gives the most contrast, like when paired with gold.
Grey, on the other hand, is achromatic in nature. On a practical value, it allows for more variation and subtleties that a black dial may not give.
If I may be allowed to go off on a tangent, I really wanted a red interior for my Z4 so I specced out the interior first. As for the exterior, the classic colour to go with a red interior would be black. By going with a metallic grey exterior, I had to wait a few more months for that combo but I'm glad I stuck with it. The evening sunlight reflecting on the metallic grey of my old Beemer was just breath-taking! I still remember my old roadster fondly!
Alfred
Alfred
I had the same conundrum on another piece but
in the end it was obvious for me. It looks amazing in isolation, but a black dial with gold is really 'heavy' and 'dressy' and I think limits the use one can get out of it. Grey is clever for being less 'hefty' and more versatile.
Velociphile
Velociphile
Minority camp, for me. Black. The visual impact is stronger. More daring. [nt]
No message body
Like many i find the grey a bit more warmer with the RG case 👌🏻😘
But cant go wrong with eather imo
Slate
I love grey dials. The slate and RG combinations is my favorite, especially for a dress watch.
As most of others it looks like, I also prefer the grey dial version...
...so chic but versatile at the same time, indeed much easier to wear than the black dial one which is much more formal.
I cannot compare with the black one since I only own one of the two but believe me I never ever regretted my choice and all friends who saw it are also in love with it... Also the color varies a lot depending on how it catches the light thanks to this wonderful brushed dial.
My 2 cents... 
Mike
I still can't figure out if it is spelled "grey" or "gray"
LOL, me too! I probably Google this at least once or twice a month!!!😂
magnifique
I can't believe it has taken me this long to discover the magic of gold and satin-brushed grey!
Thanks for all the guidance
I'll have to side with the majority on this one. Gold and black has a maximum immediate impact, but the gold and grey keeps drawing you closer and closer. I can't stop looking at it. Mesmerizing. I happened to come across a picture of the newest version with the sunburst grey....let me just block that from my consciousness for now...
You want a medium to dark gray
Be careful on the shade of gray. Gray dials with rose gold cases are my favorite combination but the earlier LF models used a very light gray that, to me, did not look right with rose gold. There are newer dials (in a new style, I've seen one with guilloche in the inner area) which are darker gray and look much better with rose/red gold. From the pic you posted, I believe the gray is one of the lighter ones. I definitely recommend seeing them in person. I tried one on at Cellini in NYC and did not like the gray at all, but found the black to be a little too overpowering.
All the best
All the best
That's good to know!
Thanks for the advice. I didn't realize there was a difference between earlier and later version. Of the pictures I've seen on the internet, I just assumed it was a lighting difference. This is one that I will definitely have to find a way to see in person first.