Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic Double Spiral Tourbillon Review

Elegant, refined, modern, understated… take your pick of descriptors. Laurent Ferrier’s watches may seem almost too simple at first glance, but take a closer look, and you’ll see that’s far from the truth. Laurent Ferrier (the man and the company) seems to embody evolution in the Swiss watchmaking industry, and the Galet Classic Double Spiral Tourbillon is a perfect example. 

This argument makes more sense when you consider the man whose name is on the dial. Laurent Ferrier spent nearly four decades at Patek Philippe, becoming Technical Director, before leaving to create his own manufacture. Rather than discarding generations of traditional Swiss watchmaking, Ferrier decided to build something fresh on top of it. In 2010, the Classic Double Spiral Tourbillon was released as the brand’s first watch and quickly won the Men’s Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). That’s one hell of a way to introduce yourself.

This 2026 Galet Classic carries that philosophy and pedigree. The white-gold Galet case has organic curves designed to evoke a stone shaped by water; Galet is French for “pebble,” after all. The clean onyx dial pairs beautifully with the smooth, polished case. On top of that, Laurent Ferrier’s slender Assegai hands are both wistful and elegant. None of this shows absolutely any indication of the truly bananas mechanism hiding inside (aside from it being discreetly written on the dial). Usually, when brands feature a tourbillon in their watches, they feel the need to punch a hole through a beautiful dial to scream, “Look at me!” But not this watch. It keeps the dial intact and the tourbillon hidden behind it, like a whispered secret.

The movement not only has pocket-watch-inspired architecture and detailed hand-finishing; it houses a fascinating double-spiral tourbillon. A double-spiral tourbillon incorporates balance springs that operate in opposing directions, helping compensate for positional errors while improving the tourbillon’s regulating performance. (Say that three times fast!) The slim steel tourbillon cage is black-polished, while beautifully finished bridges, sharp interior angles, and meticulous details show the high level of craftsmanship the brand has become renowned for. 

Laurent Ferrier doesn’t reject the traditions of Swiss watchmaking, yet it doesn’t seem to worship them either. Rather, Laurent Ferrier is the answer to the industry question: What comes next? This. This is what comes next.