The latest release from Louis Erard expands their Excellence Petite Seconde range, and includes another release in that collection?s 39mm case size. Louis Erard has really become a collector favorite over the last few years with their many collaborative limited editions and (relatively) affordable ways to buy into design codes that traditionally represent true high luxury watchmaking, and they?ve done it mostly on the back of a 42mm case. It?s always notable when we see them release something new in their easier to wear 39mm case size, and with the Excellence Petite Seconde Guilloche (in two sizes) we also have a watch that?s really playing into that high luxury aesthetic with an unusually complex dial.

These watches are really a celebration of guilloche itself, and seek to present the decorative technique in a more classical way than something like the brand?s much more contemporary guilloche LE from a few years ago. The larger 42mm watch features gray and black tones, while the smaller 39mm watch features a rich blue and gray for contrast. 
The dials are made in four parts, and highlight contrasting guilloche patterns. The central section has a traditional wave-like pattern that is meant to cast light directly from the dial?s center. An outer section, where you?ll find the hour track, features what?s known as a ?panier? motif, which has the appearance of slightly staggered scales. This pattern is repeated in the small seconds subdial at the 6:00 position, but ...