Le Régulateur Louis Erard x atelier Oï réf. 85237AA56.BVA175

CONTEMPORARY TIMES

The merger between Louis Erard, the prestigious watchmaking house, and atelier oï, one of Switzerland’s most renowned design offices, has resulted in an innovative interpretation of the Louis Erard x atelier oï Regulator. Unveiled in Milan in shades of gold and blue, this creation brilliantly reflects the creativity of both entities.

How to represent space and time in an era where connected technology has distorted the primary function of watchmaking, that of telling the time? Louis Erard called on the expertise of atelier oï to rethink their emblematic model, the Régulateur, with the aim of bringing together the great figures of watchmaking tradition and Swiss savoir-faire. This collaboration goes beyond watchmaking, as atelier oï also excels in architecture and design. This union stems not only from close professional relationships, but also from a friendship that dates back to the 1990s, illustrated by the career of Manuel Emch, current CEO of Louis Erard, who began his career with an internship at atelier oï.

In the space of three decades, atelier oï has become a global benchmark, garnering numerous distinctions that underline its unique character. The name “oï” is derived from the Russian “Troïka”, symbolizing the energy of a trio, in this case the three co-founders, Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond.
For Louis Erard, the aim is to make the world of watchmaking more accessible and democratize what is often perceived as the preserve of an elite. This challenge goes hand in hand with an exploration of contemporary creation, with its references, reflections and detour.

atelier oï has adopted a simple approach: “Radiate from the center outwards.” By minimizing the technical vocabulary, evoking the shape of a sundial. The result is a surface engraved with asymmetrical rays, where light reveals reflections and contrasts, testifying to the atelier members’ passion for materials and the play of light. The art of engraving is expressed here in all its simplicity: drawn lines creating a space to which the hands add the dimension of time.

The Regulator naturally imposes its own rhythm: the hands (hour, seconds) become points of origin for rays, generating a visual kineticism animated by every movement of the wrist, giving the two-dimensional dial the depth of a radiant architecture. A pure work of art in which nothing disturbs the harmony, not even the Louis Erard logo.

Time reading becomes somewhat dematerialized, with each element of the dial recalling the importance of time, notably the discreet minute track that encircles the dial. A wink from atelier oï to the smartphone generation: “Today, the watch object has a different meaning.”