The Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 puts an 18k red-gold case and integrated bracelet around a softly finished cream dial: conspicuously luxurious in material, restrained in presentation. In Fratello’s June 3, 2025 hands-on, Thomas Van Straaten found the gold version bolder and seemingly larger than the titanium Sport Auto 40, yet ergonomic on the wrist. The watch’s “79” points to a personal origin story tied to the founders’ 1979 Le Mans campaign—not a stated production quantity.
Why the Sport Auto 79 feels decadent yet tasteful
The contrast is the watch’s defining effect. Its 5N red-gold case and matching integrated bracelet make a strong, unmistakably opulent statement. Against that much precious metal, the cream dial—with rose-silver galvanic treatment and an opaline texture—reads as soft rather than showy. The result is substantial without relying on a loud dial to announce itself.
That balance is a visual judgment, not a specification. Van Straaten describes the gold version as bolder and as appearing larger than the titanium Sport Auto 40, even though both share a stated 41.5 mm diameter. He also calls the fit ergonomic and the execution elegant. These are his impressions from one hands-on, not objective fit measurements or a universal verdict. He would prefer smaller gaps between the bracelet links, framing that as a design preference rather than a tolerance problem.
Sport Auto 79 specifications
| Specification | Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 |
|---|---|
| Reference | LCF040.R5.GR1C1 |
| Case | 18k red gold 5N; 41.5 mm diameter; 12.70 mm thick |
| Water resistance | 120 m / 12 ATM |
| Dial | Cream, with rose-silver galvanic treatment and opaline finish |
| Display | Hours, minutes, small seconds at six, and date at three |
| Hands and indices | 5N red-gold drop-shaped indices; Assegai-shaped hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova; baton seconds hand |
| Movement | Laurent Ferrier LF270.01, automatic micro-rotor with Swiss lever escapement |
| Frequency and reserve | 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz); 72 hours |
| Components and jewels | 213 components and 29 jewels, as listed on Laurent Ferrier’s product page |
| Bracelet | Integrated 18k red-gold 5N bracelet with folding clasp |
These product details are listed on Laurent Ferrier’s Sport Auto 79 product page. The dimensions establish a fairly substantial profile on paper, but they cannot by themselves predict how the watch will sit on an individual wrist.
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- Featuring a sleek stainless steel bracelet and a rich black chronograph dial, this Emporio Armani watch delivers fresh style with contemporary panache.
- Case & Movement: 41mm case, 20mm band width, scratch resistant mineral crystal, accurate Quartz movement with chronograph analog display, imported
- Dial: Round stainless steel case, with a black dial and silver accents.
- Watch Band: Silver, durable stainless steel bracelet with a secure fold-over clasp closure.
- Water Resistant: Up to 50m (165ft): Wearable while swimming in shallow water; 5 ATM.
What the “79” means
Laurent Ferrier’s June 2, 2025 article, “Time turns gold,” connects the name to the founders’ 1979 Le Mans 24 Hours. The brand’s account says Laurent Ferrier, François Servanin, and François Trisconi finished third overall after 3,988 km, and that the experience helped set them on the path toward creating a watchmaking company. This is the manufacturer’s telling of its own history.
The number refers to the year, not a stated limited-edition count. Neither the manufacturer’s product page nor Fratello’s hands-on article describes the watch as limited by quantity. In the same brand article, Laurent Ferrier is quoted saying, “We’re not world champions”—a line presented as something he often likes to say.
Rank #2
- ★ Unique Design: This watch has been carefully designed to perfectly combine sports and casual. Suitable for many indoor & outdoor scenes
- ★ Multi-function ★ : Six-hand Multi-function Quartz Movement ,Three Chronograph Sub-dial,1/10 Sec Sub-dial, Seconds sub-dial, Minute Sub-dial.
- ★ Water Resistant ★: 30M (100FT) Water Resistant , withstands splashes or brief immersion in water, Perfect for all kind of business, casual, indoor and outdoor activities and daily use , but not suitable for swimming or bathing
- ★ Super Luminous ★ : Luminous Hands & Calibration , is convenient to read the time in the dark（Luminous function needs to be activated by light）
- ★ Gift Box ★: Come With Hight Quality Gift Box -- Good gift for boyfriend, husband, father, brother, grandfather, friends...Great surprise for Birthday, Business-gift, Christmas, Valentine day, Wedding, New Year, Father’s Day
The LF270.01 micro-rotor movement
The LF270.01 is self-winding, uses a micro-rotor and Swiss lever escapement, and runs at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). Laurent Ferrier lists a 72-hour power reserve, 213 components, and 29 jewels for this watch. Those are the manufacturer’s stated specifications, not independent performance-test results.
Laurent Ferrier says the calibre is designed, decorated, assembled, and adjusted in its workshops. In its account of the movement’s finishing, the brand describes a 950 platinum oscillating weight, ruthenium-treated horizontal satin-brushed bridges, and hand finishing; it says finishing the rotor bridge takes two to three hours. These finishing details are the manufacturer’s description of its own work.
Rank #3
- Case size: 45.5 millimeters, Bandwidth: 22 millimeters, Case thickness: 11. 92 millimeters
- Swiss quartz movement, Stainless steel case, Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, Indexes dial type, Date
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 Feet): Suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but not diving or snorkeling
Sport Auto 79 and titanium Sport Auto 40 compared
The clearest distinction in Van Straaten’s comparison is material and its effect on visual presence. The published hands-on gives a shared diameter and the author’s impression of greater apparent size for the gold model, but does not provide a current price for the titanium version.
| Point of comparison | Sport Auto 79 | Titanium Sport Auto 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Case and bracelet material | 18k red gold 5N case and integrated bracelet, according to Laurent Ferrier’s product page | Titanium, as identified in Fratello’s hands-on |
| Stated case diameter | 41.5 mm, according to Laurent Ferrier | 41.5 mm, as stated in Fratello’s hands-on comparison |
| Weight and visual presence | Van Straaten says the gold version feels bolder and appears larger; the article does not give a weight measurement | Van Straaten’s comparison makes it the less visually imposing counterpart; the article does not give a weight measurement |
| Price | CHF 98,000 on Laurent Ferrier’s product page, accessed in 2026 | Current price not stated in the cited sources |
Price and availability
Laurent Ferrier’s product page listed the Sport Auto 79 at CHF 98,000 when accessed in 2026 and invites readers to inquire about nearby points of sale. Fratello’s June 3, 2025 article gave CHF 79,000 at publication. The sources do not explain the difference, so the older amount should not be treated as the current price. Prices and point-of-sale availability can change; consult the current official listing for the latest information.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Design: 48*54 diameter gold case and black big dial with 3 time zone display design have a modern feel to it, making the rectangular watch more stylish and luxury.
- Material: Durable gold and silver 34mm wide stainless steel strap with foldover clasp. Hardened mineral glass provides excellent scratch resistance.
- Luminous function: The main dial’s hands are coated with luminescent coating, which absorbs light according to the sunlight hours and reads the time clearly at night.
- Waterproof: With a 30-meter water resistance rating, this watch is suitable for everyday water activities such as splash, hand washing and rain. BUT NOT supporting swimming or immersion in water for a long time.
- Cordial Service: Our products have been strictly tested and quality is guaranteed. If you have any question, please find us anytime.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
