The 1931 Collection of Louis Erard

The 1931 collection is symbolic for the Louis Erard company. Just from that the company began restoring. The collection helped the brand to be afloat and come to the new economic level. The 1931 collection represents the very best that the watch company has even created and achieved. The collection was launched in honour of the company's 75th anniversary in 2006. It consisted of rather complicated classical models with gold cases launched in a limited edition for collectors. 1931 watches were so popular among collectors and ordinary  customers that for a short period of time it turned out of anniversary and collectible into flagship. A whole series of watches with various functions (a power-reserve indicator, a big date, the second time zone (GMT) and so on) was added to this collection. Classical polished cases were of a 40 to 42 mm diameter, big subdials had not enough room on the main one and thus they formed a numeral 8.
In 2008 a new chronograph watch, sooner a part of the la Sportive sports line and the la Carree line (a square case), was presented within this collection. The automatic calibre ETA/Valjoux 7750 was one of the most durable and modern movements with considerable sizes – a 30 mm diameter and a 7.9 mm height. It had to increase its diameter to 44 mm to keep its classical design of the case of the 1931 collection. So a chronograph counters  also became bigger. They were located opposite each other (a 12-minute counter at 6 o'clock position and a 30-hour at 12) and also formed a symbolic numeral 8. Exaggerated black counters, detailed marking scales made time to be more readable. A second scale situated at the vertical flange did not add sports style to classical design of watches. The chronograph counters were at the same level as a date and week day indicators. Applied indexes and polished steel hands perfectly completed the whole image of watches.
The 1931 collection is developing. Having found all possible forms, the company is in search of new ideas and resolutions to create original works of the watch art.