Louis Erard releases their largest collaboration yet, this time with Stefan Kudoke. Four new models for a total of 356 pieces.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Louis Erard x Kudoke Le Régulateur
The Louis Erard x Kudoke has the following retail pricing:
Louis Erard x Kudoke Le Régulateur Purple REF. 85237AA46.BVA173: CHF 4,000. Limited Edition 78 pieces.
Louis Erard x Kudoke Le Régulateur White MOP REF. 85237AA44.BVA179: CHF 4,500. Limited Edition 78 pieces.
Louis Erard x Kudoke Le Régulateur Green REF. 85237AA49.BVA178: CHF 4,000. Limited Edition 100 pieces.
Louis Erard x Kudoke Le Régulateur Light Blue REF. 85237AA45.BVA173: CHF 4,000. Limited Edition 100 pieces.
Prices exclude tax.
Commentary
Interesting new collaboration. We adore Stefan Kudoke and his creations. As an independent, we have included him in our German Independents essay, and have always liked his take on watchmaking. His own K2 Nocturne which we reviewed in detail here, as well as the collaboration K3 Grüner Wald Sonderedition II is much well received.
Pricing wise, Kudoke’s own branded watches tend to be much more expensive than what is being offered here by Louis Erard. We call this the Manuel Emch effect – finding a way to homogenise the watches being offered at very attractive pricing.
Stefan Kudoke and Manuel Emch.
But also the ability to find a way to integrate the key DNA of the collaboration partner into the boilerplate watches offered by the brand. The boilerplate standardisation is the key to the ability to achieve these reasonable prices. Simple idea, but brilliantly executed!
The release proper documents a list of what Stefan has worked onto the Louis Erard Le Régulateur – from the dial frosting (MOP is not really a Kudoke signature) to the shape of the hands and the use of colours often associated to the Dresden based brand. Our favourite must be the green model. The rough grained finishing of the dial with the “grunderwald” style green just ticks the boxes for us.
Press Release
INFINITE CREATIVE POWER. EXPERTISE CELEBRATING INDIVIDUALITY. LOUIS ERARD X KUDOKE’S LIMITED SERIES OFFERS A MINIMALIST DESIGN: HOURS, MINUTES, SECONDS. FOUR MODELS IN WHICH THE ICONIC LOUIS ERARD REGULATOR-TYPE DISPLAY IS REVISITED THROUGH STEFAN KUDOKE’S TECHNICAL AND AESTHETIC PERSPECTIVE ANGLE. THE QUESTION IS: HOW MANY KUDOKE SIGNATURE TWISTS CAN YOU SPOT?
LOUIS ERARD loves to create extra.ordinary models through original collaborations, timepieces defying conventions while respecting brand cultures. Stefan Kudoke is not only one of the best-known indie horologists, but also the first independent German master watchmaker to win the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2019.
“How can you know a collaboration is right? When the joint result surpasses individual talent. Collaboration is about unlocking individual potential while preserving identities, capitalizing on differences and channeling synergies into infinite creative force. It’s this collective strength that enables us to envision unexpected, surprising, sought-after watch designs. ”
In a nod to Stefan Kudoke’s infinity symbol, the collab’ lineup is packed with eight distinctive details of KUDOKE’ “HANDWORK” dials. Four watches in a play on geometry highlighting the Regulator’s “three in-line hands” design through highly recognizable features.
Frosted dial or mother-of-pearl dial
Blued steel hands
Infinity-symbol shaped hours hand
Rhodium-plated railway-track chapter ring & counter rings
Roman numerals & dots
Brushed KUDOKE & LOUIS ERARD nameplates
Iconic KUDOKE colors
Polished chamfered nameplates and rings
LE RÉGULATEUR LOUIS ERARD X KUDOKE
Framed by a 42 mm polished stainless steel case, the dial features KUDOKE’s distinctive watchface elements. The railway-track chapter ring, two counter rings as well as the “LOUIS ERARD” and “KUDOKE” nameplates are satin-finished and rhodium-plated. The “12 o’clock” counter is adorned with a “Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern, a ring bearing Roman numerals counter and the iconic infinity shaped hours hand, while all hands are in blued steel. The lower part of the dial has a grained finish for a frosted effect and comes in three different colors: purple (limited to 78), forest green (100), light blue (100); while the fourth variation is a collector alert with its white mother-of-pearl dial (78).
