Lorige - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Lorige is a contemporary watch brand founded in 2018 and based between Paris and Geneva. It made its name by repurposing carbon-carbon brake pads taken from endurance-racing prototypes to machine monobloc cases and by developing proprietary calibres (a peripheral-rotor automatic and a central flying tourbillon), resulting in what the founders call an everyday “trophy watch” (founders: Philippe Dumas, Clément Etienvre, Emeric Paraud).

Founded in 2018, Paris–Geneva base and “brake-pad DNA”

The company’s identity is anchored in competition-grade materials and Swiss-made craft: each carbon/carbon pad is extracted with full traceability, then subjected to a patented process turning it into a case/dial monobloc before watch assembly with Geneva-area partners; this compact, documented value chain makes for a manifesto in which race-used carbon brake pads transformed into monobloc cases are both identity marker and provenance proof.

Carbon monobloc case

The core line mixes a sleek barrel silhouette (approx. 51.6 × 43.6 × 10.5 mm) with a Swiss automatic heart and high-contrast legibility thanks to a dial embedded in the case; the in-house LOR-PR01 calibre, developed with Geneva partners, uses a peripheral rotor (28,800 vph, 45-hour reserve, ~294 parts) with a power-reserve display at 6 o’clock, so material and movement remain constantly on show without inflating thickness.

• Lorige BL-Endurance Gris Circuit — Monobloc C/C sourced from endurance prototypes; LOR-PR01; 5 ATM; restrained “asphalt” aesthetic.
• Lorige BL-Endurance Bleu 24h — Linked to United Autosports’ 2020 wins (24 Hours + 6h COTA); 24 pieces, “a trophy on the wrist.”
• Lorige BL-Endurance Hyperblack — Collaboration with Peugeot Sport’s 9X8; limited run (24 pieces announced), LOR-PR01; public pricing observed around €35,040 incl. tax.
• Lorige BL-Endurance COOL Racing 2024 — Five-piece micro-series cut from podium-finishing pads; ultralight monobloc after ~30 hours of patented machining.

Partnerships and special editions: Peugeot 9X8, United Autosports, COOL Racing…

Beyond “certified track” material, value also comes from alliances: Peugeot Sport for Hyperblack (9X8 Hypercar), United Autosports for the 24-hour spirit, and COOL Racing for ultra-short runs; the sports showcase adds an ambassador like Pipo Derani, 2024 Daytona pole-sitter and lap-record holder, underscoring a strategy that binds wearable chronometry to the theatre of prototypes and GT endurance.

AS-01 Central Flying Tourbillon and Ayrton Senna

The high-wire act of the range, AS-01, pushes the “memento mechanics” idea by machining its C/C case from the McLaren MP4/8 pads used by Ayrton Senna in 1993, around a central flying tourbillon LOR-TC01 designed with Timeless / Unité Renaud-Favre (323 components); the eight-piece run lists at about CHF 370,000 incl. VAT (≈€393,000 before tax per sources), a collector-grade stance where a fragment of legend is re-architected into a visible, central regulator.

• Lorige AS-01 Central Tourbillon — Central flying tourbillon LOR-TC01; 8 pieces; strap combining vulcanised rubber and harness-style textile.

Positioning, pricing and channels

Sales hinge on direct contact and a handful of specialists, with output naturally capped by documented pad supply; BL-Endurance references sit below the €10k-ex-VAT line depending on series, while AS-01 occupies the very-high-end; in 2025 the structure expanded with a dedicated U.S. entity, showing that deliberate scarcity can coexist with a tightly managed international push.

Real-world wear, ergonomics and service

On the wrist, the C/C monobloc—sheltered by titanium/DLC elements on some editions—delivers light weight, random carbon weaves that catch light, and high-contrast readouts; 5 ATM water resistance, rubber straps and micro-adjust clasps suit active city wear, while service relies on Geneva-based partners, ensuring that the watch behaves like a daily companion without diluting its race-born origins.

Conclusion

At Lorige, a watch literally carries a slice of racetrack history: material that braked, glowed and vibrated is sculpted into a refined instrument. The BL-Endurance family translates the idea into readable, robust objects; AS-01 escalates it to a central flying tourbillon that is both technical and emotive. To choose, start with the story you want to wear (team, race, driver) and your usage scenario (frequent wear versus collection piece). Finally, compare on-wrist comfort, limited-run lead times and benchmark impressions against Dialicious customer reviews.

Check out the Ranking of the best watch brands inspired by motorports.

(Updated August 2025)