MEMORIS YUCATAN is inspired by the world’s first chronograph produced by Louis Moinet in 1816, inventor of the chronograph and of high frequency (Guinness World Records™).
This creation finds unique expression thanks to YUCATAN GREEN, an original colour that owes its vibrancy to a clever combination of sunburst satin-brushing, special-coloured varnish, as well as silvering to enhance its brilliance. It houses Calibre LM86, a spectacular and innovative self-winding mechanical movement, displaying the 147 elements of the chronograph function on the dial side.
Every detail of MEMORIS YUCATAN evokes sportiness, elegance and exclusivity based on a unique mechanism stemming from the most advanced research. The curved crystal of the MEMORIS YUCATAN reveals the spectacular and unprecedented design of the chronograph. The traditional mechanism has been entirely separated, with the chronograph device visible on the front and automatic winding on the back.
Unique to Louis Moinet, this vision enables the complexity of this measuring mechanism to be fully admired at each interaction: start, stop, reset. A single gentle press on the single pusher allows an amazing sight to unfold before your eyes. More than 500 components had to be developed in order to achieve this incomparable feat.
The curved YUCATAN GREEN dial endows it with energy and vitality. Modernism is at the forefront, highlighted by revisited hands, new typography and the introduction of hour-markers. The bright red chronograph hands ensure perfect legibility. The black plate adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif helps highlight the powerful chronograph mechanism.
The care devoted to the aerodynamic treatment of the MEMORIS YUCATAN’s design has extended to the use of strongly domed crystals on the front and back of the watch. These serve to refine the silhouette while guaranteeing maximum ergonomics.
This sporty chronograph is housed in a very light titanium case (only 31 grams), which makes it especially comfortable to wear.
The handmade alligator leather strap features unusual colour and finishing combinations, such as the clean-cut and waxed green edges along with seams in green thread. Its extra-matt rubberised finish combined with a green alligator leather lining adds an exuberant touch.
MEMORIS VESUVIO is a contemporary chronograph inspired by the world’s first chronograph produced in 1816 by Louis Moinet, inventor of the chronograph and of high frequency (Guinness World Records).
Every detail of the MEMORIS VESUVIO evokes sportiness, elegance and exclusivity based on a unique mechanism stemming from state-of-the-art research. The curved crystal of the MEMORIS VESUVIO reveals the spectacular and original design of the chronograph. The traditional mechanism has been completely separated, with the chronograph function revealed on the front and the automatic winding system through the back.
Made of Grade 5 Titanium, this 46mm watch also symbolizes dynamism and modernity. The domed lemon-yellow dial strikes a vivid contrast with the bright red hands ensuring perfect legibility. The black baseplate adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif helps highlight the powerful chronograph mechanism.
The care devoted to the aerodynamic treatment of the lines of the MEMORIS VESUVIO even extends to the use of strongly convex crystals on both the front and back of the watch. These serve to ensure a trim outline while guaranteeing maximum ergonomics.
Comprising of 302 parts, the LM 86 automatic calibre beats at the rate of 4Hz. It has 34 jewels and provides a power reserve of 48 hours.
This sporty-natured chronograph features an extremely light titanium case (only 31 grams), which makes it especially comfortable to wear.
The ambience of the handmade alligator leather strap is dominated by novel colour combinations and details conducive to comfort on the wrist, such as the reworked flexibility and genuine alligator leather lining. Combined with a rubberised finish, the clean-cut dyed edges add a distinctively vibrant touch. Strap width is 24mm. It comes with a folding clasp.
A true marvel of contemporary mechanical watchmaking, ASTRONEF combines ancestral know-how with futuristic technology.
The complex dial of ASTRONEF is made from a plate measuring a total 0.6mm thick, from which 0.2 mm is then hollowed out to reveal the numerals and a rack, in order to create a depth effect facilitating readings. The ensuing deep black DLC treatment creates a striking contrast with the rhodium plating and endows it with a two-tone hue. Finally, a circular satin-brushed finish is applied to instill it with undeniable strength of character.
The case of ASTRONEF incorporates a sapphire container mounted on an 18K gold frame, open-worked lugs and case middle and a sapphire dome and its applied inner bezel ring.
The curved crystal reveals the ASTRONEF mechanism, which required more than three years of research. It proudly showcases two tourbillons rotating in opposite directions at high speed. They cross paths 18 times per hour (every 3 minutes and 20 seconds) and are built on two different levels. In all, six distinct elements are in motion: two satellite tourbillons rotating around the dial, as well as their two cages and their two counterweights.
This mysterious horological mechanism is hidden in the base of the frame, which is only 3.75 mm thick. The advantage of this construction is that it clears the stage to enhance the magic of the show being staged. The spectacular design linked to the complexity of the mechanism is marked by its control tower – or central column – which transmits the orders to the tourbillons and hands.
Finally, the mechanical part is ennobled by a powerful and modern engine that endows it with a very high level of performance, making it even more efficient than a single tourbillon.
The tourbillon cages are geometrically shaped. The weight of a cage is only 0.25 grams, in order to guarantee the correct speed through fine poising. Each cage rotates in 60 seconds and requires perfect poising, which also relies on an 18K gold counterweight weighing 0.4 grams.
Placing the selector on the back of the case enabled a gain in volume and this device plays two distinct roles: time-setting or winding. The crown is no longer pulled out; it is used to set the hands or to wind the mechanism.
The LM105 manual winding movement beats at the rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and provides a power reserve of up to 48 hours.
A presentation box is specially made for each ASTRONEF. Finely crafted by an artisan, it notably features a straw marquetry motif in various shades and the buyer can choose from several different graphic design alternatives.
ASTRONEF is limited to only eight pieces.
Technical details
Movement
Calibre LM105
Manufacture Calibre with flying satellite double tourbillon
Manual winding
Double tourbillon for enhanced accuracy
Perfect rotation and poising of the rotating elements
– Five ball-bearing mechanisms with seven ceramic bearings
– One ball-bearing mechanism with nine ceramic bearings
Two barrels, each supplies its energy to the tourbillon
471components
Frequency: 3 Hz
Jewels: 56
Power reserve: 48 hours
Display
Hours and minutes
Case
18K rose gold frame, diameter: 43.5mm
Sapphire container, diameter: 41.6mm
Lug width: 24mm
Water resistance: 10 meters
Representing the perfect union of man and nature, the conquest of fire (around 500,000 BC) was a major milestone in the history of human beings. Louis Moinet presents HEAT, an 18-carat rose gold tourbillon watch as a tribute to the conquest of fire.
Its dial boasts a skull engraving of an Australopithecus, one of the first species of humankind, dating back more than four million years. Made of rose-cut rubies, the glowing red eyes of the skull overlooks an engraving decorated with miniature paintings that symbolise the first flames mastered by man. The base is made of a natural stone, red pietersite, which also embodies the dancing of incandescent flames.
The Louis Moinet HEAT watch houses the LM Calibre 35, an award-winning high precision manual-winding tourbillon movement with a power reserve of 72 hours.
Technical details
Dial
Hand-engraved Australopithecus skull
Rose-cut ruby eyes (24 facets) (0.39 carats)
Hand-engraved flames, enhanced with miniature painting
Engraved surround, set with 2 kite-cut diamonds (0.11 carats) and 18 cabochon-cut diamonds (0.02 carats)
Case
18-carat rose gold
Four flame-engraved lugs adorned with blue sapphires
Hand-engraved bezel, complementing the fire theme
Movement
LM Calibre 35
60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition)
Presentation box
Genuine natural stone presentation box
The interior is decorated with a hand axe, a carved stone tool characteristic of prehistoric times.
Louis Moinet is supporting the famous Only Watch charity auction in its ninth edition.
For its third participation, Louis Moinet is presenting the world-first MEMORIS SPIRIT, which represents the latest evolution of the chronograph. Hand-assembled in keeping with Swiss tradition, MEMORIS SPIRIT “ONLY WATCH” draws its essence from an abundance technical details, original colours and splendid finishing.
MEMORIS SPIRIT “ONLY WATCH” chronograph appears attired in a new grade 5 titanium case featuring flowing curves and an exceptional 40.7mm diameter.
This boldly assertive housing is particularly light and, based on technical studies, the use of strongly convex watch glass enables optimal layout while ensuring peerless comfort on the wrist.
An XXL sapphire dome has been entirely developed to highlight a unique mechanism. The result of each chronograph operation (start, stop, reset) can thus be admired at leisure.
One press on the dedicated single pusher activates an impressive show starring the column wheel with its toothing and precisely cut vertical columns.
This original creation features a unique colour combination: a magnificent gold-toned hours and minutes dial, a translucent black and blue flange to separate time read-off, along with a blue-lacquered mainplate to highlight the mechanism.
The dial is delicately adorned with rhodium-plated hour-markers and new contemporary hands to ensure perfect legibility. To highlight the mechanical aspect of the creation, the counters have been crafted from an innovative, entirely translucent material.
Finally, the entire reverse side of the movement is revealed through a sapphire crystal caseback surrounded by the engraved inscription “ONLY WATCH – N°01/01”. The open-worked lugs with their pure, avant-garde design offer a pleasing contrast between satin-brushed and polished surfaces.
This is the first time that Louis Moinet has opted for an integrated design: the case and the rubber-finished alligator strap merge to form a single entity on the wrist. The integrated strap perfectly matches the shape of the case, resulting in a modern chronograph exuding a rare degree of sophistication.
Louis Moinet presents Hope Probe Tourbillon, a new one-of-a-kind creation dedicated to the extraordinary UAE space mission. Based on a technology exclusive to Louis Moinet, this satellite tourbillon® contains an authentic meteorite fragment from the Moon and genuine Martian meteorite dust.
Beautifully depicted on a blue dial, the map of the Northern hemisphere constellations is crafted using a special miniature painting on mother-of-pearl technique. The green tourbillon carriage, measuring an exceptional 13.59 mm in diameter, is balanced by means of a Mars planet rotating around it and incrusted with genuine Mars meteorite dust.
A hand-painted depiction of the Hope Probe appears on the black aventurine front plate, inlaid with a genuine lunar meteorite fragment – as too is the black rear plate featuring a hand-painted UAE astronaut. The watch displays hour, minutes and seconds.
The watch houses Caliber LM48: the world’s first “satellite tourbillon ®” movement. This 20-jewel, manual-winding movement beats at 21,600 vph and provides 72 hours power reserve. The grade-5 titanium case of this unique timepiece measures 47.4mm diameter. It is water resistant up to 30 meters. The Hope Probe Tourbillon is fitted on an alligator strap with folding buckle. Lug width is 24mm.
The UAE’s Hope Probe is the first Arab space mission. Known as “Al-Amal” in Arabic, it will orbit the red planet for at least one Martian year (687 days). It is the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere while evaluating its seasonal and daily changes. The Hope Probe is an important gift dedicated to the people of the UAE on the 50th anniversary of the nation and a source of inspiration for Arab youth.
With its Moon Race series, Louis Moinet presents four spectacular wristwatches that pay tribute to four key episodes in the conquest of the Moon. This collection combines the finest craftsmanship with lunar meteorite and the most spectacular natural stones. These four creations all feature an authentic fragment of the spacecraft that shaped history. Each of them has travelled more than a million kilometres in interplanetary space before being presented in the Louis Moinet travel trunk.
(1) First on the Moon – 1966
Luna 9 was the Soviet space probe that made the first successful lunar soft landing. It was a real feat at the time, following a long series of failures. Soviet astronautics lost 26 space probes between 1962 and 1965 without a single success. Launched on January 31st1966 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Luna 9 landed in the Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum) on February 3rd 1966, giving the world the first panoramic images of the lunar surface.
Louis Moinet Moon Race watch, First on the Moon – 1966
The dial of Louis Moinet Moon Race ‘First on the Moon’ watch depicts the soft landing of Luna 9. The spacecraft is hand-engraved and then entirely painted. It includes an original piece of woven fibre from Luna 24. This piece made the journey from the Earth to the Moon and back – over a million kilometres through interplanetary space – aboard Luna 24.
The Moon is entirely hand-engraved, then blackened in the old-fashioned way to give it an enigmatic appearance. The sky is made of black astralite, also known as aventurine glass. This material has been preserved for more than 50 years to be used for a major artistic work. The countless sparkles of its particles resemble gold spangles, stars shining against the pure backdrop of the sky. The Earth is depicted in a highly detailed artistic miniature painting, standing out against the sky thanks to the volume of its applique.
Hand engravings on the bezel represent Luna 9, as well as the lunar landing capsule. Ejected just before the lunar impact, it then separated from the rest of the spacecraft. The 100-kilogram capsule hit the lunar surface at a speed of 4 to 7 metres per second, protected by an airbag. The first images of the Moon were taken by this capsule and sent back to Earth via its antennae.
(2) Man on the Moon – 1969
While the Russians were attempting to send a crew to the Moon, the U.S. orchestrated a succession of Apollo space missions, drawing ever closer to this goal. It was Apollo 11 that enabled humankind to set foot on the Moon for the first time. The giant Saturn V rocket left the Kennedy Space Center on July 16th1969, and the crew landed on the night star on July 21st 1969. The first steps on the Moon were filmed by a video camera and broadcast live, an event watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Louis Moinet Moon Race watch, Man on the Moon – 1969
The dial of Louis Moinet Moon Race “Man on the Moon” watch represents the first man to walk on the Moon. His astronaut’s suit is hand engraved and coloured using a miniature painting technique. His visor is an authentic fragment of the polyimide film that protected his spacecraft across a wide temperature range (-250°C to 400°C). This material was used to travel from the Earth to the Moon and back – more than a million kilometres in interplanetary space – on Apollo 11.
The miniature painting on this visor represents the reflection of the lunar module. In order to achieve the finest details, the painter trims the hairs of their brush one by one, using only the last one to create the finest decorations. The Moon is represented by a real lunar meteorite, named Dar Al Gani 400.
This lunar anorthosite is a rock found on Earth in 1998 and ejected from the Moon following the impact of a celestial object. The curved Earth is embodied by that “azure stone” used for 7,000 years by the greatest civilisations: lapis lazuli. It floats in a sky of exceptional quality crafted from black aventurine.
Hand engravings on the bezel represent the Saturn V rocket, the famous space launcher developed in the 1960s for the Apollo moon programme. This huge rocket was over 100 metres high, weighed 3,000 tonnes, had 11 engines and could launch a 45-tonne payload to the Moon. The engravings in the centre depict man’s first step on the Moon, while those at the bottom show the foot pads of the Apollo lunar module as it lands.
(3) Around the Moon – 1970
Apollo 13 is the third mission in the space programme to take a crew to the Moon. When landing at the Fra Mauro crater, a site heavily impacted by asteroids, a serious accident damaged the spacecraft. The mission was abandoned, and the return journey required going around the Moon before returning to Earth. The objective was of course not achieved, yet this highly dangerous mission can be considered as one of the most spectacular rescues ever carried out. The return to Earth was due to the unfailing will and tenacity of human beings, from the crew to the control centre in Houston.
Louis Moinet Moon Race watch, Around the Moon – 1970
The dial of “Around the Moon” watch depicts the spectacular rescue of Apollo 13, which managed to reach Earth with a badly damaged spacecraft. The spacecraft is hand-engraved and then enhanced with a fragment of the polyimide film that protected it on its return journey, particularly during its atmospheric re-entry.
This material travelled from the Earth to the orbit of the Moon and then back to Earth. In total, it travelled more than a million kilometres through interplanetary space aboard Apollo 13. The spacecraft can be seen heading towards Earth, having circled the Moon. Onyx, a variety of agate used since antiquity for its deep black colour, embodies the mysterious face of the night star. It is set against granite from the Bernese Oberland, found by Daniel Haas at an altitude of over 2,000 metres.
The blue Pietersite from Namibia was chosen to evoke the beauty of the Earth. Its shimmering effect is due to the many multicoloured fibre inclusions that give it bluish tones with an incomparable silky appearance.
Black astralite completes the picture. This material has a history, since its origins date back to Murano at the beginning of the 17th century. It is the result of a lucky mistake – when a glassmaker dropped copper filings into molten glass that was slowly cooled – and its name comes from the Italian word “all’ avventura”. That is why astralite is also known as aventurine, or even river gold. The astralite adorning the Moon Race watch was acquired and carefully preserved by the father of Daniel Haas, the brand’s partner in the field of exceptional stones. The Haas family has been a pioneer in the sourcing and cutting of natural stone dials for two generations.
Hand engravings on the bezel represent the Odyssey service and command module, the only one capable of returning the crew to Earth with its heat shield. In the centre, a view of the Moon shows a distant Earth, the ultimate quest of the imperilled mission. Finally, we see the command module that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
(4) Last on the Moon – 1976
Luna 24 is the last probe of the Luna programme to land on the Moon, in the unexplored region of Mare Crisium. It brought back 170 grams of lunar soil samples (regolith). The analysis of these samples proved to be valuable, proving the existence of water on the lunar regolith.
After landing on the Moon on August 18th1976, Luna 24 returned to Earth (Siberia) on August 22nd1976, thus concluding the Luna programme, which began with Luna 1 in 1959, as well as the Moon Race launched in 1961. It was not until 32 years later that a new probe landed on the Moon (Moon Impact Probe, India). China also landed a probe (Chang’e 3), but in a controlled manner (soft landing) in 2013, subsequently bringing back samples from the Moon in 2020 (Chang’e 5).
Louis Moinet Moon Race watch, Last on the Moon – 1976
The “Last on the Moon” watch is the final episode of the “Moon Race”. One of the results of Luna 24 was the proof of the existence of water on the Moon.
Luna 24 is depicted on its journey back to Earth. Its prodigious design is hand-engraved, and a real piece of Luna 24 (resin-coated braided fibre) adorns its side. This material has travelled over a million kilometres through interplanetary space from the Earth to the Moon and back, aboard Luna 24.
The Moon is shown here in high contrast, with copper etching to highlight its craters. Another of Nature’s mysteries, azurite has been transformed into malachite by a phenomenon known as pseudomorphosis. This metamorphosis allows it to retain part of its appearance while morphing into malachite. The result is a very special mineral: azurite-malachite, which perfectly embodies the Earth. It is complemented by a yellow Pietersite sun, which fully deserves its nickname of “storm stone”. It lights up the sky with black aventurine of exceptional quality.
Hand engravings on the bezel represent the Proton rocket, a Russian heavy launcher capable of placing a 22-tonne payload into low earth orbit. It was used on many Soviet space missions, including Luna 24. Developed in the early 1960s, this rocket remains Russia’s main launcher, with over 400 Protons launched to date. The centre is decorated with lunar engravings, while the base of the bezel features the incredible design of the Luna 24 space probe.
Movement
Crafted from 18 carat gold, each Moon Race watch houses the Calibre LM 35, the gold medal winner of at the last International Chronometry Competition. This manual-winding movement features a 60 seconds tourbillon at 6 o’ clock., and displays hour, minute and seconds. This exceptional caliber can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back.
Louis Moinet travel trunk
The trunk evokes the journey through space. It houses the four one-of-a-kind “Moon Race” creations. It is made of natural elm burr wood and adorned with a black-lacquered Fleur de Lys pattern.
The domed lid is topped by two cognac-coloured leather straps. Its interior is made of black leather, and the inside of the cover features an 18th century treasure: the drawings of the Sphere of Copernicus & Sphere of Ptolemy, by Buy de Mornas. The printing is enhanced with water colours, making this creation truly one of a kind.
Provenance of the space-travelling materials
Louis Moinet is presenting exclusive creations incorporating fragments from Moon Race spaceships. These materials (polyimide film or braided fibre) have travelled more than a million kilometres through space. They are sourced from an expert who has personally acquired them from astronauts themselves, their families or their entourage, as well as from reputable auctions – thereby ensuring the best possible guarantees of authenticity.
Technical details
Movement
Calibre LM 35
60-second tourbillon movement, awarded the Gold Medal at the last International Chronometry Competition.
Manual winding
Power reserve: 72 Hours
Jewels: 19
Frequency: 21’600 vph
Functions
Hour, minute and seconds
Case
18k Gold
Diameter: 45.4mm
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap
Alligator strap with folding clasp
Strap width: 24mm
Inspired by the eight of the most beautiful human achievements across the ages, Louis Moinet presents the «8 Marvels of the World» watch collection. This series encompasses eight one-of-a-kind creations, presented in the Louis Moinet travel trunk.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest ovoid amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. It could accommodate up to 50,000 people, who attended shows as varied as plays and gladiatorial fights. For its inauguration, Emperor Titus even transformed the arena into a water basin to recreate the naval battle of Corinth against Corcyra. A major work of architecture but also of Roman engineering, its construction was completed in 80 AD under Emperor Titus. It remains the embodiment of the power of Imperial Rome and attracts over seven million visitors a year.
Louis Moinet pays tribute this ancient icon with a rose gold tourbillon timepiece. The inside of the dial features an intramuros depiction of the Colosseum in its heyday. It shows the centre of the arena in onyx, surrounded by a magnificent symmetrical array of baguette-cut sapphires, arranged in a gradient ranging from green to yellow via all the colours of the rainbow.
Rising gradually all around it are the signature rows of seats. The steps of the Colosseum are finely detailed and polished. Their brilliance contrasts with other details of the work, which are sandblasted. The artist has sought to achieve maximum volume while preserving the unique nature of the Colosseum.
This timeless reproduction of the Colosseum also evokes its outer arches. A total of 112 arches for the case middle and 90 for the bezel are engraved in the rose gold of the Neo case, whose transversal bridge-lug concept lends itself perfectly to total artistic expression in this Colosseum.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is one of the historical mosques of Istanbul. Its construction was completed in 1616, during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I. It is regarded as the last example of classical Ottoman architecture and owes its name to the 20,000 predominantly blue ceramic tiles adorning its inner walls. It is privileged to have six minarets and was an important starting point for the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The interpretation by Louis Moinet renders the visual strength of the Blue Mosque, a major work representing the culmination of two centuries of development of both Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches.
The dial base is composed of a mother-of-pearl inlay consisting of 13 elements in different shades of blue. The background represents the motifs of the vaulted ceiling that decorate the interior of the Mosque. It features a hand engraving of the Blue Mosque, whose details are enhanced by miniature painting. The ribbed domes and half-domes create pleasing visual harmony, while the six minarets are finely chased to accentuate their grooves.
The case is entirely hand-chased. It represents an arabesque, a magnificent ornamental motif with complex interlacing patterns. This essential element of Islamic art is particularly highlighted by the chasing which combines finesse and accuracy.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Petra
Petra is an ancient Nabataean city located in Jordan, whose name means “rock” in ancient Greek. As early as the 6th century B.C., the Nabataeans made it a prosperous stage along the route of caravans carrying pearls and turquoise, ivory and silk, incense and spices. Petra was a real crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean, and between Egypt and Syria. Having fallen into oblivion in the modern world, it was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt in 1812. The emblematic building in Petra is the Khazneh, with its monumental facade carved into the rock face.
Louis Moinet has created a white gold tourbillon watch to pay tribute to this ancient city. To imagine the power of Khazneh, the artist has combined – probably for the first time in watchmaking– three different techniques.
The process begins with abas-relief engraving applied on a slightly rounded base to give more volume to the motif. This simulated perspective creates a striking depth effect. As the statues decorating the niches on the façade have now been destroyed, they could only be imagined thanks to the artist’s research work. His curiosity led him to find a watercolour by the famous painter David Roberts, dating from 1856, on which the statues are well depicted.
Once the model is thus engraved, the second stage involves applying the grisaille pictorial technique, using only shades of the same colour. Ranging from light to dark, it is therefore especially suited to symbolising the predominantly red-brown Petra sandstone. Finally, the distinctive fresco painting sets the final touch to this creation. Implementing this artistic practice requires great skill and speed of execution, since it involves painting on fresh plaster before it dries, to allow the pigments to penetrate the mass.
The white gold case is adorned with a bas-relief and features hand-engraved lugs. The depictions of columns and elephants – symbolising strength and wealth – are drawn from across the entire Petra site.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Pyramid of Khufu
The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest of the Giza pyramids and also referred to as the Great Pyramid. It was built by the Egyptians about 4,500 years ago, under the IVth dynasty. Already considered in antiquity as the first of the Seven Wonders of the World, it is the only one to have survived to the present day. For millennia it remained the tallest and most voluminous ever construction.
The dial of the Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Pyramid of Khufu watch is cut from a block of Willow Creek Jasper, a natural stone whose design is reminiscent of the sand dunes of Egypt. Hieroglyphics are then applied using a transparency technique to create a mysterious effect. The pyramid itself is made of gold and covered with carefully calibrated grains of enamel. Perfect control of the firing temperatures is then required to preserve their granular appearance.
Originally, the Pyramid of Khufu was covered with white limestone facings, which explains why this colour appears in this miniature work. The pyramidion (capstone) was made of electrum, a gold and silver alloy greatly prized by the ancient Egyptians. In this model it is carved from gold and given a mirror polish to maximise its brilliance.
The statue of Khufu is represented on three different levels. Like ancient Egyptian statues, it is made of black basalt and its headdress is adorned with gold miniature painting.
The case is engraved by hand, partly using the taille de joue technique, in which the engraver imparts a particular sense of movement to the engraved object. It depicts the lotus flowers adorning the tops (capitals) of Egyptian columns. The lugs are engraved with Khufu’s cartouche.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum built in 1648 by the Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, which means “Jewel of the Palace” in Persian. A jewel of Mughal architecture, its style combines Islamic, Iranian, Ottoman and Indian influences.
For its construction, more than 1,000 elephants are said to have used to transport white marble from Rajasthan, jasper from Punjab, turquoise from Tibet … In total, 28 types of fine and ornamental polychrome stones were used for the stone inlays in the white marble.
An elaborate miniature painting graces the white marble dial. It depicted the architectural details of the Taj Mahal, including the slightly bulbous central dome, which is 35 metres high. It is topped by a bronze pinnacle decorated with a kalash, a Hindu symbol of good luck, as well as an Islamic crescent moon symbol.
The dome rests on an inverted lotus-shaped drum. It is surrounded by smaller secondary domes, as well as four free-standing minarets, 43 metres high. They have an octagonal base and a tapered cylindrical body. Vertically, the minarets are divided into three parts by two different balconies.
In front of the Taj Mahal, the turquoise part evokes the water of one of the garden’s canals. A polished and rhodium-plated grid is affixed to the dial. It gives the work a depth effect and is adorned with ornamental motifs reminiscent of the moucharabieh windows found in traditional architecture.
The case is hand-engraved with ornamental representations of the Taj Mahal and Indian mandala patterns, complemented by an engraving of a Mughal motif on the bezel. The subtle work on the upstrokes and downstrokes creates a pleasing decorative contrast.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall is the most important architectural structure ever built, in terms of length, surface area and mass. It stretches over 6,200 kilometres, with walls averaging six to seven metres high and four to five metres wide. Intended to protect China’s northern frontier, it starts at the border with the coast north of Beijing and extends to the Gobi Desert. Its construction dates initially from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century. Since 1987, the Great Wall has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In this unique timepiece, the hand-engraved rose gold applique depicts the Great Wall, which gradually transforms into a powerful dragon surrounding the jade path that is lost in the perspective of an endless wall. The bright green shine of the maw-sit-sit jade stone lends itself wonderfully to illuminating the path of the dragon.
In the background, a celestial vault consists of a gradient paving of 129 brilliant-cut sapphires and 11 brilliant-cut diamonds. Through its three shades of blue, it evokes a deep sky, studded with a few diamonds. It overlooks the distant mountain, appearing as a hand-engraved white gold applique.
A subtle play on height dissociates the elements of this artwork. It enables the dragon to express its power and dominate the scene. The case helps assert this authority, as the hand engraving gives life to the dragon theme picked up on the case middle, bezel and lugs.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Statue of Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer is a monumental statue of Christ. Installed on Mount Corvocado, it overlooks Rio de Janeiro. An icon of the city, the statue is 38 metres high and as such is one of the world’s largest statues. Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, it was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida (for the head), then erected in collaboration with the French engineer Albert Caquot. Completed in 1931, the statue is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, a soft yet very resistant rock. The head weighs 30 tons, each hand eight tons, and the span of the outstretched hands is 28 metres.
From the top of Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer appears to be protecting Rio and its famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, as well as the Bay of Guanabara and its 130 islands.
The statue is hand-engraved on a gold base and stands out majestically from the landscape with a relief applique. It faces a sea whose floor is hand-engraved and then enamelled in translucent azure blue. The mountains are also glazed in opaque Grand Feu enamel. To instil even more life into this creation, the multicoloured buildings of the town are depicted in enamelled micro-painting. The various enamelled elements are based on the champlevé technique, which consists of removing a little material to apply the enamel.
The case features a skilful reinterpretation of the decorative elements of the Brazilian coat of arms: coffee leaves and tobacco leaves. These intaglio elements served as a guiding thread enabling the engraver to define a powerful theme, accentuating both the power of Christ the Redeemer and of Brazil itself.
Louis Moinet 8 Marvels of the World – Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain”. This 15th century ancient Inca city is perched on a promontory joining the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains. The presumed residence of the first Inca Emperor (Pachacútec, who reigned from 1438 until his death in 1471), it was a religious sanctuary of the utmost importance.
Following the collapse of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu fell into oblivion for several centuries. The Sacred City is considered the masterpiece of Inca architecture. It is located in the east of the Andes mountain range, on the edge of the Amazonian forest. The ruins of 172 constructions are located at an altitude of 2,438 metres, between the two peaks: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu.
A hand-engraved golden sun shines above the creation while respecting the iconographic representation of the Incas. Everything converges towards this daystar embodying the spirituality of the Inca culture. These include four Andean condors, a true national symbol of Peru.
Meticulously engraved and painted by hand, these birds fly in a deep blue sky, crafted using the micro-painting technique. Their style is directly inspired by drawings of the Nazca civilization, a pre-Colombian culture of southern Peru (200 BC to 600 AD).
The site of Machu Picchu is represented by a golden city at the foot of two marvellous mountains cut and carved with great finesse from a Yowah Nut opal. They surround a central stone in Crazy Lace Agate, chosen for its delicate veins pointing towards the sun.
The desire to bring out the smallest details of the golden city and its various buildings called for the production manufacture of special tools, especially for the chasing. The terraces featuring a distinctive farming system are enhanced with green lacquer.
The case is adorned with a strong relief-effect hand engraving of the sun at 12 o’clock and at 6 o’clock. It is surrounded by the hummingbird and the condor from the Nazca Geoglyphs.
Louis Moinet’s travel trunk
The trunk houses the eight one-of-a-kind creations composing the “8 Marvels of the World”. It is made of natural elm burr and adorned with a silver-coloured Fleur de Lys pattern. Its domed lid is topped by two cognac-coloured leather straps.
Its interior is made of black leather and the inside of the cover features an 18th century treasure: a globe drawn by Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr. The print is enhanced by water colours, making this creation truly one of a kind.
Technical details
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Case
18k gold
Dimensions
47mm: Blue Mosque, Christ the Redeemer, Great Wall of China, Pyramid of Khufu, Taj Mahal
45.4mm: Colosseum, Petra, Machu Picchu
Movement
Caliber LM35
High-precision tourbillon movement, awarded First Prize in the International Chronometry Competition.
Frequency: 21,600 vPH (3Hz)
Power reserve: 72 Hours
Jewels: 19
To mark its association with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) as a partner brand, Louis Moinet created the new Wonders of the World concept.
Temple of Kukulkan, pyramid in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
This first release from a series of eight one-of-a-creations, each featuring a Wonder of the World, is a model dedicated to the Pyramid at Chichén Itzá, in Mexico.
This timepiece highlights the craftsmanship and excellence of contemporary watchmaking. The Louis Moinet tourbillon, gold medal winner at the last International Chronometry Competition, is thus associated with a wonder of the world.
The bas relief-engraved, finely chased famous feathered serpent and various architectural elements are paired with aventurine in order to further enhance the brilliance of this stone symbolising the Maya’s cherished underworld theme.
The pyramid itself is adorned with Myanmar jade of exceptional quality, the very same material from which the Maya crafted their masks and statuettes 3,000 years ago. Topped by 96 snow-set rubies, the pyramid is also surrounded by baguette-cut sapphires in a subtle colour gradient.
About the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie was established in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and the Richemont Group. Its objective is to promote Fine Watchmaking worldwide. This ambition takes shape through activities relating to the Foundation’s missions: inform on latest developments, the history and professions of watchmaking; train and recognise professional knowledge; organise events for the industry and the public at large. Partner-brands support the FHH through a financial contribution and assist in implementing its projects.
The 43 partner-brands
A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Armin Strom, BOVET, Breitling, Bulgari, Carl F. Bucherer, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Christophe Claret, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, DeWitt, Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, Grönefeld, Hautlence, Hermès, H. Moser & Cie, HYT, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Kari Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, Louis Moinet, Louis Vuitton, MB&F, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Rebellion Timepieces, Ressence, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Romain Gauthier, Speake-Marin, TAG Heuer, Ulysse Nardin, Urwerk, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith.
This unique wristwatch belongs to “The Islamic Collection” by Louis Moinet.
Louis Moinet has produced a set of five artistic watches, each a unique piece, designed to show off the artistic beauty of the Arab world by depicting its most beautiful Mosques. The “Islamic Collection” features the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Al-Masjid An-Nabawī in Medina, Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca, Al-Masjid Al-Aqṣā in Jerusalem, and Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the main Mosque in Oman was funded and commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, and took over six years to build. It was inaugurated on May 4, 2001 – an emblematic achievement in art and design that is renowned worldwide.
The Mosque is home to the largest single-piece hand-woven carpet in existence. This feat of artistic and artisanal prowess measures 70 by 30 metres, and weighs in at 21 tonnes.
Made from 28 different colours of wool and cotton, the Persian carpet contains 1.7 billion knots; it took 600 weavers from Khorasan province in Iran 4 years to make it. Particular attention was also paid to the Mosque’s lighting; it is lit up by a total of 35 crystal chandeliers. The most spectacular of these, in the centre of the prayer hall, boasts a total of 1122 bulbs. It is the largest chandelier in the world, 8 metres in diameter and 14 metres high, and weighing 8 tonnes.
The Louis Moinet Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque watch captures the beauty of the iconic Mosque with a hand-painted image on the mother-of-pearl dial. The tourbillon complication at 6h adds movement to the piece. A special luminous material has been inserted into the Dome and base of the Mosque to light it up at night. The white gold case has been set with 56 best quality baguette diamonds.
Louis Moinet expands its Memoris chronograph family by launching Memoris Superlight, a new edition of models in Grade-5 titanium. This new edition presents three color variants: each one limited to 28 pieces.
Louis Moinet Memoris Superlight Red, Ref. LM-79.20.15/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
The watch houses Caliber LM 79, an extremely complex self-winding movement made of 302 components. The originality of Memoris resides in the separation of the chronograph (with its 147 components) from the automatic mechanism (155 components). For the first time ever, the entire chronograph has been positioned at the top of the watch, with the automatic part located beneath the plate.
The Memoris column wheel takes pride of place on the front of the watch, at 12 o’clock. This component coordinates the chronograph functions with the minutes hammer, blocking lever, and clutch. From the dial side, Memoris also offers a visual delight of chronograph components in action.
All of the components of the chronograph – yokes, clutch, hammers, column wheel, springs and wheels – are visible, and the wearer can admire their motion when operating the chronograph function. It’s worth noting that in spite of their extreme complexity, all these operations are managed by a single monopusher.
Louis Moinet Memoris Superlight Green, Ref. LM-79.20.31/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
The Memoris in Grade-5 titanium offers a whole new look. Its curved 46 millimetre case features a unique waterproofing system. Emblazoned with the Louis Moinet signature, its lugs boast four black zircons and screwed settings. Another elegant and subtle detail: the two chevé concave sapphire crystals.
Louis Moinet Memoris Superlight Purple, Ref. LM-79.20.17/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
The case has a polished, satin-effect finish. Non corrosive titanium allows for the manufacture of slim, lightweight components. The case weighs less than 31 grammes, making it especially comfortable on the wrist.
The watch features a green, purple or red dial background depends upon the version. The straps are made of alligator leather and come with matching colors.
Technical details
Movement
Caliber LM 79
Automatic movement
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
No. of jewels: 34
Total components: 302 (147 for chronograph and 155 for automatic mechanism)
Power reserve: 48 hours
Functions
Hour, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case
Material: Grade-5 Titanium
Diameter: 46mm
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap
Alligator strap with folding clasp
Strap width: 24mm
References/Edition
Red: LM-79.20.15/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
Green: LM-79.20.31/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
Purple: LM-79.20.17/ Limited edition of 28 pieces
Independent Swiss luxury watch brand Louis Moinet presents Space Revolution, its latest haute-horlogerie creation inspired by the interstellar world.
The Space Revolution is a flying satellite double tourbillon watch that recreates an extraterrestrial sight comprising of space stations and spaceships on its dial.
Two spaceships battle it out beneath a sapphire crystal dome, facing off eighteen times an hour: the upper spacecraft completes a clockwise rotation every five minutes, whilst the lower vessel turns in the opposite direction, completing a counter-clockwise revolution every ten minutes. Meanwhile, two constantly revolving space stations stage a powerful defense against the effects of gravity.
To ensure they can float freely in space, the craft weigh barely 0.5 grammes each and are made entirely from titanium, with a hybrid ceramic colour finish applied by hand. Their movement can be measured in terms of the speed of light – almost 300,000,000 metres per second. The depths of space have been reproduced by inserting a floating flange between the cylinder and the sapphire crystal dome.
The Space Revolution features an 18 carat rose gold case topped with an imposing sapphire crystal dome. The watch case measures 43.50 mm diameter and the sapphire dome has a diameter of 41.60 mm. The case has been fully redesigned. Made from polished, satin-finish gold, the base supports the sapphire crystal dome, allowing the magic to be admired from the side as well as from above.
The mechanism is wholly unprecedented. Initially deemed to be impossible, the design required more than three years of research. Today, construction of this supremely sophisticated architecture requires painstaking work by a handful of outstanding watchmakers.
The movement comprises two oscillators, each equipped with a differential mechanism to provide greater precision. Each watch has over 470 components and six ceramic ball bearings to ensure perfect rotation and balance of all revolving parts (the spaceships, the tourbillon cages, and the centre of the titanium gold frame).
Even the winding and time-setting mechanisms stand apart from other timepieces: a function selector integrated in the caseback toggles between the two.
To complement the deep space effect, cutting-edge technology endows the dial with light-absorbing properties, achieved by laser nano-structuring on a titanium base that creates wells to capture the light.
The individual nature of each watch offers an opportunity for Louis Moinet to reassert its identity as a specialist in extra-terrestrial materials. Each timepiece in this limited edition of eight is truly unique, thanks to the meteorite fragment placed beneath the centre of the hands on the watch. One is from the Moon, another from Mars, another again from the oldest known rock in the solar system; still another is a fragment containing amino acids…
Technical details
Model: SPACE REVOLUTION
Reference: LM-104.50.50
Case
18 Carat Rose gold
Diameter: 43.50 mm
Diameter of the sapphire dome: 41.60 mm
This unique creation by Louis Moinet enshrines an extraordinary journey through the Mexican culture and history. The collection of only 12 watches in steel features a genuine ALLENDE meteorite fragment in a capsule at the three o’clock position. The ALLENDE meteorite discovered in the state of Chihuahua on February 8, 1969 is the oldest known material in existence, estimated to be 4.567 billion years old – making it 30 million years older than the earth itself.
Technical details
Movement
CALIBRE LM45
Automatic movement
Functions: Hours, Minutes, seconds
Frequency: 28,800 VPH (4Hz)
Power reserve: 48 Hours
Jewels: 22
Case
Diameter: 43.2MM
316L stainless steel
Water resistance: 50 Meters
Louis Moinet presents ‘Only Mexico’, a unique timepiece that pays tribute to roots of Mexican culture. Ateliers Louis Moinet painstakingly gathered information and sought out the most typical materials of the country – and then blended them together in this spectacular, original creation. One key highlight is the presence of the oldest-known material in the world, Allende meteorite, found in the State of Chihuahua.
‘Only Mexico’ is fitted with Louis Moinet’s mechanical tourbillon. This won the gold medal at the most recent International Chronometry Competition – and beats at a rhythm of 21’600 vibrations per hour.
Louis Moinet’s legendary NEO case, cut from polished, satin-effect 5N rose gold, accentuates the imposing character of the piece. It owes its distinctive silhouette to the application of a large number of brand-new technologies. Everything is constructed around two horizontal bridges, spanning the piece and securing the strap in place at each end of their lugs.
Each component of the design reflects Mexico’s very special culture and history:
Dial: the Sun Stone, a legendary Aztec artefact
At the centre, the dial depicts the Sun Stone, one of the best-known and most iconic works in Aztec art. It was sculpted during the reign of the Aztec Emperor Axayacatl (1469-1481) to commemorate the New Fire ceremony in 1479. The enormous disc, 3.6 metres in diameter and weighing 24 tonnes, was cut from a single block of olivine basalt lava. Today, the Sun Stone is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico city.
The Sun Stone comprises eight concentric circles, each with a whole host of references to Aztec cosmogony, describing how the World was formed. The second circle is especially noteworthy, displaying the symbols of the deities Ehecatl, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, and Chalchiuhtlicue, and evoking the legend of the suns, a cosmogonic myth based on the creation and destruction of several successive worlds.
Dial edge: the Allende meteorite – the origin of time
Beneath the engraving of the Sun Stone lies is a dark-coloured meteorite – Allende.
Allende meteorite
The Allende meteorite is the oldest known material in existence, estimated to be 4.567 billion years old – making it 30 million years older than the Earth itself. When it fell at Allende in the State of Chihuahua on February 8, 1969, it weighed almost two tonnes, also making it the largest chondrite meteorite ever to have been found. It is considered to be the most-studied meteorite in history, yielding so much information about the formation of the solar system that cosmochemists view it as their ‘Rosetta Stone’.
Dial centre: the Toluca meteorite
Located beneath the second concentric circles of the Sun Stone, the Toluca iron meteorite has been given a blue treatment, making it truly resplendent.
The Conquistadors revealed its presence to the wider world in 1776, but it probably fell to earth over 10,000 years earlier – and for several centuries, it was used by the local populations to make a wide variety of tools.
Case: Pre-Columbian geometric friezes
The engravings draw inspiration from the typical architecture of the geometric friezes found on buildings in the Pre-Columbian city of Mitla, occupied by the Zapotecs. Some believe these bas-relief friezes form a mosaic symbolising the image of the Feathered Serpent.
Case lugs: the Maya deity Chaahk
These depict the Maya deity Chaahk, as observed on the monument at Kabah known as Codz Poop, the Palace of the Masks, in Yucatán. Chaahk is the rain god and protector of the harvests, striking the clouds with his thunder axe to produce rain and thunder.
Technical Details
Model: ‘Only Mexico’ LM-44.50.ME
Unique Piece, Number 01/01
Case
Material: 5N Rose gold
Diameter: 45.4 mm
Water resistance: 30 meters
Movement
Calibre LM 35 (High precision tourbillon movement, Awarded first prize in the International Chronometry Competition)
Manual winding
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours
In 2013, Ateliers Louis Moinet presented the world premier Derrick Tourbillon watch that proudly incorporates an animated derrick with the regular beat of the tourbillon. This year, the Saint-Blaise based luxury watch maker presents a modern, minimalist version of its pioneering DERRICK concept.
The highly creative oil pumping system adorns the front of the watch. Only the traditional, distinctive components of the derrick are shown – the main shaft and horse head, the drive shaft, and its counterweight. The result is a powerful, minimalist display, with a cycle that repeats three times a minute.
Made entirely out of brushed aluminium, the extremely lightweight Derik automaton is powered by the watchmaking mechanism itself, which thus acts as the driving force for the entire assembly. Two wheels can be seen behind the derrick; the one located at six o’clock is used to display the seconds, on a dedicated segment.
While automatons themselves have been in existence since the late seventeenth century, there’s no denying that DERRICK is one of the most spectacular ever seen. In a quest for contrast, Louis Moinet has chosen to showcase its pioneering system by placing it atop two black-coloured dials. The first, with a rather more traditional feel, features a hand-punched surface for a brilliant sheen. The second, with more high-tech overtones, offsets the derrick with a woven carbon fibre mesh.
To further accentuate the imposing character of this new creation, the first models are being made available in Louis Moinet’s legendary NEO case, cut from polished, satin-effect 5N rose gold. A whole host of new technical solutions have gone into the creation of the design – the likes of which have never before been seen in watchmaking.
Everything is constructed around two horizontal bridges, spanning the piece and securing the strap in place at each end of their lugs. A sapphire crystal on the back of the watch reveals the automatic mechanism and its oscillating weight – decorated with a concentric clou de Paris pattern.
Technical details
Models
LM-64.50.50: Limited Edition of 12 watches (5N Rose gold case, black dial with hand-punched finishing)
LM-64.50.51: Limited Edition of 12 watches (5N Rose gold case, black dial with woven carbon fibre mesh finish)
Movement
Calibre LM 64 Automatic movement
Number of parts: 248
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Jewels: 28
Case
5N Rose God
Diameter: 45.4 mm (43.2mm for white gold versions)
Water resistance: 50 meters
Ateliers Louis Moinet presents CHRONOSPHERE – the first chronograph to feature a constantly moving retrograde seconds system. Both fun and interactive, this new chronograph complication is it based on a completely new development – the only one in the world to bring together a retrograde system, totalizer, chronograph, and movement animation.
To achieve this, a column wheel mechanism was designed, in which a new approach was taken to incorporate the retrograde complication. This involved coming up with an ingenious “starwheelslide bar” system. Made completely from titanium so as not to affect the workings of the watch, the system lies at the heart of the animation.
It features a rack at 9 o’clock and a starwheel at 6 o’clock. The system is extremely precise, launching a hand along a 10-second journey(between 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock) before it snaps back to its original position to begin another cycle. It also brings to life the tens of seconds counter (from 0 to 5), whose jumping disc displays the relevant indication in the window located in the middle of this section.
The other major complication is the chronograph, as evidenced by a large central hand (60 seconds) made from composite material and decorated with a red dot. Meanwhile, the counter at 2 o’clock counts up 30-minute periods.
The heart of the movement can also be seen on the front of the watch, where the spring balance is on display, vibrating at a frequency of 4 Hertz (at 11 o’clock) – the final detail in the overall animation.
The bottom of the flange is made from titanium, adding to the lightness of the timepiece, and is covered with a high-temperature vacuum-moulded translucent material. This enables it to be through-coloured –and the transparent coating discreetly highlights the chronograph indications. The hours and minutes hands are in Moinet blue, making it easy to read the time.
The titanium case is an original design, displaying Louis Moinet’s signature on the caseband. The lugs are decorated with black zircon and a screwed setting. The two-part bezel is a hallmark feature of the brand, with its 6 screws fitted at a 17-degree angle. The two box-type sapphire crystals have been treated with a non-reflective coating on both faces.
The pushers are decorated with a “Clous de Paris” pattern, while the crown protector is itself specially protected. The Louisiana alligator strap and alligator lining are hand-sewn; the strap is fitted with a clasp bearing Louis Moinet’s fleur de lys emblem.
For its second consecutive appearance at the Only Watch charity event, Louis Moinet has created MEMORIS ONLY WATCH, a unique piece designed to support the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy.
MEMORIS is the first chronograph in the history of watchmaking to be both fun and educational. It moves the entire chronograph function onto the dial side, following three guiding principles: putting the chronograph in the central position on the dial; fitting it with a column wheel featuring a conventional clutch; and adding a mono-pusher, just like on Louis Moinet’s Compteur de Tierces, the first chronograph in history (1816).
MEMORIS ONLY WATCH features a spectacular, contemporary design, requiring 147 components for the chronograph and 155 components for the automatic movement. The originality of the piece resides in the separation of these two functions, thus allowing the chronograph to become a primary function, with its mechanism fully visible on the dial.
The column wheel is the heart and soul of this exceptional timepiece. It comprises two parts, indexed to one another: six columns on the top section, and a cog base on the lower section. This bottom cog ensures the perfect positioning of the column wheel and controls its rotation, interacting with the control hook spring and jumper. Between them, the six columns orchestrate the functions required for the chronograph to work, together with the minutes hammer, blocking lever, and clutch.
MEMORIS ONLY WATCH features the highly effective “Energie Plus” winding system, improving the winding performance of the automatic movement by some 30%.
The plate is made from aventurine, a deep blue material dotted with a host of inclusions to form an amazingly lifelike depiction of a star-studded sky. The hours and minutes are read off a blue lacquered guilloché dial, positioned at 6 o’clock. The counters and flange are made from a translucent material, specially designed to make both the chronograph mechanism and the aventurine plate fully visible.
The case is made from polished titanium and bears the authentic Louis Moinet signature on the caseband. The entire back of the movement can be seen through a sapphire caseback, with “N°01/01” engraved around it. The watch is wound using an oscillating weight, decorated with a lacquered blue concentric Clou de Paris pattern and engraved with the words “ONLY WATCH”.
The Louisiana alligator strap and alligator lining are hand-sewn; the strap is fitted with a clasp bearing Louis Moinet’s fleur de lys emblem.
With this limited edition timepiece, Louis Moinet celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the USA. The innovative mechanical creation is available on a pre-order basis of two limited editions of 18 and 69 watches.
The idea of building a railroad spanning the North American continent from one ocean to the other dates back to the early nineteenth century. It was a complex undertaking, with a huge continent to be crossed amidst an acute lack of technical and financial resources. Initially, President Thomas Jefferson convinced Congress to allocate $2,500 to Lewis and Clark, who organised the first expedition across the United States from east to west. They faced all kinds of danger – and took two years (1804-1806) to complete their mission.
Years of reconnaissance were then needed to identify the route: through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, avoiding Death Valley, bypassing the Yosemite Peaks – as well as all the canyons and rapids of the Missouri. In 1862, even as the American Civil War raged, President Abraham Lincoln’s vision involved unifying and reviving the country. He promulgated the Pacific Railroad Act, allocating the construction of the railway to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific companies. Once work had started, each company drew nearer to the other at a rate of forty miles per month.
The project was finally completed on May 10, 1869. After 6 years’ effort, marked by a whole host of unexpected and varied challenges on a daily basis, the first transcontinental railroad was ready! The two companies’ tracks met at Promontory Summit, Utah, linking Sacramento, California to Omaha, Nebraska. A huge number of bridges and tunnels were required, in addition to 1,766 miles of track to connect with the existing railroad network in the east of the USA, thus linking the Pacific coast and the Atlantic coast.
East and West shook hands as the last piece of track was laid at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869. To symbolise the event, a Golden Spike was driven in (later replaced by a steel crampon). This iconic symbol of the transcontinental accomplishment is now carefully preserved at the Stanford University museum in California.
Louis Moinet has a particularly keen sense of human endeavour; previously, the manufacture has celebrated the exploits of cosmonaut Alexey Leonov and triple Formula One racing world champion Nelson Piquet. It has also supported tropical forest research with the Geograph Rainforest, as well as the installation of water wells in Africa with 123 Action.
Today, in a blend of respect and admiration, Louis Moinet is paying tribute to those who devoted all their energy and knowhow to pushing back boundaries and shaping the world as we know it. One hundred and fifty years after the first transcontinental railroad was completed, Louis Moinet has devised a commemorative watch, destined for the pioneers of the new world we have inherited.
In the spirit of the great human adventures of the nineteenth century, the “Transcontinental by Louis Moinet” pre-order is now open. From now until September 10, 2019, it is being made available to the descendants of the transcontinental pioneers – as well as to forerunners and innovators everywhere. All of them will recognise the same unique values that enable them to successfully complete their own human endeavours.
Pre-order offers them three key advantages:
1) Ensuring they will be able to possess this collector’s watch, of which there will be just two limited editions (18 watches in rose gold and 69 watches in steel and rose gold);
2) Choosing a customised number (on a first come, first served basis);
3) Benefitting from an attractive launch price, the pre-order amount is very reasonable: USD 57,500.00 in rose gold and USD 38,500.00 in steel androse gold. It should be borne in mind that the retail price fixed after the pre-order period will be higher. In both cases, delivery will be carried out by one of Louis Moinet’s partner retailers.
Those interested in the pre-order are invited to request further details from: transcontinental@louismoinet.com
THE “TRANSCONTINENTAL BY LOUIS MOINET” WATCH
A clever automaton has been developed to reproduce the coupling rod systems on “Jupiter” and “119”, the two locomotives that made the final connection at Promontory Summit in 1869. A wheel arrangement comprises two large wheels and one small wheel, concentrating energy into continuous power.
The coupling rod passes on power to two reamed, anodised aluminium piston rods – except that here, rather than a piston, the system showcases a reproduction of the legendary Golden Spike, moving up and down in recollection of the thousands of crampons driven in all the way along the route.
The hours and minutes can be read off in the centre of the watch, while the seconds are displayed at six o’clock, on a segment representing the front of a locomotive.
The movement is an automatic winding mechanical movement.
Ateliers Louis Moinet have won 29 prizes over the past ten years, including a large number of design awards from all over the world. Creating meaningful pieces remains the Ateliers’ absolute priority.
“Transcontinental by Louis Moinet” plays on the contrast of a black plate and a rose-gold-coloured dial with a high copper content. While frosted decoration is a watchmaking classic, this particular finish is of an entirely different order. To produce such dense frosting, a micro structure was developed using laser technology. The individual number of each watch is engraved at 12 o’clock, on an 18-carat “Golden Spike” head, framed by the date – 1869.
Innovative technical solutions were devised to create an unprecedented case shape. Everything is arranged around two stylised, openwork bridges. These span the watch, securing the strap at either end of their lugs. The bridges hold the movement’s container – and the precious mechanical mechanism it houses – in place. Last but by no means least, the signature six-screw bezel, a hallmark of the Louis Moinet style, adds a distinctive touch to the piece.
The alligator strap, meanwhile, comes with a folding clasp decorated with another historic Louis Moinet symbol: the Fleur de Lys.
The box features an original design illustrating the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad, with the inside done out to resemble the piping of a steam locomotive. A medal commemorates the event; at its centre sits a newly-fashioned crampon made from a genuine American rail spike dating back to the nineteenth century.
Transcontinental by Louis Moinet will be available in autumn 2019 in two exclusive limited editions. To commemorate the 1869 achievement, just 18 watches will be available in 18-carat rose gold; and just 69 more will be available in steel and 18-carat rose gold.
Louis Moinet presents MOGADOR, two exclusive sets of artistic watches fitted with the legendary LM-35 movement winner of the latest International Chronometry Competition.
MOGADOR is rare and refined – the orchestration of a world of beauty. Its dial boasts avant-garde colours, illuminated by its concentric Clous de Paris pattern, and framed by Moinet’s slim and graceful hour markers.
The elegant, structured dial includes a technical touch: a view of the tourbillon’s rotating cage. Inside, the balance spring, anchor, and anchor wheel perform a full rotation every minute. For this mechanism to carry off the first prize at the International Chronometry Competition, it had to pass four months’ worth of tests – and sustain no fewer than 150 impacts.
The MOGADOR case, 45.40 millimetres in diameter, is made from polished, satin-effect grade 5 titanium throughout. The lightness of the piece – which weighs in at just 33 grammes – underscores its purity. Innovative technical solutions were developed to create an entirely new outline for the watch. Everything is arranged around two stylised, openwork bridges.
These span the watch, securing the strap at the end of each of their lugs. They also encompass the movement’s flamboyant Moinet blue case – a further contribution to MOGADOR’s harmony and brightness. The six-screw bezel – a Louis Moinet hallmark – adds a final, distinctive note to the piece.
The alligator strap comes with a folding clasp, emblazoned with Louis Moinet’s characteristic Fleur de Lys symbol.
This unique creation by Louis Moinet enshrines an extraordinary space borne adventure. The collection (comprising 12 pieces in rose gold and 60 in steel) features a genuine Mars meteorite fragment in a capsule at the three o’clock position, amid a dial that faithfully reproduces the surface of Mars, complete with its legendary volcanoes. Collectors who are also astronomy buffs will have no difficulty in recognising Olympus Mons in the centre, Ascraeus Mons between 1 and 2 o’clock, Pavonis Mons between 4 and 5 o’clock, and Arsia Mons between 5 and 6 o’clock.
To create this Martian landscape, the brass dial has undergone expert craftsmanship, with each crater reproduced individually. On the rear side, the oscillating weight is in the same shade as the dial, with a copper-coloured, concentric Clous de Paris stud finish.
The Mars piece features three different sets of openwork – on the hour markers, on the dial, and on the lugs and vertical bridges – giving the timepiece a uniquely three-dimensional aspect. It is also the first creation by Ateliers Louis Moinet to feature Roman numeral hour markers, made with three different geometrical sections. They have a satin, diamond-studded finish, and appear to be suspended in mid-air as if weightless.
The openwork on the Mars dial, between 8 and 12 o’clock, reveals its exclusive Louis Moinet caliber. The escapement (generating 28,800 vibrations per hour) and the offset seconds hand are displayed in all their glory – carefully positioned to ensure an unobstructed view of every detail of the Mars movement. The assembly is housed in Louis Moinet’s 43.2-millimetre Neo case, structured around two vertical bridges that span the timepiece, securing the strap at each end of their openwork lugs.
The exclusive presentation case has been specially designed for Mars in the style of a leather bound first edition typical of nineteenth-century works of speculative fiction and exploration. In a new development, the Mars presentation case will also be punched in the shape of a Martian crater –in the middle of which a second fragment of Martian meteorite is sealed.
To mark the 150th anniversary of Jules Verne’s science fiction novel Around the Moon, Ateliers Louis Moinet has created a limited edition comprising just 12 rose gold pieces and 60 steel pieces: “Moon”.
At three o’clock, the “Moon” piece features a capsule containing a genuine lunar meteorite fragment. The capsule is positioned amid a dial that faithfully reproduces the surface of the Moon, complete with its familiar craters. Indeed, expert craftsmanship has been exercised on the brass dial to produce accurate depictions of Gassendi, Tycho, and Cassini, the best-known craters on the visible face of our closest neighbour.
Moon features three different sets of openwork – on the hour markers, on the dial, and on the lugs and vertical bridges – giving the timepiece a uniquely three-dimensional aspect.
It is also the first creation by Ateliers Louis Moinet to feature Roman numeral hour markers, made with three different geometrical sections. Their satin, diamond-studded finish is designed to reflect the blue flange that encompasses the piece, evoking the cosmos – and they appear to be suspended in mid-air, as if weightless.
The openwork on Moon’s dial, between 8 and 12 o’clock, reveal search and every beat of the piece’s caliber. The escapement (generating 28,800 vibrations per hour) and the offset seconds hand are displayed in all their glory – carefully positioned to ensure an unobstructed view of every detail of Moon’s movement. The assembly is housed in Louis Moinet’s 43.2-millimetre Neo case, structured around two vertical bridges that span the timepiece, securing the strap at each end of their openwork lugs.
An exclusive presentation case in the style of the first edition of Around the Moon has been specially created for this piece. In a new development, the Moon presentation case will also be punched in the shape of a lunar crater –in the middle of which a second fragment of lunar meteorite is sealed.
Swiss luxury watch brand Louis Moinet unveils its second generation 20-Second Tempograph: Tempograph Chrome
The 20-Second Tempograph collection consists of a series of very limited editions and unique pieces that many collectors have patiently sought to acquire. This timepiece boasts technology and aesthetics in equal measure – a balance that is clearly visible on the dial. And lastly, the piece features an exclusive animation, epitomising the creative aspirations with which Ateliers Louis Moinet has always been imbued. The 20-second retrograde hand is powered by workings that are visible on the left side of the dial.
The new-generation 20-Second Tempograph, Tempograph Chrome, includes two major firsts. It features a completely black or blue surround. This extends from the bridges that structure the movement to the flange, itself engraved with a concentric Clou de Paris pattern. The time dial is located at 4 o’clock; it too is decorated with the concentric Clou de Paris pattern, a Louis Moinet hallmark. Fully lacquered in black or blue, it sets off the Louis Moinet’s signature “Dewdrop” hands perfectly.
The timepiece also features a new case, borrowed from Louis Moinet’s Memoris collection, the first chronograph watch in history. The case diameter has been decreased from 46 to 44 millimetres, and then fully reworked to accommodate the 20-Seconds’ Tempograph retrograde movement. This is also the first time this prestigious case has been made in steel for the blue version.
These two changes mark a turning-point in the Tempograph saga, so much so that Louis Moinet sees this as constituting the second generation of the timepiece, Tempograph Chrome.
Celebrating the 250th birth anniversary of legendary master watch maker Louis Moinet (1768-1853), who created the first ever chronograph, luxury watch brand Louis Moinet presents Ultravox, the first ever hour strike watch manufactured by the Swiss watch atelier Saint-Blaise, Neuchâtel.
Throughout his entire life, Louis Moinet, the inventor of the Compteur de Tierces chronograph, which dates from 1816, made a large number of striking clocks, many of which adorned the drawing rooms of the world’s greatest leaders, from Napoleon Bonaparte to Tsar Alexander I and presidents of the United States (among them Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe), as well as many others besides.
The Ultravox watch was created in partnership with watchmaker Eric Coudray, winner of the Gaïa Prize.
The Latin name “Ultravox”, the ‘strong voice’, is a nod both to the sound of the strike mechanism and to the neoclassical influences on Louis Moinet, whose clocks portrayed figures such as Minerva, Julius Caesar, and Cicero. Only twenty or so pieces will be made a year.
The strike mechanism denotes each passing hour on the hour, marking out the appropriate number of chimes. A silencer mechanism also allows the wearer to disengage the chime, if they so wish.
To enhance the excellence of this creation, for the first time Louis Moinet has unveiled its entire mechanism on the wrist. A special plate had to be designed, including over 50 jewels, to engage the chime mechanism’s various components, whose arrangement is extremely complex. The central flirt triggers a system arming the hammer at twelve o’clock, and strikes out the hours on a gong arrayed around the movement. The function of the fly, meanwhile, is to channel power from the barrel, regulating the rhythm of the chime.
The Ultravox plate finish in “Moinet blue” is designed to reflect the light and offset the block polished and chamfered screws above it, showcasing the acoustic mechanism. The rear reveals a system with darkened, parallel double rotors. The first of these serves to generate force for the hours and minutes mechanism, while the second is wholly given over to the chime.
With a diameter of 46.5 mm, the Ultravox will be available this autumn, in a first limited edition of just 28 rose gold timepieces.
This story traces back to 1814, when the British burned the White House in retaliation for an American attack on the city of York in Ontario, Canada. It was rebuilt three years later by the architect James Hoban and, in 1817; President James Monroe refurbished the iconic building. One of the principal reception rooms at the White House is the Blue Room, which is one of only three oval rooms, the other two being the President’s famous Oval Office and the Red Room.
President Monroe decided to refurbish the Blue Room in French Empire style and so sent agents to France on what must have been one of the greatest shopping trips of the 19th century. They were looking for the very best, so it should come as no surprise that when selecting a suitable clock to sit in pride of place on the mantle above the fireplace, they chose a stunning gilded table clock by Louis Moinet, who had already made a clock for one of Monroe’s predecessors and fellow Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, which accompanied the latter during his two White House terms of office.
The Louis Moinet clock purchased by Monroe strikes the hours and quarter hours and features Minerva – the Roman goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce and crafts – reclining on a shield. The clock bears the names of both Louis Moinet and Pierre-Philippe Thomire, the acclaimed bronzier, who collaborated with Moinet on many of his clocks. Thomire’s beautiful bas-relief engravings depicting military scenes decorate the sides of the case.
Today, only a handful of objects remain in the White House from this period, but among them is the Louis Moinet Minerva clock which became one of the favourite White House timepieces of 11th U.S. president, James K. Polk. And nearly 200 years after President Monroe bought the Louis Moinet Minerva clock, it is still sitting proudly in the Blue Room as he originally intended.
A few years back, Louis Moinet acquired and restored an original Minerva clock made by Moinet and Thomire, dating from 1818 and identical to the one in the White House except that its base does not have a military theme.
The newly restored Minerva clock resides in Louis Moinet’s private museum in Saint-Blaise, Switzerland and provides a beautiful historical link between one of the world’s most significant buildings, the White House, and one of the world’s greatest watch and clock makers, Louis Moinet.
Especially created for women, Sundance stands out as a timepiece whose guiding inspiration has been the discovery of new creative horizons. The main feature of this new collection is its dial that reflects the expertise of Ateliers Louis Moinet in manufacturing extremely complex and highly artistic dials.
Even though this collection comprises 60 watches, each dial is entirely unique thanks to a wholly unprecedented manufacturing method employed by the luxury watch manufacture.
The Sundance dials are redolent with many-hued variations, evocative of the infinite expanse of the Milky Way. Beneath the sapphire crystal front glass, this miniature galaxy features diamond hour markers and two dewdrop hands to indicate hour and minutes. The open worked sun at the centre of the dial marking off the seconds.
The Sundance case is based on the open-style architecture of the “Neo” case, devised by Louis Moinet to house all of its most recent creations. Its main compartment encloses the watch’s automatic mechanism with an avant-garde material: translucent, blue-coloured neoralithe. The case is delicately inserted between two slim, graceful, openwork gold bridges that span the assembly and secure the alligator strap at either end. Louis Moinet has used the space between these bridges to engrave a series of original motifs on the case itself.
These are a faithful reproduction of historical architectural drawings engraved in stone in Bourges (France), as observed by Professor Louis Moinet as he went to the School of Fine Arts, at the turn of the nineteenth century. Ateliers Louis Moinet have reproduced them on the Sundance case, protecting them with the same translucent blue composite used on the four case lugs, each resembling an aerial view of the Earth.
Sundance will be available with jewel settings on the dial (twelve diamonds, one on each hour marker) and bezel, as well as with three concentric rows of diamonds opening towards the outside of the bezel.
Following on from SpaceWalker, the satellite tourbillon dedicated to Alexey Leonov’s 1965 space mission, Swiss luxury watch brand Louis Moinet is now unveiling a second creation commemorating the great Russian cosmonaut’s 1975 Apollo-Soyuz adventure – the first joint space mission between the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
Apollo and Soyuz were space travel codenames in the USA and the former USSR respectively. In the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, USSR launched the Soyuz 19 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, and USA’s Apollo took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was the time of cold war between the super powers.
At 7.20pm on July 17, 1975, both spaceships were docked in space; only the hatch of Soyuz 19 separated it from Apollo. In opening the hatchway, Alexey Leonov also opened up a new world of peace and cooperation; his first interstellar handshake with Commander Thomas Stafford was an unforgettable moment.
In 2018, Louis Moinet is celebrating this achievement in the conquest of space – and, more importantly, in human relations – with a timepiece called Skylink, recalling the link that was quietly forged between two men, each representing their nations, in the depths of space.
The Skylink’s dial depicts this sidereal expanse. A graphic process that is exclusive to Louis Moinet allows the creation of colours reminiscent of a nebula – a collection of interstellar dust and gases of infinite hues. Two of Louis Moinet’s hallmark “dewdrop” hands glide over this composition. The raised three-dimensional hour markers reaching out across this dial give the piece a real sense of depth – an architectural aspect that further enhances their very special finish. Their sides feature a diamond-cut, satin-finish section that reflects light deep, deep into the dial, setting the timepiece sparkling with life. The colour contrast is enhanced by each hour marker being lacquer-coated. The seconds are marked off on their counter at 9 o’clock; subtle changes in its hue, from dark blue through to purple, can be seen as light strikes its fine metallised coating.
At 3 o’clock sits a special, exclusive Skylink feature: a micro capsule containing, for all eternity, a fragment of Kapton foil – the polyamide fabric which protected Apollo on its return to Earth on July 24, 1975 – together with fibres from the Russian Sokol-K spacesuit. Used for the first time on Soyuz 12 in 1973, the same model is still in use today.
This very limited edition of 19 white gold, 19 rose gold and 75 steel watches comes on a dark blue or black strap. The numbers are a tribute to 1975 – the year of the Apollo-Soyuz mission. The dial of each piece bears an authentic reproduction of Alexey Leonov’s signature.
Louis Moinet presents new generation timepieces from its successful Tempograph 20-Secondes line of watches.
The new-generation Tempograph 20-Secondes includes two major firsts. It features a completely black surround. This extends from the bridges that structure the movement to the flange, itself engraved with a concentric Clou de Paris pattern.
The time dial is located at 4 o’clock; it too is decorated with the concentric Clou de Paris pattern, a Louis Moinet hallmark. Fully lacquered in black, it sets off the Louis Moinet’s signature “Dewdrop” hands perfectly.
The timepiece also features a new case, borrowed from Louis Moinet’s Memoris collection. Packed with 52 components, the case has been decreased in size from 46 to 44 millimetres, and then fully reworked to accommodate the Tempograph 20-Secondes’ retrograde movement. This is also the first time this prestigious case has been made in steel.
On March 18, 1965, Russian cosmonaut Alexey Leonov became the first man in the world to perform a spacewalk. To honour him, Louis Moinet has created a special edition watch named SpaceWalker that features an outsize tourbillon at 12 o’clock, representing Alexey Leonov’s spaceship on his Voskhod 2 mission.
A diamond revolves around the tourbillon, representing Alexey Leonov himself, floating in space outside his spacecraft. Th edecision to use a diamond was quite deliberate: “Almaz-2” was Leonov’s code name during the mission (his partner was known as “Almaz-1”) – and “almaz” is the Russian word for diamond. The picture would not be complete without an evocation of the vastness of the cosmos – represented by an aventurine background that becomes transparent when exposed to light.
The SpaceWalker dial makes use of an exclusive, secret graphic composition, depicting an artistic view of the starry heavens in which Leonov drifted at will for 12 minutes and 9 seconds on March 18, 1965. Also visible is a nebula – a collection of interstellar dust and gases, its exceptional colours providing a unique backdrop for the SpaceWalker.
At 6 o’clock, Louis Moinet’s characteristic “dewdrop” hands indicate the hours and minutes, extending across a sapphire dial offering glimpses of the mechanics of the fine watchmaking movement. The back offers an unobstructed view, with a sapphire crystal revealing SpaceWalker’s highly distinctive bridges.
In celebration of those 12 minutes spent in the freedom of space, Louis Moinet has produced two limited editions, each comprising 12 engraved watches in rose or white gold, alongside two other limited editions comprising 18 non-engraved pieces, also in white or rose gold.
Presented in 2017, Metropolis timepiece is the one and only creation by Louis Moinet to feature Roman numeral hour markers. Their design is directly based on the design created by Louis Moinet himself for his Compteur de Tierces – the first certified chronograph in history, completed in 1816 and now preserved in the Louis Moinet Museum. Now, the luxury watch atelier presents a Magic Green edition of this watch.
The Magic Green colour gives the Metropolis a new splendour, highlighting its modernistic inspiration. The timepiece blends the visionary talent of the inventor of the chronograph and high-frequency horology with a profoundly architectural work.
The Metropolis features three different sets of openwork – on the hour markers, on the dial, and on the lugs and vertical bridges – giving the timepiece a uniquely three-dimensional aspect. The first openwork feature is on the Roman numeral hour markers, themselves a first for a Louis Moinet timepiece. Light dances off each hour marker’s three differently-shaped faces. Each side sports a diamond-cut, satin-finish section that reflects light deep into the dial, setting the timepiece sparkling with life. The colour contrast is enhanced by the white lacquer coating on each hour marker.
The hour markers themselves are suspended in mid-air, adding a further sense of depth. In a rare feat of craftsmanship, each marker is linked to a black central ring and a flange made from neoralithe, an innovative material chosen by Louis Moinet for its purity.
The LM45 caliber, boasting a 48-hour power reserve, was designed and assembled in accordance with the firm’s most stringent chronometric requirements, and bears the Louis Moinet hallmarks that embody the firm’s values: a fleur de lys, recalling the unique history of the original creator, two keys symbolising creative watchmaking, a lion representing art and design, and a star, denoting rarity.
The dial features the second openwork aspect of the Metropolis: located between 8 o’clock and 12 o’clock, this reveals each and every beat of its exclusive caliber. The escapement (generating 28,800 vibrations per hour) and the offset seconds hand are displayed in all their glory – and carefully arranged to ensure an unobstructed view of every detail of the Metropolis’ workings.
The movement’s finishes embody all the noble traditions of fine watchmaking: Côtes de Genève, diamond-cut angles, circular-grained wheels, and pearling. The sapphire caseback, meanwhile, reveals the movement of the rotor, mounted on a ball bearing. There’s also a new, concentric version of the Clou de Paris pattern, much beloved of Louis Moinet in the nineteenth century, conveying a striking impression of motion. The hours, minutes, and seconds are read off by Louis Moinet’s iconic double-lined “Gouttes de Rosée” dewdrop hands.
The 43.2 mm-diameter Metropolis case has been dubbed Neo: its new technical solutions have led to the creation of an all-new shape of watch. Everything is built around two vertical bridges running through the timepiece, securing the strap at each end of their lugs – the latter incorporating the third and final openwork finish on the watch. The bridges hold the movement’s housing, topped by the bezel and its six screws – another of Louis Moinet’s hallmarks.
A total of no fewer than 55 different parts all contribute to the creation of a unique visual effect. The crocodile strap comes with a folding clasp decorated with Louis Moinet’s characteristic Fleur de Lys symbol.
Metropolis Magic Green is available in two initial limited editions of 60, in steel and 18K rose gold; prices start at CHF 10,500.
The cosmic world inspired Sideralis watch from Louis Moinet is now available in a new version featuring pink gold case and red aventurine dial and caseback.
Aventurine is the product of an experiment by a seventeenth-century glass worker, who dipped copper flakes into molten glass. The constellation of sparkling particles produced a beautiful effect – and aventurine was born. Red aventurine, however, is far less well-known than its blue counterpart. That makes it especially appropriate for this very limited edition of twelve Sideralis watches. Its reddish-brown hues form an exceptional heavenly background, hand-painted to resemble the outer reaches of the kind of distant galaxy Louis Moinet himself loved to explore during his astronomical observations.
The time dial, situated at 12 o’clock, comprises two discs, one atop the other. The upper disc is also made from red aventurine. It completes one counter-clockwise rotation every 60 seconds and has a circular opening through which the three planets painted on the lower disc can be glimpsed: Mars, the Moon, and Mercury. Each of the micro-paintings includes genuine dust from the heavenly body in question: a fragment of Mars, moon dust, and extremely rare fragments of the Rosetta Stone, whose scientific name is Sahara 99555. This stone has travelled across the universe to reach us, and is the oldest known to mankind – four and half billion years old. Scientists believe it comes from Mercury.
From a technical point of view, the highlight is the Double Tourbillon. This movement, first unveiled less than two years ago, is a Louis Moinet exclusive. These two tourbillons are especially extraordinary.
Both the tourbillons are oversized, with cages measuring 14.9 mm – half as big again as the average, resulting in the largest assembly of two tourbillons ever to have existed. The two tourbillons are designed to be physically above the movement – above the dial, even. The two raised cages are large as life and wholly visible, revealing balance wheels with beautifully styled screws – and an absolutely incomparable aesthetic appearance. The tourbillons rotate in opposite directions. The continuous coming and going, side by side, is not just for stylistic reasons; the counter-rotation provides the motive power required for the star mechanism – the Sideralis complication – located at twelve o’clock.
This exceptional Sideralis variation in red aventurine comes in a 47.4-millimetre pink gold case.
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