Grade 5 titanium
Limited edition of 12 watches
LM-170.20.60
Contemporary creation born in history
Some inventions have an aesthetic appeal that transcends the centuries and becomes the hallmark of a contemporary collection. The world’s first chronograph, created by Louis Moinet in 1816, stands out as a prime example. Even 210 years later, its DNA continues to inspire and now serves as the blueprint for a new timepiece: the 1816 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH.
Technical Data
Calibre LM114
Manufacture Calibre - Chronograph with Flying Tourbillon.
Manual
28800 VPH (4 Hz)
96 hours
Jewels: 36
40.6 mm
Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronograph
50 metres
Grade 5 titanium
Folding clasp
Grade 5 titanium
Swiss made
“The very modern look of the Compteur de Tierces naturally led us, this year, to create a monopusher chronograph with a flying tourbillon. The avant-garde spirit of the original timepiece, along with its most distinctive design elements have a leading role in this model. It is also a fine tribute to the friendship that bound Louis Moinet and Abraham-Louis Breguet, both founding fathers of modern watchmaking.”
Nathanaël Schaller
Creative Product Manager
Louis Moinet, an artist, clockmaker, and scientist, wished to carry out astronomical observations but needed an extremely precise instrument to measure the movement of the planets and stars. Thus he designed the Compteur de Tierces, the world’s first chronograph, which he completed in 1816. The layout of the counters and the insistence on their legibility were remarkably modern for the times. Indeed, 210 years later, these defining features continue to guide the aesthetic identity of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet. Numerous details on the case and dial of the 1816 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH bear witness to this creation’s resolutely contemporary expression.
Portrait of an exceptional timekeeper
The case of the 1816 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH is crafted from polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium. It measures 40.6 millimeters in diameter and is made up of 51 components.
All the hallmarks of the compteur de tierces are visible on this elegant and refined timepiece: the Directoire-style semi-bassine profile with a smooth case middle and the double gadroon, the monopusher, and the crown adorned with the fleur-de-lys – the emblem of Bourges, Louis Moinet’s birthplace.
The rhodium-plated dial features a subtle interplay of satin-finished and bead-blasted surfaces. The subdials for the small seconds and the 30-minute counter are fitted with a satin-brushed ring bearing Arabic numerals. At their centre, the ruby-set barrel, flanked by two polished screws, adds a technical accent that is both rigorous and refined.
The dial markings and the name Louis Moinet have been engraved for maximum precision and rendered in the typeface of the original. Also engraved is the inscription TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH, which is composed of straight, angular letters that clearly affirm the timepiece’s technical identity. At twelve o’clock, a fleur-de-lys applique crowns the ensemble.
The chronograph seconds hand, the subdial hands and the four screws are in traditional blued steel. The tourbillon cage has been given blue DLC coating. This touch of colour highlights the key elements against the grey of the rhodium-plated dial while creating a contrast that enhances the timepiece’s elegant character.
The bracelet was especially designed to serve as a natural extension of the case. Crafted in grade 5 titanium, it stands out through the shape of its broad links, whose lines trace an elegant, architectural curve. Each link moves in a fluid, continuous motion, embracing the wrist while preserving perfect balance. The alternating satin-brushed and polished finishes highlight its sculptural volumes, composing an ergonomic and resolutely contemporary ensemble with a distinctive character.
Manufacture Calibre
Chronograph with a Flying Tourbillon
The 1816 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH is powered by the in-house LM114 calibre, assembled by Louis Moinet watchmakers in Les Breuleux. A renowned and proven movement, it combines two major complications: a column-wheel controlled chronograph operated by a single pusher and a flying tourbillon with an off-centre cage. Its hand-wound movement with a double barrel is designed to deliver a generous power reserve of 96 hours.
The 1816 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH thus pays tribute to the friendship between Louis Moinet and Abraham-Louis Breguet, inventors of the chronograph and the tourbillon respectively, and both founding fathers of modern watchmaking.
