18k Red gold | Grade 5 titanium
Limited edition of 12 watches
LM-180.40.25
Time in the cosmos
A star-spangled sky, celestial bodies tracing a path across the vast firmament, a universe that is constantly changing. This was the spectacle that Louis Moinet, the master watchmaker, could see through his telescope. And it was to measure the movement of the stars that, in 1816, he created the famous Compteur de tierces, the first chronograph in history.
Now, 210 years later, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet is presenting the STELLARIUM. This creation invites us to contemplate the cosmos from two perspectives. On the dial is a striking panorama of stars that light up at night. On the back, a planetary display whose arrangement of the stars subtly evokes a key moment in the history of watchmaking.
Technical Data
Calibre LM180
Manufacture Calibre
Manual
28800 VPH (4 Hz)
96 hours
Jewels: 26
42.5 mm
Hours, Minutes
30 metres
Alligator
23 mm
Folding clasp
18k Red gold | Grade 5 titanium
Swiss made
The backstory
“STELLARIUM is defined as a space dedicated to the stars. Together with the Louis Moinet Technical Laboratory, we conceived this timepiece as a universe to be explored. Its many details reveal themselves gradually. Indeed, the STELLARIUM offers many surprises and a few secrets as well.”
Nathanaël Schaller
Creative Director
A stellar panorama
The dial
The STELLARIUM dial presents the spectacle of a sky studded with stars. By day, the web of longitude and latitude lines evokes the harmonious, graphic quality of a star chart. By night, the stars take centre stage: they glow blue and seem to vanish into infinite depth.
A meteorite formed nearly 4.5 billion years ago and numbers among the oldest meteorites discovered on Earth. It reveals fascinating Widmanstätten patterns.
In the background, the Muonionalusta meteorite is bathed in a deep midnight blue. Formed nearly 4.5 billion years ago, at the dawn of the solar system, it is thought to have fallen to Earth around one million years ago in northern Sweden. Inside are the famous Widmanstätten patterns, natural geometric designs formed by extremely slow cooling. For the STELLARIUM, the meteorite was dyed a deep blue using a process that is complex and has been kept secret. This extraterrestrial mineral, which acts as a link between the cosmos and the timepiece’s mechanism, is also used as a backdrop to the tourbillon cage.
The sense of depth in the STELLARIUM dial is achieved through a particularly ingenious design. Composed of several layered elements, it notably combines this meteorite with a transparent sapphire disc.
A date in the heavens
The planetarium
The movement side of the STELLARIUM shows a fascinating tableau: the solar system. The planets, some of which measure just two millimetres in diameter, have been meticulously hand-painted and are arranged on a grid that appears to float above a starry sky.
The ultimate secret can now be revealed: the planets are positioned according to their exact configuration on 21 March 2013, the day the world of watchmaking learned of a major historical milestone. On that day, at the Neuchâtel Observatory, Jean-Marie Schaller unveiled the famous Compteur de tierces, created in 1816 by the great watchmaker Louis Moinet, which turned out to be the first chronograph ever made.
Unique customisation
However, this date is merely one possibility for the planets’ positioning. On request, they can also be arranged to show a date chosen for its special significance. It is a unique way of immortalising a moment that matters to its owner in the heavens.
A powerful design
The case
The STELLARIUM case stands out for its clean lines and highly technical construction. Its openworked sides reveal a blue, DLC-coated titanium core housing the movement. This structure is inside a red-gold frame made up of four separate elements that are ingeniously assembled. The curved sapphire crystal further accentuates the depth of the overall design.
The hovering tourbillon
The STELLARIUM features a flying tourbillon with an off-centre cage that appears to defy gravity in a captivating manner. The hand-wound movement is powered by two serial spring barrels that are arranged head-to-tail using the "volte-face" system. It provides a generous power reserve of 96 hours.
