Louis Moinet Brand
1816 By Louis Moinet: An Icon Of Haute Horlogerie Reborn
Luxferity, 26.08.2025
A Timeless Tribute To The World’s First Chronograph
In 1816, master watchmaker Louis Moinet forever changed the trajectory of horology by creating the world’s first chronograph. Originally conceived as an instrument for celestial observation, this groundbreaking “compteur de tierces” was a feat of precision, vision, and artistry—one that still resonates more than two centuries later.
Today, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet pays homage to this historic milestone with the rebirth of the 1816 Chronograph. This contemporary masterpiece remains faithful to the DNA of the original while embodying the sophistication of modern haute horlogerie.
Secret Alloy
“Our roots are our future! And the 1816 is proof of this. Its originality and its sheer power carry the heritage of a pioneering work,” — Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO & Creative Director of Louis Moinet
Reinventing A Legacy: The 1816 Chronograph
The new Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph is not merely a timepiece; it is a dialogue across centuries. Crafted in polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium, its 40.6 mm double-gadroon case embodies both strength and elegance. The Directoire-style design remains true to its origins while introducing refined modern codes of luxury watchmaking.
Photon Sphere
At the heart of the creation lies a slightly vaulted dial, where clarity meets sophistication. Featuring a central chronograph hand, two totalisers, and a small seconds subdial, the design recalls Moinet’s original celestial timekeeper. Details such as the fleur-de-lys crown—a tribute to Moinet’s birthplace of Bourges—underscore its artisanal roots.
The timepiece debuts Louis Moinet’s first-ever integrated grade 5 titanium bracelet, aptly named “Project BRIDGE.” Sculptural, ergonomic, and seamlessly fluid, it extends the case design into a contemporary signature of luxury.
The Soul Within: A New In-House Calibre
To create the 1816, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet partnered with Concepto to develop a fully integrated movement from scratch. This calibre, composed of 330 parts and 34 jewels, beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and showcases the quintessential elements of high horology:
- Instantaneous jumping minute counter for error-free precision
- Column wheel control—the hallmark of fine chronographs
- Swan-neck regulator for refined accuracy
- Manual winding mechanism offering 48 hours of autonomy
The absence of a plate on the back reveals a dramatic architecture of overlapping bridges, satin finishes, ruby-red jewels, and blued screws—a visual feast for connoisseurs.
Glacier Blue
A Dial Rooted In Heritage
Louis Moinet’s avant-garde vision extended beyond mechanics into design. His compteur de tierces established the modern chronograph layout, balancing legibility, aesthetics, and functionality.
The 1816 honours this with a dial featuring:
- Horizontally aligned subsidiary dials
- Satin-brushed annular counters with engraved Arabic numerals
- Blued steel chronograph hands
- Openworked, luminescent Louis Moinet-style hour and minute hands
- Twenty-three dial components including bead-blasted surfaces and blackened nickel cabochons
Crowning the dial, the fleur-de-lys emblem at 12 o’clock pays homage to Moinet’s French heritage.
A Collector’s Masterpiece
The Louis Moinet 1816 is more than a luxury chronograph—it is an emblem of watchmaking history reborn for the modern era. With its blend of technical mastery, historical fidelity, and bold contemporary design, the 1816 is a testament to the maison’s enduring commitment to innovation and artistry.
It is destined for collectors who value not only the measurement of time but also the poetry of mechanical genius.
