Louis Moinet unveils a new chronograph, the SPEED OF SOUND
This timepiece celebrates the 20th anniversary of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet. It is powered by the Valjoux 88, a historic chronograph calibre modernised by the brand. It is a limited edition of 20 pieces.
“The SPEED OF SOUND was a bold challenge that involved bringing the legendary Valjoux 88 calibre back to life and turning it into a contemporary masterpiece. The result is a full-fledged work of horological art combining tried-and-true mechanics with modern technology and avant-garde design. This timepiece takes us all the way from our home in Saint-Blaise to the infinite expanses of the cosmos. It thereby transcends the boundaries of time and space.
“This edition comes in an exclusive series of just twenty pieces. It celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet and promises to make quite an impression on the watchmaking world.”
Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet.
Louis Moinet has introduced the SPEED OF SOUND, a chronograph timepiece powered by a modernized version of the Valjoux 88, “a historic calibre built in the 1940’s.” Unveiled at Louis Moinet’s “The Exhibition of Excellence”, inaugurated on August 15, 2024, at the Fairmont Grand Hôtel in Geneva, Switzerland, and running until September 15, 2024; both the exhibition and SPEED OF SOUND timepiece celebrate the 20th anniversary of the independent timepiece brand – Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, which is based in Saint-Blaise, Switzerland. Jean-Marie Schaller is the Owner and Creative Director.
Key Features
Functions
The Louis Moinet SPEED OF SOUND’s functions include:
– Central hours and minutes.
– Central Chronograph hand, which can be used to measure the speed of sound. (More on this under “Dial.”)
– Subdial at 9 o’clock: Small seconds.
– Subdial at 3 o’clock: 30-minute counter.
– Subdial at 6 o’clock: Moon phase display.
Dial
First image: SPEED OF SOUND. Second image: Aletai iron Meteorite. Third Image: Dhofar 457 meteorite. Fourth Image: Moon phase display. The round fragment is crafted from Dhofar 457. Fifth Image: SPEED OF SOUND in Lume.
The Louis Moinet SPEED OF SOUND’s dial features include:
– It features a black guilloché dial.
“The dial blends deep black with the warm glow of red gold, a rich contrast of colours that underlines this timepiece’s truly unique identity. It was created with Yann von Kaenel’s guilloché engines using traditional engraving techniques. The special design suggests a technological marvel. The pattern, which radiates mesmerising energy and interacts playfully with light whenever it moves. Sometimes it flashes brightly, at other times it seems to hide discreetly.”
– The hour and minute hands are facetted and skeletonized, and coated with luminescent material.
– The hands of both the small seconds and 30-minute subdials are coated with luminescent material at their tip. Both these subdials contain a piece of the Aletai iron meteorite, “adding both texture and a touch of mystery.”
– The small seconds subdial is graduated in increments of 5 seconds each. The 30-minute counter subdial is graduated in increments of 5 minutes each.
– The moon phase disc at 6 o’clock contains a fragment of the Dhofar 457, “a rare lunar meteorite” traced back to a lunar crater. It symbolises the full moon. The pointers at 3 and 9 o’clock on the side of the moon phase subdial represent the current state of the moon. Full moon is when the fragment of Dhofar 457 is aligned with either the pointer at 3 or 9 o’clock. The rest of the moon phase disc contains luminescent material.
– The 12 hour-markers (Arabic numeral 1,2,4,5,7,8,10,11,12 o’clock and an arrow pointer for 3, 6 and 9 o’clock) are applied on the dial.
– Encircling the outer dial is a speed of sound scale.
“This chronograph features a very special scale that can show the speed of sound by measuring the distance of a sound event. In the case of a thunderstorm, for example, when lightning strikes, you start the chronograph and stop it when you hear the thunder.”
– “LOUIS MOINET,” “1806” and the brand’s Fleur de lys logo are displayed at 12 o’clock.
Movement
The Louis Moinet SPEED OF SOUND’s movement features include:
– It is powered by Valjoux 88, a mechanical hand-wound chronograph calibre from the 1940’s. It drives the hours, minutes, central chronograph hand, small seconds, 30-minutes counter and moon phase display.
– The Valjoux 88 has been modernised and reinterpreted by Louis Moinet. They have removed the date marker from the calibre.
“At the heart of SPEED OF SOUND is the Valjoux 88, a historic calibre built in the 1940’s. Louis Moinet’s master watchmakers have used all their skills to modernise this icon of Swiss watchmaking and place it inside a timepiece with a unique contemporary style.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
– It has 17 jewels.
– It beats at a frequency of 18,000 vph or 2.5 Hz.
– It has a power reserve of 40 hours.
“The transparent case back of the SPEED OF SOUND reveals the engraving, a traditional motif with floral curves and delicate scrolls reminiscent of lace. It bears witness to the ancestral art of hand engraving. This enchanting ensemble adds a touch of poetry to the mechanics of time.”
Case and Strap
The Louis Moinet SPEED OF SOUND’s case and strap features include:
– Its case is made of grade 5 titanium, polished and satin brushed.
– Its case diameter is 40.70 mm.
– Its lug width is 22 mm.
– On its dial side, it features a domed sapphire crystal. “The sapphire dome, a technical feat in itself, magnifies every detail of the dial.”
– On its caseback side, it features a sapphire crystal.
– It features open worked lugs.
– The crown is at 3 o’clock and the two chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock.
– It is water resistant up to 30 metres.
– It comes with a black alligator leather strap featuring a folding clasp.
Our Thoughts
Several years back (mid-2000’s), a horological journalist or reputed collector (I do not exactly recall) compared tourbillons to olive oil, saying that “one can get the $1 variety and the $1 million dollar variety.” I am not sure if there is any olive oil which retails for a $ 1 million dollars, but the comparison certainly holds true for tourbillons and chronographs. Chronographs are a dime a dozen. Almost every brand, ranging from the most inexpensive to the most expensive, has at least one chronograph in their catalogue. It is not an easy complication to master. Chronographs are important to Louis Moinet the brand; after all the chronograph was invented by Louis Moinet the man (he started it in 1815 and completed it in 1816.)
The SPEED OF SOUND is an interesting and unique interpretation of the typical chronograph, one that is immaculately executed, typical of Louis Moinet timepieces. It combines the following elements:
– A modernised, reinterpreted and hand-engraved version of a historic 1940’s chronograph calibre – the Valjoux 88.
– Fragments of two celestial bodies on the dial – Aletai iron meteorite and Dhofar 457 lunar meteorite.
– A speed of sound scale.
– A design that blends modern and traditional elements.
For a collector who appreciates chronographs and wants to add a unique and rare chronograph to their collection, Louis Moinet’s SPEED OF SOUND is perfect for them. It is a fitting way of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the modern brand – Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, and a sign of even greater timepieces to come from them.
Additional Details
Name: Louis Moinet SPEED OF SOUND
Reference: LM-130.20.50
Price: Swiss Franc (CHF): 50,000 (excluding VAT)
It is a limited edition of 20 pieces. Please visit the Louis Moinet website if interested.
Louis Moinet’s “The Exhibition of Excellence” is presently running at the Fairmont Grand Hôtel in Geneva, Switzerland, until September 15, 2024. It is an excellent opportunity to view a selection of Louis Moinet’s timepieces, including the SPEED OF SOUND.
Also Read:
Last month we covered Louis Moinet’s Black Moon, a timepiece which contains fragments of two lunar meteorites, Dhofar 457 (used on SPEED OF SOUND) and Gadamis 005. Further information on both these meteorites is present in the below article.
https://thecorneaimpression.com/louis-moinet-launches-the-black-moon/
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