Louis Moinet Impulsion Titanium Onyx

Abraham-Louis Breguet and Louis Moinet were close friends and key figures in watchmaking. The former invented the tourbillon, the latter the chronograph. Today, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet draws on a veritable wellspring of modern creativity that has succeeded in integrating these two high complications in a new mantel, one that generates strong emotions.

The project

The idea of combining a chronograph with a tourbillon is not entirely new. What does differentiate this timepiece from previous creations is its original and bold character. The first idea was to make the chronograph mechanism entirely visible on the dial side, a world premiere, in fact. The magic of a tourbillon was then added.

The result is impressive, a remarkable spectacle and a feast for the eyes. A single pusher activates the chronograph hand, which ticks away the seconds and sails over the rotating flying tourbillon, whose off-centre cage does one revolution per minute.

This creation was named Impulsion Titanium Onyx, a word that highlights the energy that transfers life to the chronograph and the tourbillon and coalesces the two visual effects to produce a full-fledged “show” as it were.

Genesis

At the heart of the Impulsion Titanium Onyx is the in-house Memoris calibre. It bears the Louis Moinet DNA, with its column wheel, classic horizontal clutch, and a single pusher. So, we made sure these characteristics would be maintained.

However, it is easier said than done. The movement is made up of 301 parts, many of which had to be completely designed from scratch and manufactured. Incorporating the tourbillon required significant innovations, for example, in terms of energy creation:

• 1. The ”volte-face” double spring barrel

To ensure sufficient energy, the automatic winding system had to be replaced by a manual double-barrel winding system. The system is called "volte-face" because the two barrels are arranged upside down in series. They release their energy at the same time, delivering a power reserve of ninety-six hours.

• 2. Technical and aesthetic outcome

The innovation is coupled with outstanding performance by the complex mechanisms. All in all, it produces beautiful mechanical art never seen before.

The three-dimensional architecture of the two powerful mechanisms is expressed on the wrist thanks to the high-end finishing by Louis Moinet craftsmen in collaboration with our traditional partner Concepto. The watch is assembled in our own workshops in Les Breuleux, in the Swiss Jura Mountains. It is signed Moinet, independent watchmaker.

A new case

The Impulsion Titanium Onyx comes in a case that was custom-designed to underscore the originality of its character. It is the product of ingenious assembling, is composed of four distinct elements: two lateral sections, a case back, and a bezel, all made of grade 5 titanium. The case core is tinted in a deep black, echoing the onyx featured behind the tourbillon cage and along its sides. The hollowed-out lugs and the case middle are as much a part of the Moinet stylistic vocabulary as the quest for minimal weight.

A particularly evocative detail is the curved crystal, which reveals the power of the mechanism and optimises the reading of the chronograph indications.

As for the chronograph counters, they are disposed in such a way as to blend in smoothly and allow for rapid reading.

Limited edition

Only twelve pieces of the reference LM-114.20.50 will be released by the Louis Moinet workshop in Saint-Blaise.

Technical specifications

Louis Moinet Impulsion Titanium Onyx

Reference: LM-114.20.50

Limited edition of 12 pieces

Case

• Material: Grade 5 titanium
• Diameter: 42.50 mm
• Water-resistant to 30 meters

Dial and hands

• Openworked

Movement

• Manual winding, double spring barrel
• Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour
• Number of jewels: 36
• Power reserve of 96 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, seconds
• Flying tourbillon
• Mono-pusher chronograph with column wheel control

Strap and buckle

• Black alligator strap

MSRP: TBC

For more information, please visit louismoinet.com