SpotlightIntroducing The New Louis Moinet 1816, A Modern Interpretation Of The Iconic ‘Compteur de Tierce’
The world’s first chronograph—a pocket watch—invented by the legendary watchmaker Louis Moinet has now been re-created in a contemporary avatar
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The independent Swiss brand, Louis Moinet have reinvented the world’s first chronograph watch, the Compteur de Tierces (French for ‘counter of thirds’) with an integrated bracelet, sophisticated finishing, and a column wheel chronograph movement. Presenting the Louis Moinet 1816, a beautiful blend of classic and contemporary. Similar to the original watch, it features three counters, a central chronograph hand, and a minutes scale on the dial, while the pushers are moved to the right side of the case for convenience. Launched at this year’s Watches and Wonders, it is the first watch to be revealed under the brand’s new collection, the Mechanical Wonders 1816, named after the year 1816, when the world’s first chronograph watch was completed by the celebrated watchmaker, Louis Moinet.
“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,” said Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO and creative director at Louis Moinet in an official release.
The silver-ish hue with accents in blue lends the Louis Moinet 1816 an neat and refined look, making it perfect for those who enjoy beauty with a bit of history on the side.
The Louis Moinet 1816: Case And Dial
The 1816 chronograph comes in a traditional round case, crafted from polished and satin-brushed grade-5 titanium, and is composed of 51 parts. Measuring 40.6mm in diameter and 14.7mm in thickness, it offers a commanding presence on the wrist, without overwhelming it. This is then topped with a sapphire crystal, with double-sided anti-reflective treatment for an unobstructed view of the dial. Also, the winding crown, placed between the two pushers—decorated with fleur-de-lys, the emblem of Bourges (France) where Louis Moinet was born—helps provide the watch with a water resistance of up to 30m.
One of the major highlights of the 1816 timepiece is its rhodium-plated and microblasted dial, with engraved markings. Taking direct inspiration from the original chronograph, it features two totalisers—the 12-hour counter at six and the 30-minute counter at one o’clock—along with a small seconds sub-dial at 11. Additionally, it features a minute track at the periphery which is divided in increments of six, indicating 1/60th of the second, similar to the original watch. The hour and minute hands are faceted and skeletonised with their tips filled with white Super-LumiNova for greater legibility, while the chronograph hand is blued matching the hands in the three counters. The whole dial is composed of 23 elements, including the four blued-steel screws and ten black cabochons, and features bead-blasted and satin-brushed finishing.
The Movement Of The Louis Moinet 1816
It is powered by the new manufacture calibre, LM1816—developed exclusively for the 1816 chronograph in collaboration with Concepto. The hand-wound movement with a column wheel chronograph, a swan-neck regulator, and an instantaneous minute counter measures 30.4mm in diameter and 7.9mm in thickness. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph, it offers a standard 48-hour power reserve.
If the functionality of the movement wasn’t enough, it also features several beautiful finishes such as polishing and bevelling. In addition, the contrast between the sand-hued bridges, white steel, blue screws, and pink rubies further lend a mesmerising effect to the movement, which can be admired through the transparent caseback. It is composed of 330 components, including the 34 jewels.
The Louis Moinet 1816 is presented on a polished and satin-finished grade-5 titanium bracelet. Its curvilinear shape with broad single links not only offers a comfortable fit on the wrist, but also looks ultra-modern, making it ideal for the watch enthusiasts of today.
