SpotlightFrom Paris to New York, Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Adventure Unfolds
At the Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, Louis Moinet unveil the Around The World In Eight Days collection, capturing iconic cities such as Paris, Tokyo, and San Francisco on watch dials that are housed inside a red gold case
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Louis Moinet have taken pages from the adventure novel Around The World In Eighty Days—the famous odyssey imagined by French writer Jules Verne. This 19th-century story is revisited by the brand’s founder and creative director Jean-Marie Schaller, infusing it with renewed artistry and watchmaking brilliance. For the Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024 novelties, Louis Moinet draw inspiration from eight magnificent metropolises to present eight horological works of art. The exquisite charm of these dials lies in the brilliant choice of materials, spanning from the elegance of rock crystal to the mesmerising sparkling of aventurine, and from authentic relics of the past to state-of-the-art high-tech elements. This grand journey commences in Paris, the birthplace of visionary watchmaker Louis Moinet, and concludes in the vibrant cityscape of New York. As the Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days embarks on its final leg, it passes through the bustling floating markets of Bangkok and the trailblazing metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. Launched at Watches and Wonders 2024, Louis Moinet explore eight cities through eight unique watches that put métiers d’art and extraordinary materials in the spotlight.
The Journey Around The World In Eight Days
Join us on this remarkable journey as we explore all eight Around The World In Eight Days timepieces by Louis Moinet. After the Paris edition with the iconic Eiffel Tower, we proceed to explore the Abu Dhabi edition, featuring a hand-painted Sheikh Zayed Mosque on a rock crystal base. Day three leads us to Bangkok, where the floating market is pictured from a bird’s eye view. We will then marvel at the Kuala Lumpur edition, showcasing the Petronas Towers crafted from silver. Singapore awaits on the fifth day, celebrating the nation’s diversity on a watch dial. Tokyo follows with a stunning origami crane design. Our journey continues with the San Francisco edition, portraying the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and concludes with the New York themed watch that brings the Statue of Liberty to life on its dial.
The Around The World In Eight Days watch features a 40.7mm case, water-resistant up to 30m. It is powered by the manual winding Caliber LM135 movement that beats at the frequency of 4Hz and delivers upto 96-hour power reserve.
Day One: Paris
Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Paris edition features a dial that looks like a jigsaw puzzle made up of 81 interlocking pieces. Together, these pieces reproduce the map of Paris, which serves as a backdrop for the Eiffel Tower. This iconic Paris landmark, symbolising the city, is hand-sculpted from a fragment of an original beam from 1889, showcasing Louis Moinet’s meticulous craftsmanship. The Paris watch is packed inside an 18-karat red gold case paired with a green alligator leather strap, providing a marvellous contrast with the white dial background. The tourbillon appearing at six o’clock, crown, and hour and minute hands blend seamlessly with the gold case.
Day Two: Abu Dhabi
The Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Abu Dhabi edition brings to life the majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque on its dial, showcasing its modern oriental architecture. Crafted on a rock crystal base, every intricate detail—from the domes to the columns—is meticulously handpainted. The attention to detail for the dial is a testimony to Louis Moinet’s traditional skill in miniature painting. For instance, a crescent moon lights up the cool blue serene sky. This unique timepiece pays tribute to Middle Eastern folktales, in particular the one that is every child’s favourite—One Thousand and One Nights. The red gold case is paired with a black alligator leather strap that adds depth to the tranquil colour scheme of the Abu Dhabi edition.
Day Three: Bangkok
The Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Bangkok watch invites you into a miniature world, delicately hand-painted to capture the historical floating markets of Bangkok. Louis Moinet celebrate the micro-painter’s artistry, bringing a slice of Thailand to life on the dial. Here, colourful canoes with fresh local produce, intricately woven straw hats, and the beauty of water lilies all converge, creating an illusion that they are floating on an azure surface. The blue dial features a circular labyrinth pattern that looks like a maze of rivers and canals. The combination of shiny and matt surfaces exudes a lively feel, like the busy waterways. A red gold case and blue alligator leather strap completes the watch design.
Day Four: Kuala Lumpur
The Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Kuala Lumpur watch is crafted with utmost precision. Engraved with microelectronic circuits on the silicon dial are the iconic Petronas Towers. This miniature version of the iconic 88-storey structure and their distinctive M-shaped silhouette are intricately detailed by master engravers to capture the grandeur of these Malaysian landmarks. Centrally located on the dial is the renowned Skybridge that connects the twin architectural marvels. Set against the towers is a silicon wafer whose engraved microelectronic circuit creates a unique technological motif. These patterns allow a mesmerising play of light and reflections, mirroring the city’s innovative spirit as a bustling tech hub. This dial is encased with a red gold case and complemented by a black alligator leather strap.
Day Five: Singapore
The straw marquetry on the dial of the Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Singapore watch is a remarkable representation of Singapore’s vibrant, iconic buildings. Each piece of rye stem is dyed in red or orange hues, and arranged to cover the whole dial. This delicate process utilises the natural reflections of the straw to create a play of light. Against this lively backdrop, the distinct silhouettes of Singapore take centrestage. The Marina Bay Sands complex stands tall, flanked by the distinctive Supertree Grove. Other architectural wonders on the dial are the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel, and the timeless Merlion—a symbol of the city’s fusion of land and sea, half fish and half lion. The red gold case of the Singapore edition is paired with a light blue strap.
Day Six: Tokyo
The Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Tokyo watch is a beautiful work of art featuring an origami crane crafted from metallic paper. Symbolising joy and longevity, the crane demonstrates the remarkable skill of the dial makers, and Japan’s traditionally cultural values through the art of paper folding. Mount Fuji stands tall in contrast with cherry blossoms at its feet to further add to the beauty of the dial. The aventurine dial is entirely hand-painted, depicting a night sky shimmering with stars, providing a backdrop for Mount Fuji and the delicate cherry blossoms. This composition captures the essence of Tokyo and harmony between the art of watchmaking and the timeless traditions of Japan.
Day Seven: San Francisco
As our journey nears its end, we make a stop in San Francisco. The Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days San Francisco watch showcases an iconic slice of the city’s skyline. It often reminds people of the patterns on electronic circuit boards, showing its close connection to Silicon Valley. The watch’s base is a silicon wafer etched with tiny circuits, similar to electronical circuits. This symbolises Silicon Valley’s tech prowess and reflects San Francisco’s cutting-edge architecture. The Golden Gate Bridge with its amazing symmetry is prominently featured on the dial. It is crafted and hand-painted in the iconic International Orange with extreme precision.
Day Eight: New York
This wonderful journey comes to an end, only to mark a new beginning with the Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days New York watch. Dominating this timepiece is the Statue of Liberty. It is engraved and painted by hand, requiring lots of experience and dexterity. The dial’s sapphire crystal base is painted black to accentuate the impressive New York City skyline. Behind it, a holographic film creates a mesmerising effect, recalling the city’s skyscraper architecture. Depending on the viewing angle, the buildings light up in different colours, just like a rainbow. This special combination of materials and techniques gives the watch a vibrant energy, capturing perfectly the culture of the bustling metropolis that never sleeps.
