BOUTIQUE
LOUIS MOINET
Acasta & Dhofar
Jean-Marie Schaller continues to look to the heavens for inspiration as shown by his most recent horological forays into space and time. In the Dhofar edition, Louis Moinet has integrated a slice of an incredibly rare lunar meteorite as the dial, while the Acasta( far left) looks to a more Earthbound source and crafts a dial from stone formed and preserved over four billion years ago.
Dhofar 457, named after the southern region of Oman where it was discovered, is no typical stone – even by meteorite standards. Launched into space from a celestial impact on the lunar surface, Dhofar 457 eventually found its way to Earth and was discovered in the desert. It is from this cosmic rarity that Louis Moinet has cut and formed a dial of galactic import.
Acasta gneiss is a fragment of Earth’ s early crust discovered in Canada that has somehow remained intact by chance and circumstance and has withstood the forces of erosion and tectonics for more than four billion years.
These two exceptional timepieces share the same amazing twin tourbillion movement. Suspended in mid-air, the two tourbillon cages weigh a mere 0.4 grams each and in addition to controlling the time they also rotate a lattice of blued titanium over the rare dials.
Rotating in opposite directions, the two tourbillons are housed in exceptionally large cages of almost 15 mm each making them the largest double tourbillons we are aware of.
IW RATING
Design: 8( out of 10) Intricately carved case surrounds an ethereal dial execution.
Innovation: 9 Large, ultra-light and counter rotating twin tourbillions speak to the complexity in a first of its kind movement.
Finissage: 8 Multiple finishes layered in an enviable exposition of watch finishing are a delight under the loupe.
Legibility: 8 Sublimated filigree does not distract from beefy hour and minute hands.
Rarity: 9 Only three of each version will be made.
Value: 9 Although expensive at $ 337,000 each, demand for Louis Moinet continuously exceeds supply across almost all variations.
Overall iW rating: 51( out of 60)
32 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2018