Louis Moinet channels their inner ‘Mr. Worldwide’ for Watches and Wonders 2024, taking audiences on a trip with their globetrotting set of masterpieces.
With all the exciting drops from this year’s Watches and Wonders exhibition, it’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour. Unfortunately, this also means you might have missed other incredible releases, such as this Louis Moinet.
However, it doesn’t make them less reputable in the horological sphere. With the titular man credited for inventing the first-ever chronograph, the French-Swiss watchmakers are acutely familiar with the appeal of haute horlogerie. Since 1806, the man and the brand made themselves distinctive figures in the watch industry, creating mechanical masterpieces for historical icons Napoleon and Thomas Jefferson. Using the skills they’ve cultivated over their over 200-year lifespan, Louis Moinet have pulled back their curtain for 2024, starting their Watches and Wonders run with a bang… or more accurately, eight.
Inspired by the Jules Verne novel divided by ten, the Around the World in Eight Days collection takes you on a quick yet thorough tour of eight major destinations, with gorgeously illustrated dials encapsulating the spirit of each destination you visit. I won’t go into too many details about materials and such, but I’ve included them in the specifications:
(1) Paris, France:
Your journey starts in Paris, where you marvel at the iconic Eiffel Tower from the bottom up. A jigsaw puzzle dial, interlocking to reproduce the map of Paris, serves as your backdrop as you navigate your first destination. On a personal note, I showed these to a friend who studied at the Sorbonne, and surprisingly, she liked it the least of the eight. She adores the puzzle dial, though – the only thing we agreed on about this piece.
(2) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:
You continue to Abu Dhabi, home of endless skyscrapers and fun. Your destination, however, is that of the majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque. A gem of timeless grandeur amongst all the modern splendour, you can’t help but marvel at the architectural brilliance headed by Syrian architect Youssef Abdelke.
(3) Bangkok, Thailand:
On day three, you end up in one of the floating markets of Bangkok. Resting atop a blue labyrinth akin to the shifting structure of these markets, water lilies accompany two merchants in wide-brimmed hats eagerly floating about in their boats. A subtle riot of colours, the goods on each boat are all open to inspection.
(4) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
I have to admit, I had no idea these existed until today. Day four is spent in Kuala Lumpur, where the Petronas Towers stand proudly. Crafted in silver, this display is probably the closest you’ll get to capturing the true scale of the Towers, which look even more incredible in real life.
(5) Singapore City, Singapore:
As you move back north, Singapore is a welcome destination to rest before venturing further. It’s a small place, so Louis Moinet has encapsulated all of it. The Marina Bay Sands stands as the most recognisable figure of the timepiece, with the famous Merlion hiding in the corner of the dial.
(6) Tokyo, Japan:
An origami bird flies by as you visit the magnificent Mt. Fuji in Tokyo. In the dead of night, the cherry blossoms are apparent alongside the backdrop of the starry night sky.
(7) San Francisco, United States:
Nearing the end of your journey, you arrive in San Francisco, West Coast of the USA. The proximity of Silicon Valley is palpable, whilst the Golden Gate Bridge stands proudly, beckoning you to trek further into the city.
(8) New York, United States:
Your voyage ends in the city that never sleeps, as you catch the red-eye from the West Coast to the Big Apple. If you know your history, the trip comes full circle from here, as the Statue of Liberty is a gift from the people of France. As is always the case in New York, the buildings in the dial are always lit by myriad lights.
Of course, you’re free to ogle at the collection in whatever order you wish, all from the comfort of your home. It’s contained inside one of the coolest watch boxes I’ve ever seen. Inside the highly decorated trunk is a map of the world drawn by King George II’s geographer, Thomas Jefferys.
With the level of dedication to the design, how could you not go all-out with the movement? Every watch in this collection is powered by the manual wind Cal. LM135, sporting a 96h power reserve and a flying tourbillon to boot. Personally, the collection benefits more from no tourbillon, but I understand that it was included to display that Louis Moinet acknowledges the horological excellence from which their company was birthed.
Final Thoughts
Around the World in Eight Days is an exercise in not only mastery of design, but mastery of craftsmanship. The fact that I had almost missed this collection was mind-blowing on my part. This is the level of watchmaking that I adore. To see a near-impossible concept conveyed by just eight timepieces is horological lunacy – and I love horological lunacy.
So while I have my objections – no Australian dial, for example – there’s no denying that these timepieces represent what can be achieved at the highest levels of horology. While I won’t be lining my pockets with the money for these anytime soon, I’ll certainly be saving up for a real trip to these iconic places. I wonder what my relatives in Singapore would think if I showed up at their door because of a watch?
Reference: LOUIS MOINET AROUND THE WORLD IN 8 DAYS
Specification
- Case: 40.7mm case diameter
- Case Material: 18k red gold
- Dials:
| Paris | Eiffel Tower hand-engraved from original beam fragment. Genuine 81-piece puzzle dial with hand-painted map. |
| Abu Dhabi | The Sheikh Zayed Mosque: Miniature painting on rock crystal. |
| Bangkok | Hand-painted decorations. |
| Kuala Lumpur | Petronas Tower sculpted and mounted on a silicon wafer engraved with microelectronic circuits. |
| Singapore | Hand-painted relief decoration mounted on straw marquetry. |
| Tokyo | Genuine origami made from a folded metal sheet. Miniature painting on aventurine. |
| San Francisco | Sculpted and hand-painted bridge on a silicon wafer engraved with microelectronic circuits. |
| New York | Statue of Liberty, engraved and painted by hand. Sapphire base with holographic film. |
- Crystal: Sapphire scratch-resistant, with anti-reflective coating.
- Water resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: Manual wind manufacture Cal. LM135 movement, with flying tourbillon
- Movement Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Power reserve: Approx. 96hours
- Bracelet: Colour-matched alligator leather strap with 18k red gold folding clasp
