Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, loves creating visually stunning complications and is passionate about all things related to the stars, speaking of “mechanical wonders” and “cosmic art”. The bold and technically captivating Space Revolution model combines these two passions: two planetary floating tourbillons rotate beneath a large sapphire box, and two spaceships serve as counterpoints to the floating regulating organs. These animated theatrical effects were first introduced last year during the Geneva Watch Days 2020. In 2021, the Louis Moinet Space Revolution returns in a new limited series with an aventurine dial, creating a starry sky background.
Telling time can become a theatrical performance. Inspired by his passion for everything related to the stars and spectacular complications, Louis Moinet engaged his watchmakers to create the Space Revolution model, where two rotating spaceships act as counterpoints to two planetary floating tourbillons. One spaceship makes a clockwise rotation every five minutes, while the second rotates counterclockwise every ten minutes. Built on different levels to perform their acrobatics, the two tourbillon regulators intersect approximately every three minutes and twenty seconds. As you can see in the video below, the movement of the various elements is mesmerizing.
The complex hand-wound caliber LM104, enabling these spatial rotations, consists of no less than 470 components, including six ceramic ball bearings (5 with 7 ceramic balls and 1 with 9 ceramic balls) and a differential to align the pace of the two regulators. The central column houses the mechanism driving the tourbillons, spaceships, and hands. The tourbillon cages have a geometric shape and weigh no more than 0.24 grams. The balance wheels make 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour. The spaceships, named Red Force and Black Force, are made of lightweight titanium (weighing 0.5 grams each), hand-finished, and lacquered. Last but not least, the new aventurine background creates a starry sky backdrop, and the central column is adorned with a meteorite disc; each model will come with a separate rare meteorite, making each piece unique.
This captivating ballet is housed in an unusual case providing maximum transparency. The sapphire container is set on an 18-carat rose gold chassis. The middle case and lugs are openworked. Its dimensions are 43.5 mm for the gold base and 41.5 mm for the sapphire cover.
If you turn the watch over, the sapphire glass reveals the movement decorated with Geneva stripes and two openworked barrels providing a 48-hour power reserve when fully wound. A selector on the case back controls the crown in winding or time-setting mode, meaning the crown is not pulled out to set the time or wind the mechanism.
The Louis Moinet Space Revolution is worn on an alligator leather strap. It fastens to the wrist with a Fleur de Lys-shaped deployant clasp. The watch is released in a quantity of eight pieces and is sold at a price of 360,000 Swiss Francs.
For more information, visit www.louismoinet.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - LOUIS MOINET SPACE REVOLUTION
Case: Diameter 43.5 mm – 18k rose gold chassis with 41.5 mm sapphire glass – sapphire glass case back – water resistance 10 m
Dial: Black aventurine glass background
Movement: Caliber LM104 – proprietary movement developed and manufactured in collaboration with Concepto – manual winding – 56 jewels – 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour – 48-hour power reserve – double floating tourbillon satellite – hours and minutes
Strap: Alligator leather strap with 18-carat rose gold deployant clasp
Availability: Limited to 8 pieces
Price: 360,000 SWISS FRANCS