And Louis Moinet, to celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of its founder’s birth is doing just that…but also much more.

The Ultravox

Louis Moinet was born in 1768 and to celebrate, the brand is introducing its first ever hour-strike timepiece, the Ultravox. Using a completely new movement, developed by master watchmaker Eric Coudray, the Ultravox represents a significant investment for a small brand like Louis Moinet.

Louis Moinet has a history of producing striking clocks, some of which were owned by some of the world’s greatest leaders, from Napoleon Bonaparte to Tsar Alexander I and presidents of the United States (among them Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe). The Hour Strike from Louis Moinet continues this tradition, but in a decidedly modern way. This 46.5mm rose gold timepiece, limited to 28 pieces worldwide, puts the entire movement, including the striking mechanism, on display.

Back in Bourges

Louis Moinet was born in Bourges, France and to honor the 250^th anniversary of his birth, the city of Bourges has named a street after the famous watchmaker. Fittingly, the street, named Impasse Louis Moinet, is the very one on which his actual home, which is still there, was located.

Digital Museum

For this landmark date, Louis Moinet is opening up a digital museum of the famous watchmaker, including a large number of restored, functional timepieces. Painstakingly documented and lovingly prepared, this is the largest collection of authenticated Louis Moinet objects in the world.

A HEAD Partnership

Louis Moinet is also announcing a partnership with HEAD, the Geneva University of Art and Design. This partnership will include a contest for the students, with a CHF 5,000 prize, to get them thinking about the watch of the future. The brief is as follows: “The traditional Swiss watch is under threat from the digital watch. Devise a watch embodying Swiss watchmaking values and offering a relevant answer to this challenge for today’s market.”