News
Louis Moinet debuts a record-breaking one-off with 12 kinds of meteorites
News
Louis Moinet debuts a record-breaking one-off with 12 kinds of meteorites
They’ve launched the Cosmopolis, a celestial-inspired watch that’s been granted a Guinness World Records title.
Meteorites, as we know them to be, are spatial fragments of rocks that have traversed billions of miles through the cosmos, before landing here on earth. Some of these pieces are composed of unique materials, sometimes holding a value that surpasses that of gold and platinum combined.
So where do they end up? Some of them have found a new purpose in the hands of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, where they have been crafted into the Cosmopolis timepiece.
All the Meteorites of the Cosmopolis
The name ‘Cosmopolis’ is a portmanteau of the words “cosmo” (referring to the cosmos) and “polis” (indicating the cultural and artistic spirit of the city), and pays homage to the profound connection between our world and the infinite universe. And Louis Moinet has materialized this philosophical take into this particular watch.
The dial serves as a celestial theater, where each meteorite fragment is positioned to form an exhibition ring — not quite a chapter ring, per se, but a placement that’s reminiscent of a telephone’s rotary dial, interestingly enough.
Here’s what they are: a piece of the moon, Mars, parts of a meteorite shower found in Mexico and Costa Rica, and from asteroids discovered in Algeria, Russia, China, Namibia, Mexico, and the Sahara Desert.
Now all these pieces of rocks in a watch are not for nought. For the Cosmopolis, Louis Moinet has been awarded the Guinness World Records title for the “most meteorite inserts in a watch”.
CEO Jean-Marie Schaller is responsible for this vision, where he also serves as Louis Moinet’s Creative Director. Meteorites in a Louis Moinet watch isn’t a new thing — they’ve been seen in multiple series, such as the Mars Mission and the Super Moon watches. Schaller has a guy (or some guys) who scour the earth looking for these fallen meteorites (yes, it’s a real job), providing him with these unique discoveries. It’s also worth noting that no two rocks are alike, thus the cross-sections from these rocks differ from one watch to another, making them very special indeed.
“I’ve been collecting exceptional meteorites for twenty years,” shared Schaller in a statement. “Each has its own story. My collection contains rare pieces, such as a valuable meteorite from Mars that is one of 300 samples identified to this day. These fascinating stories were the creative spark that gave birth to the Cosmopolis. Even more than a great watchmaking work, Cosmopolis is a historic and scientific journey, a microcosm of the macrocosm.”
In addition to the 10 minuscule slivers, a black chondrite is concealed within the tourbillon cage.
Louis Moinet Cosmopolis
The watch features an off-center tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The hand-wound movement, equipped with two barrel springs, boasts a 96-hour power reserve. The innovative “volte-face” system, where one barrel is positioned upside-down over the other, allows them to work in unison, ensuring extended power autonomy.
Time is read off the main hour hands in rose gold that are fixed on top of another slice of rock — a lunar meteorite. All of these are housed underneath a sapphire crystal dome that’s encased in a 40.7mm 18 ct rose gold case. Finished off with openworked lugs, a black leather strap completes the look.
Tech Specs
Louis Moinet Cosmopolis
Movement: Manual-winding movement; 96-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Flying tourbillon
Case: 40.7mm; Water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Dark gray with various meteorite fragments
Strap: Black leather strap
Availability: Pièce unique
