An Onyx Impulsion from Louis Moinet
The Impulsion is back in a new limited edition featuring an onyx. The onyx is placed behind the tourbillon cage and on the wing-shaped bridges to each side of it, where it harmonises with the black hue of the mainplate. This mysterious and spellbinding stone creates a fascinating contrast with the three-dimensional architecture of the mechanism
Story
Abraham-Louis Breguet and Louis Moinet were close friends and key figures in watchmaking. The former invented the tourbillon, the latter the chronograph. Today, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet draws on a veritable wellspring of modern creativity that has succeeded in integrating these two high complications in a new mantel, one that generates strong emotions.
The project
The idea of combining a chronograph with a tourbillon is not entirely new. What does differentiate this timepiece from previous creations is its original and bold character. The first step was to make the chronograph mechanism entirely visible on the dial side, a world premiere, in fact. The magic of a tourbillon was then added.
The result is impressive, a remarkable spectacle and a feast for the eyes. A single pusher activates the chronograph hand, which ticks away the seconds and sails over the flying tourbillon, whose off-centre cage does one rotation per minute. This creation was named Impulsion, a word that suggests the energy that transfers life to the chronograph and the tourbillon and activates both two visual effects to produce a full-fledged “show,” as it were.
Genesis
At the heart of the Impulsion is the in-house Memoris calibre. It carries the Louis Moinet DNA, with its column wheel, classic horizontal clutch, and single pusher, which have been retained with great difficulty. The movement is composed of 301 parts, many of which had to be designed and manufactured from scratch. Incorporating the tourbillon required significant innovations, for example, in terms of energy delivery:
1) The ”volte-face” double spring barrel
To ensure sufficient energy, the automatic winding system had to be replaced by a manual double-barrel winding system in a “volte-face” assembly. This means that the two barrels are arranged upside down in series. They release their energy simultaneously, delivering a power reserve of ninety-six hours.
2) Technical and aesthetic results
The innovation is coupled with outstanding performance by the complex mechanisms. All in all, it produces beautiful mechanical art never seen before.
The three-dimensional architecture of the two impressive mechanisms is expressed on the wrist thanks to the high-end finishing by Louis Moinet craftsmen in collaboration with the marque’s traditional partner Concepto. The watch was assembled at the brand’s workshops in Les Breuleux, in the Swiss Jura Mountains, and is signed Moinet, independent watchmaker.
The 42.5-millimeter Impulsion case is a sculptural masterpiece and stands out thanks to its forceful character. Its sculpted silhouette, clean lines, and openworked areas give it a resolutely dynamic look that defies conventions and embodies Louis Moinet’s avant-garde spirit.
Special care was devoted to designing the Impulsion case, so it could house an equally exceptional movement. A challenge in itself as the visionary design had to be elaborated down to the last detail and without any compromises. This process required total harmony between cutting-edge technology and traditional expertise. Making the case demanded top-drawer technical developments, creating special tools, as well as hand-finishing performed with utmost care. Everything had to be orchestrated by highly skilled professionals. For the finishing alone, experts from six different crafts were deployed. Thanks to the technology, the Impulsion case has a stylistic language that merges function and form to create a horological work of art.
The core was machined from Grade 5 titanium, which offers optimal weight-to-strength ratio, and then given a black coating. The material was chosen for its comfort when worn. The ingeniously assembled chassis is composed of four distinct elements: two lateral sections, a rear section, and a bezel crafted in 18-carat red gold.
The lateral elements, with their stylised, hollowed-out lugs, exhibit boldly elegant lines. The titanium core can be seen through cut-outs in the case band, through which one can read the inscription “Titanium” engraved in the metal.
The bezel is both complex and modern, with micro-beaded grooves – another stylistic brand signature. The curved sapphire crystal reveals the powerful mechanism and optimises the reading of the chronographic functions. The case back reveals its sophisticated mounting system. The finishing on these elements alternates between polished, satin-finished, and micro-beaded, which allows for a lively play of light. The combination of textures provides a striking contrast with the titanium core.
Another salient feature of the Impulsion case is the single pusher dedicated to the chronograph function and positioned at 2 o’clock and is accompanied by a crown adorned with a fleur de Lys, subtly enhanced by a touch of colour reminiscent of the core.
