After enjoying the festive season, many watch brands are launching some magnificent creations to kick off the year. One that caught my eye is a refined timepiece from Louis Moinet called the IMPULSION Onyx. This watch is manufactured in their workshop in Saint-Blaise, Switzerland and will only be available to 28 fortunate owners. On first inspection, this timepiece is synonymous with the brand's DNA and therefore will appeal to appreciators of fine design.
Over the years I have featured many of Louis Moinet’s timepieces in books and magazines. I love what the brand stands for and its enduring dedication to creating beautiful pieces of horological art. The genesis of the IMPULSION Onyx was inspired by the friendship of Abraham-Louis Breguet and Louis Moinet. The former invented the tourbillon, the latter the chronograph. This union between two masters was the catalyst for creating a watch combining both mechanical complications. Within the watch industry, this isn’t an innovation. However, exposing the chronograph mechanism on the dial is a world first.
To date, Louis Moinet has won over 50 of the world’s most prestigious awards, including a UNESCO Award of Merit, six Red Dot Design Awards, eighteen Good Design Awards, gold and bronze medals in the International Chronometry Competition, and many more. Based on the aesthetic of the IMPULSION Onyx I can see this timepiece joining the list. What makes the watch so special is the exquisite multi-layered three-dimensional dial. This exposes architectural elements of the chronograph movement and flying tourbillon mechanism via three large apertures. There are also onyx fragments delicately positioned behind the tourbillon cage and on the wing-shaped bridges. All of the magnificent technical splendor is encapsulated in a newly designed 42.5mm 18 karat pink gold case with a Grade 5 titanium internal structure. Overall I feel creative director Jean Marie Schaller has created the perfect dress watch.
At the heart of the watch is a sophisticated 36-jewel manual winding movement created by Louis Moinet and manufacturing partner Concepto, The Calibre Memoris is composed of 310 parts and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Highlights include a ”volte-face” double spring barrel, column wheel, classic horizontal clutch, and a single pusher. This mechanical magic is visibly showcased via the exhibition-style sapphire crystal case back. Functionally the IMPULSION Onyx features hours, minutes, seconds, flying tourbillon, and chronograph indication with a 60-seconds + minutes counter. This watch also has a power reserve of 96 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 30 metres.
As a perfect finale, the IMPULSION Onyx is presented on a black alligator strap with a complimentary 18-karat pink gold folding clasp.
For more information about the IMPULSION Onyx follow this link: https://louismoinet.com/watches/impulsion-lm-114-40-50
