Key Highlights
- 1816 CHRONOGRAPH Champagne Edition marking 210 years since Louis Moinet created the first chronograph in 1816.
- Champagne hue on dial and bracelet links, echoing the tone of the integrated LM1816 calibre.
- Hand-wound LM1816 movement with 330 components, column wheel and 48-hour power reserve.
- 40.6 mm double-gadroon case in grade 5 titanium with exhibition back and 50 m water resistance.
- Dial architecture reinterprets Moinet’s original compteur de tierces with Roman numerals on the hour totaliser.
Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph Champagne Edition with titanium bracelet highlighting champagne intermediate links” />A Contemporary Tribute to the First Chronograph
In 1816, Louis Moinet completed the first chronograph in history, his compteur de tierces. The 1816 CHRONOGRAPH Champagne Edition revisits that instrument to mark its 210th anniversary in a modern wristwatch.
Rather than a replica, the manufacture presents a contemporary column-wheel chronograph that keeps the spirit of the original. The champagne tone links dial, bracelet and calibre for collectors who value clear historical roots in a current design.
The Champagne Aesthetic
The champagne tone defines the visual identity of the 1816 CHRONOGRAPH, highlighting the dial’s different levels and contrasting with blued steel hands and rhodium-plated counter rings for legibility.
The hue continues on the intermediate links of the polished and satin-brushed grade 5 titanium bracelet via champagne DLC that underlines the U-shaped architecture. The hour totaliser carries Roman numerals as a nod to the historic chronograph that inspired this piece.
LM1816: Integrated Manual-Wind Chronograph
The hand-wound LM1816 calibre was developed specifically for this model and guided by the layout of the historic compteur de tierces.
Composed of 330 components and 34 jewels, it beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 48-hour power reserve. Through the exhibition back, overlapping bridges, gears, brass-toned bridges, blue screws and red rubies create a layered view of the finishing.
The LM1816 is defined by its column wheel, instantaneous minute counter and swan-neck regulator, all rooted in traditional chronograph construction. Manual winding reinforces the tactile link to the movement and its 48-hour autonomy.
Titanium Case and Historic Dial Logic
The 1816 CHRONOGRAPH is housed in a 40.6 mm double-gadroon case in polished and satin-brushed grade 5 titanium. Comprising 51 parts, it follows a Directoire style semi-bassine design for a refined, wearable profile.
Two discreet pushers frame the winding crown, engraved with a fleur-de-lys in reference to Louis Moinet’s birthplace of Bourges. A sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective treatment protects the dial, while a sapphire back reveals the LM1816 calibre and supports water resistance of 50 meters.
The dial layout reflects Moinet’s emphasis on legibility. Small seconds and the 30-minute instantaneous totaliser sit horizontally across the upper half of the dial above the 12-hour totaliser, whose satin-polished surface and Roman numerals echo the historic piece.
Constructed from 23 elements, the dial includes ten blackened nickel cabochons and bead-blasted bases for the champagne-coloured counters. The bead-blasted flange is divided into increments of six and fixed by four blued-steel screws, while engraved markings, the “1816” model name and “Louis Moinet” signature reproduce the typography of the original creation.
The central chronograph hand and totaliser hands are heat-blued steel, while facetted, skeletonised hour and minute hands are tipped with luminescent material to maintain low-light readability.
Why It Matters
For collectors in the GCC, the 1816 CHRONOGRAPH Champagne Edition links a foundational chapter in chronograph history with a modern titanium case and carefully finished LM1816 movement. The champagne hue and manual winding create a tactile experience that suits a region that values horological heritage expressed through contemporary refinement.
It offers a focused interpretation of Louis Moinet chronograph heritage for enthusiasts seeking a Swiss manual-wind chronograph movement in a titanium haute horlogerie sports watch profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What movement powers the Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph Champagne Edition?
The watch is powered by the hand-wound LM1816 calibre, which was developed specifically for this model and features 330 components, a column wheel, and a 48-hour power reserve. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and includes traditional chronograph construction elements like an instantaneous minute counter and swan-neck regulator.
What makes the champagne aesthetic significant on this timepiece?
The champagne tone unifies the dial, bracelet, and calibre to commemorate the 210-year anniversary of Louis Moinet’s invention of the first chronograph in 1816. The hue is applied via champagne DLC on the titanium bracelet’s intermediate links and highlights the dial’s different levels while contrasting with blued steel hands for improved legibility.
What are the case specifications of the 1816 Chronograph Champagne Edition?
The watch features a 40.6 mm double-gadroon case crafted from grade 5 titanium with a Directoire-style semi-bassine design. It offers 50 meters of water resistance, an exhibition back to view the movement, and the crown is engraved with a fleur-de-lys referencing Louis Moinet’s birthplace of Bourges.
