Written by: K. Amanuel
Louis Moinet is a Swiss luxury watch brand that is named after legendary watchmaker Louis Moinet, the 19th century watchmaker. During his lifetime, Louis Moinet produced watches for people like Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and King George IV of England. His clocks were as famous as the people he made them for. The present Louis Moinet company is located in Saint-Blaise on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland and is run by its founder Jean-Marie Schaller.
Louis Moinet brand has been doing Jules Verne homage watches for a few years and released its newest Jules Verne Instument III timepiece in 2012, which was inspired by the protagonist in Jules Verne’s 20000 Leagues Under the Sea novel published in 1869. According to the press release, “Louis Moinet has created a high-precision instrument for Captain Nemo – a loyal companion to accompany him alongside his various locomotion devices in his many confrontations with known and unknown worlds.”
The Jules Verne Instrument III Features:
- Monopusher chronograph
- Limited Edition:
- 365 watches in 18-carat rose gold 5N & titanium grade 5 & black PVD
- 365 watches in titanium grade 5 & black PVD & 316L stainless steel
Movement:
- Mechanical self-winding Louis Moinet caliber in collaboration with Concepto Caliber LM30
- Decoration: Engraved with “Côtes du Jura” & blackened finish & blued steel screws; Balance with screws
- Oscillations: 28,800 vph
- Frequency: 4 Hz
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Rotor: Mounted on ball bearings, openworked segment
- Functions: Hour & Minute, Small seconds (at 9 o’clock), 30-minute chronograph counter (at 3 o’clock), Date (at 7 o’clock), 60-second chronograph (center)
Case:
- Louis Moinet design, bezel secured with 6 hex screws
- 18-carat rose gold 5N & titanium grade 5 & black PVD
- Titanium grade 5 & 316L stainless steel & black PVD
- Diameter: 45.50 mm
- Thickness: 16.65 mm
- Water-resistance: 50 meters
- Case-back: Secured with 7 screws, engraved with individual number and markings
- Crystals: Two sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
- Function indicator with a design inspired by the “Chadburn telegraph transmitter”
- “Start-Stop-Reset” function indicator active by monopusher
Dial:
- “Côtes du Jura“ design, milled appliques with hex screws
- Hands: Cut-out segments filled with white and blue luminescent substance
Strap:
- Rubber, Interhorn width: 24 mm
- Buckle: Double folding clasp in grade 5 titanium and 316L stainless steel
This limited timepiece is a great addition to the Louis Moinet collection and has beautiful aesthetic and function. Similar to the two models that preceded it, the Jules Verne Instrument III epitomizes the steampunk genre.