Louis Moinet has unveiled its new Qatar Tourbillon at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE), currently on at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).
Only three such pieces will be manufactured, featuring two painstakingly cut fragments of the one and only meteorite ever to have been found in Qatar, inlaid in a spectacular dial. The two hand-engraved Qatari sabres and sand dunes add a special tribute to the nation.
The official name of the meteorite is Qatar 001 as assigned to it by the US-based Meteoritical Society. It comes from the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and travelled over 260mn km before landing in the Jariyan Al Batnah desert.
As famous meteorite hunter Luc Labenne explains: “It’s a chondrite type H5, with a very high metal content. Its chondrules (the silicate mineral grains found in meteorites) are clearly visible.”
Jean-Marie Schaller, Louis Moinet’s CEO and creative director, says: “It’s an honour to be paying tribute to Qatar by combining the art of watchmaking with this unique and authentic celestial heritage. Louis Moinet started creating works of art for kings, princes, presidents, and sultans as early as 1806. We’re now continuing his work by producing singular creations, dedicated to the most important figures of our time.”
The 45.4mm-diameter Qatar Tourbillon case has been dubbed Neo: its new technical solutions have resulted in the creation of an all-new shape of watch. Everything is built around two vertical bridges that span the timepiece, securing the strap at each end of their lugs – these in turn feature the third and final openwork finish on the watch. The bridges support the movement’s housing, topped by a hand-engraved bezel secured by six screws – one of Louis Moinet’s signature touches.
The Qatar Tourbillon has a manual wind movement that beats at a rhythm of 21,600 vibrations per hour. One distinctive technical feature is that its spectacular winding mechanism is visible through the case back. The “octopus” spring fulfils three functions, acting as a lever spring, yoke spring, and click spring.
Qatar Tourbillon in the Louis Moinet boutique at Alfardan pavilion.
