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Reading time 4 min.

Louis Moinet: Between Racing Performance and Astronomical Poetry

Between the Flash, the 1816 Chronograph, and the Skydance, Louis Moinet showed the full range of modern haute horlogerie in 2026.
The two versions of the Louis Moinet Time to Race
©  Louis Moinet


With a series of technically and aesthetically independent innovations, Louis Moinet showcased the range of its collection at Watches and Wonders 2026— from sports models consistently focused on chronographs to cosmically inspired complications. The common thread among the models is the ambition to combine historical references, mechanical substance, and a distinctive design language.

Time to Race Flash: Chronograph as an Adrenaline Instrument

With the new Time to Race Flash, Louis Moinet translates the dynamics of motorsport into an uncompromising chronograph aesthetic. The focus is clearly on the moment — that fraction of a second that determines victory or defeat. Accordingly, the chronograph architecture is prominently displayed on the dial.

Visually, the watch thrives on contrast: matte graphite meets warm gold tones, reminiscent of classic movements and, at the same time, the golden era of racing. The Time to Race Flash is available in two variants: Grade 5 titanium and 18-karat rose gold. The famous “Lucky Number” is prominently featured at the center, making each watch a personalized one-of-a-kind piece within its edition.

Back, caliber of the Louis Moinet Time to Race

View of the caliber of the Time to Race Flash in titanium and red gold.

©  Louis Moinet

Technically, the Flash is just as ambitious. The automatic caliber with a monopusher chronograph and column wheel is dramatically showcased under a domed sapphire crystal. The case, made of titanium or rose gold, acts like a technical exoskeleton — light, complex, and consistently geared toward performance.

1816 Tourbillon Chronograph: Homage to the Invention of the Chronograph

With the 1816 Tourbillon Chronograph, Louis Moinet bridged back to its origins. The watch is a direct reference to the “Compteur de Tierces” from 1816 — the first chronograph in history.

The design consciously cites historical elements, but interprets them in a modern design language. The 40.6-millimeter titanium case combines classic lines with a technical presence. On the dial, various surfaces and finely engraved details provide depth, while blued hands and a visibly integrated tourbillon set a strong visual accent.

Inside, the hand-wound caliber LM114 combines two complications that have shaped the history of watchmaking: a monopusher chronograph with a column wheel and a flying tourbillon. The 96-hour power reserve emphasizes its position as a serious haute horlogerie creation. Limited to only twelve pieces, this model is primarily intended for collectors.

1816 Chronograph: Historical Design in a New Color World

In parallel, Louis Moinet presented a new version of the 1816 Chronograph that interprets the historical heritage in a more accessible way. At the center is a newly developed manufacture caliber, whose architecture is based on the original construction from 1816.

Front and back of the Louis Moinet 1816

1816 chronograph with champagne dial and visible manufacture movement.

©  Louis Moinet

The warm champagne color of the dial, which emphasizes the complex layering and different levels, is particularly striking. The typical arrangement of the totalizers is retained, ensuring high recognizability, while Roman numerals on the hour counter directly reference the historical model.

The titanium case remains technically influenced, yet appears more elegant and understated than in the tourbillon model. The manual winding and classic elements, such as the swan-neck regulation and column wheel, clearly highlight that mechanical tradition is deliberately at the center here. The watch costs approximately $37,600.

Skydance: A Poetic Interpretation of Time

With the Skydance, Louis Moinet showcased a completely different facet of its watchmaking. Instead of motorsport or chronograph mechanics, the focus here is on the connection between time and the cosmos.

Two versions of the Louis Moinet Skydance, front, dial

The Skydance with mother-of-pearl, diamonds, and a cosmic display of sun and moon.

©  Louis Moinet

The dial stages an interplay of sun and moon, implemented both technically and artistically. While the sun rotates over aventurine, the moon appears on a real fragment of a lunar meteorite. This unusual choice of material gives the watch an almost tangible connection to the universe.

The back side of the Louis Moinet Skydance, arm, wrist view with red band

The back of the Skydance shows a rotating sky motif.

©  Louis Moinet

The titanium case with a ceramic bezel remains deliberately light and elegant, while diamonds and mother-of-pearl give the model a feminine appeal. Powered by an automatic movement, the Skydance combines technical precision with an emotional, almost poetic dimension.

The Skydance is available in two versions: with six or 60 diamonds on the bezel. Both feature a mother-of-pearl dial with diamond indices, as well as moon (meteorite) and sun (aventurine) elements. It is worn on a satin rubber strap, with optional alligator leather straps available in various colors.


To learn more, visit Louis Moinet, here

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