Louis Moinet Mobilis – An Hypnotic Double Tourbillon & Kaleidoscope Watch

Mobilis in Mobile – please welcome the Louis Moinet Mobilis – The ‘indie’ watchmaking brand honoring the memory of the great Louis Moinet unveils a sculptural, hyper-active and hypnotic watch. On the dial of this Louis Moinet Mobilis, no less than a double tourbillon powering a mesmerizing kaleidoscope automaton. Let’s take a closer look.

Louis Moinet (and Jean-Marie Schaller, who founded the brand by reviving this prestigious name) has a taste for the spectacular. The brand’s latest creation is no exception. The name says it all. Mobilis – active/mobile in latin – is a stunning piece of engineering, its animated inner workings on full display for all to see and appreciate. Its fascinating ballet is based on two tourbillons, unusually rotating in opposite directions, which power a hypnotic kaleidoscopic complication at 12 o’clock (right beneath the hour and minute hands).

The two large flying tourbillons are mounted on ceramic ball bearings and appear to be floating in mid-air. The absence of any upper bridges allows for an uninterrupted view of the myriad of mechanical processes taking place. Despite their large diameters (14.9mm), each cage weighs only 0.4 grams. The magic of the kaleidoscope dial at 12 is animated by two overlapping cut-out discs and driven by an inverted gear system. Hours and minutes are shown on this animated off-centred dial with elegant “Gouttes de Rosée” (dew-drop in French) hands.

The movement is framed by an inner flange, decorated with a “Clous de Paris” pattern and engraved with the brand’s name; a perfect match with the skeleton-work and the mix of modern and traditional finishing, which we’ve come to expect from the brand. The play of light within this moving 3D architecture is truly eye-catching. The watch most certainly deserves its “Mobilis” name.

The exclusive calibre LM-53 is manufactured with Tec-Ebauches in Vallorbe. It runs at 21’600 vibrations/hour and offers a power reserve of 52 hours. Housed in a round case made from white gold, the modern design includes open-worked lugs and a bezel with 6 notches and screws. Its large fluted crown is adorned with a heraldic lily, a symbol of French Kings and the logo of the brand. The sapphire crystal is slightly domed.

Despite its large diameter (47.4 mm), the Louis Moinet Mobilis wears well, thanks to its lug design and its soft alligator strap that hugs the wrist snugly. It is closed by a cool folding buckle which also features the brand’s lily logo.

An evolution of the Sideralis, the Louis Moinet Mobilis is an exquisite watch, at the same time modern, technical and architectural. The visual impact of the two regulating organs side-by-side, together with the kaleidoscope, is spectacular. Available in an exclusive limited edition of 12 pieces in white gold, it retails at 245,000 CHF. For more information on Louis Moinet you can visit its website at www.louismoinet.com.

Technical specifications – Louis Moinet Mobilis

• Case: 47.4 mm – 18k white gold – sapphire crystal on the front and on the back – water resistant to 30m
• Movement: Calibre LM53 – mechanical with manual winding – 52h power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – 36 jewels – hours, minutes, ‘kaleidoscope’ automaton and double one-minute flying tourbillon.
• Strap:  alligator leather with alligator lining on 18k gold folding buckle
• Limited edition of 12 pieces in white gold
• Retail price : 245’000 CHF