Louis Moinet‘s ‘Around the World in Eight Days’ collection invites us on a global adventure, where each watch is a miniature masterpiece, a tribute to the spirit of a city that has inspired awe, wonder, and endless fascination. Imagine holding the essence of Paris, the vibrancy of New York, or the serene beauty of Tokyo right on your wrist. This collection is a contemporary version of the famous odyssey imagined by Jules Verne, revisited by Jean-Marie Schaller and sublimated by the art and excellence of watchmaking.
Paris
“Paris and the Eiffel Tour are inseparable. After intense research, I finally acquired a real fragment of this extraordinary icon. It comes from a beam that had been replaced during the centenary.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director.
At the heart of this watch is a real piece of the Eiffel Tower, carefully shaped by hand to look like the famous tower. This piece comes from a beam that helped hold up the Eiffel Tower for more than 100 years, connecting the past and present and giving the person wearing it a direct link to this famous landmark.
The face of the watch has a jigsaw puzzle design that carefully shows the layout of Paris, including the Seine River and different areas, with 81 pieces that fit together. This detailed design not only shows off the beauty of the city but also its lively culture and long history. The skill it takes to carve the Eiffel Tower by hand and put together the puzzle on the watch face highlights the incredible talent of the makers at Les Ateliers Louis Moinet. This makes the Paris watch a perfect example of how the brand brings together artistic skill and watchmaking know-how.
Abu Dhabi
“What impressed me most in Abu Dhabi was the beauty and grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. To express its sheer serenity, limpid rock crystal was the obvious choice.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The main feature of this watch is a clear piece of rock crystal, used to show the grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque in a very detailed and delicate way. Each part of the mosque, like the domes and columns, is painted by hand with great care. This shows the skill of painting tiny, detailed pictures, and it feels like looking at the mosque under a clear blue sky.
The use of rock crystal is special because it gives a see-through look that adds depth, making the mosque appear as if it’s sitting under a clear sky with the moon shining. This watch captures the elegance of Abu Dhabi, blending the city’s rich traditions with its modern look. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque on the watch is not just a building; it’s a symbol of the city’s blend of past and future, showing Abu Dhabi’s commitment to unity and peace.
Bangkok
“I emerged from the din of the city with its myriad emanations to find one of the amazing floating markets, a wonderful oasis of peace. This great labyrinth stretching across many canals is a veritable paradise for the senses that thrills the eye with its riot of colours.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The Bangkok watch takes you straight to the heart of the city’s famous floating markets with its lively and colorful design. The watch showcases the incredible skills of an artist who paints tiny details by hand. You can see boats full of colorful goods, straw hats, and water lilies, all brought to life with amazing accuracy. This design captures the busy, colorful world of Bangkok’s markets right on your wrist.
Kuala Lumpur
“For over a quarter-century, the Petronas Towers have dominated the Kuala Lumpur skyline. They are the world’s tallest twin towers. While admiring them, I realized that they stand as a symbol of Malaysia’s global importance as a major producer of microelectronic circuits amongst many other products.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director.
The Kuala Lumpur watch is a nod to the city’s modern skyline and its role as a tech hub, featuring the iconic Petronas Towers. These towers are carefully made out of silver and stand tall on a dial that looks like it’s made of silicon, with patterns that mimic microelectronic circuits. This design highlights Kuala Lumpur’s importance in technology and innovation, with the Petronas Towers symbolizing the city’s ambition and growth.
The use of silicon for the dial is a clever touch, showing off Kuala Lumpur’s tech-savvy side. The detailed engraving and the representation of the towers on the watch connect the wearer to the city’s dynamic energy and its blend of tradition with modern advancements.
Singapore
“When I think of Singapore, I see an extraordinary blend of ancient and modern. Straw marquetry has a particularly animated look that easily reflects the flamboyance and diversity of this magnificent town.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The Singapore watch beautifully captures the city’s unique mix of tradition and modernity using the art of straw marquetry. This technique involves using dyed straw, carefully cut and placed piece by piece, to create a vibrant image of Singapore’s famous landmarks. The watch showcases iconic structures like the Marina Bay Sands, the Super Trees of Gardens by the Bay, and the Merlion, all set against a lively background that reflects Singapore’s dynamic spirit.
Tokyo
“Travelling to Tokyo was tantamount to total immersion in a culture that blends deep tradition in a very modern and dynamic city. The venerable aura of Mount Fuji and the delicate Origami creations are both perfect symbols of Tokyo’s contrasting aspects.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The Tokyo watch is a masterpiece that brings together the city’s deep-rooted traditions and its modern flair. At the center of the watch is an origami crane, meticulously crafted from metallic paper, symbolizing longevity and happiness. This origami crane sits against a backdrop that sparkles like a starry night, made from aventurine, representing the iconic Mount Fuji and delicate cherry blossoms around it. Every element, including the majestic mountain and the blossoms, is painted with incredible precision and detail.
San Francisco
“While observing the classic architectural design of famous American districts, I had a sudden flash: These urban landscapes often have the patchwork regularity of electronic circuit boards. What better way to suggest San Francisco’s proximity to Silicon Valley.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The San Francisco watch captures the city’s innovative essence and its iconic architecture with a unique design. At the forefront is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, painted in its distinctive “International Orange” color and set against a background that mimics the pattern of microelectronic circuits on silicon. This clever design choice reflects San Francisco’s role as a hub of technology and innovation, symbolizing the city’s connection to Silicon Valley.
The use of silicon for the dial not only highlights San Francisco’s status in the tech world but also creates a stunning visual contrast with the hand-painted bridge. This representation brings the architectural marvel to life, offering a sense of depth and perspective that makes the bridge seem almost tangible.
New York
“The city that never sleeps, with its soaring skyscrapers that change colour as day turns to night… A breathtaking sight that thrills me every time. A holographic film was used to reproduce this striking effect by playing on the contrasting lights.” Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director
The New York watch brings the vibrant energy and iconic skyline of the city to life with innovative design. It features the Statue of Liberty, carefully engraved and painted by hand, set against a backdrop that plays with light to mimic the ever-changing colors of the city’s skyscrapers. This effect is achieved through a holographic film, creating a dynamic play of light that captures the essence of New York, the city that never sleeps.
The dial’s base is painted black, making the skyline and the Statue of Liberty stand out, while the holographic film adds a sense of movement and vibrancy, echoing the bustling life of New York. Depending on how you look at the watch, the buildings light up, showing different colors, much like the real skyscrapers of New York under different lights of the day.
The trunk that houses the ‘Around the World in Eight Days’ collection by Louis Moinet is much more than just a box for watches. It’s a luxurious, leather-covered wooden trunk, designed with attention to detail and craftsmanship that mirrors the excellence of the timepieces it holds. The exterior of the trunk features a delicately stencilled fleur-de-lys monogram, paying homage to the rich heritage and history of Louis Moinet
Accompanying the watches is an old map of the world, dating back to 1786, the year Louis Moinet was born. This map, created by Thomas Jefferys, a renowned geographer at the court of King George III, serves as a reminder of the timelessness of exploration and discovery. Also you might be interesting to check TOP 10 most expensive watches in the world.
