With its distinctive design, many didn't believe in the Black Gold Derrick success. And yet ! « When we designed this timepiece, most people told us that the project didn’t stand a chance, from either a technical or a commercial point of view. And now, the Black Gold Derrick has achieved worldwide recognition », Jean-Marie Schaller CEO & Creative Director said.
Since they were first launched 67 years ago, the Good Design Awards have been the measure of whether or not the design of a given object enriches our contemporary world. In 2016, the Awards attracted some 1000 entries from independent designers and firms, from a total of 46 different countries.
Now, Louis Moinet has joined the likes of Ferrari as one of the award-winners. The Ateliers’ creation shares a similar ethos to that of the carmaker in terms of cutting-edge design, innovation, the minutest attention to every detail, and equal amounts of care lavished on technical aspects and aesthetic appearance alike.
This outstanding achievement reflects the scale of daring in this timepiece, whose movement displays the entire oil drilling process. A drive shaft sits on the right of the dial, between 2 and 4 o’clock. This powers a long, articulated arm, known as the walking beam, between 10 and 2 o’clock. To its left is the oblong-shaped ‘head’, the most striking visual characteristic of a derrick. The system ends at a barrel at 9 o’clock, made from titanium and symbolising successful extraction. It too is in constant rotation: Louis Moinet has dedicated it to marking the seconds, read off at the bottom of the barrel, on a red engraved seconds track. The barrel is also engraved with the signature fleur-de-lis motif – a nod to Bourges, France, where Louis Moinet himself was born. The entire movement of the timepiece, finished in line with the highest standards of Fine Watchmaking, can be seen through the sapphire crystal caseback.
The Black Gold Derrick, the first watch in the world to reflect the very essence of crude oil, won this award for its remarkable aesthetic appearance, opening up a new dimension in watchmaking. Not only that – it’s also furthered the prestige of Switzerland’s creativity and inventiveness in the world of design. “This is recognition indeed,” concludes Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO of Ateliers Louis Moinet. “Building bridges between cultures even as we serve as standard-bearers for the art of Swiss watchmaking is at once a humbling honour and a great source of pride for us”, he added.
