The Vertalor expresses all the technical and aesthetic quintessence of Ateliers Louis Moinet. It also marks the first time that a tourbillon cage has hung from a three-armed bridge made from solid gold. The architectural theme of suspension continues with the Vertalor’s barrel, the cover of which also hangs from a gold bridge.
The Vertalor comes in two series of 28 pieces each, in pink gold and grey gold. The sculpted 47mm case includes 59 parts and its two faces are made of anti-reflective sapphire crystals. It houses a dial decorated with “Côtes du Jura” and reveales the tourbillon at 6 o'clock, hanging from the three bridges above. The latter features a new hand whose tip, in the form of a luminous star that harks back to Mr Louis Moinet’s very own design for the Julius Caesar clock (1825).
At 12 o’clock the gold bridges make room for a more open, reworked barrel. Its cover features an open-work sun motif.
The slightly curved open-work hands have the famous “Dew Drop” tips, one of the brand’s aesthetic signature. A fragment of moon meteorite adorns the centre of the dial.
At 9 o’clock rests the Fleur-de-lis, the emblem of Ateliers Louis Moinet, denoting both Louis Moinet’s place in the course of history and his native town of Bourges.
The eight curved, diamond-cut hour markers embody both technical prowess and a powerful aesthetic message – arching above the dial, they help to create a distinctive relief effect in this symbiosis of technology and design.
The mechanical movement is manual wind. Set at 3 Hz, its generous three-day power reserve makes the Vertalor suitable for busy modern-day life.
The watch is fitted with a Louisiana alligator leather strap, hand-sewn. The folding clasp bears the Louis Moinet symbol.
“We wanted a timepiece that would pay tribute to Louis Moinet’s style, particularly that of the School of Fine Arts, where he taught on his return from Italy,” explains Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO and Creative Director of the Ateliers.
