Meteoris

WORLDTEMPUS - 15 January 2010

Elizabeth Doerr


Exhibiting at the Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE) from Sunday, Louis Moinet's founder Jean-Marie Schaller will unveil his young brand's very first objet d'art, which includes a set of four unusual tourbillons built into the base.

Meteoris is the name of the planetarium set uniting several types of meteorites and depicting our solar system in its entirety: all nine planets as well as the earth's moon—created by artist Jean-Yves Kervévan using handmade resins and varnishes—are displayed as they orbit the sun. This is a great technical feat as most planetariums only show a limited number of planets.

According to Schaller, Meteoris provides a greater understanding of the intricacy of the solar system with a faster speed of rotation, which allows the planets to complete their journeys around the sun in 37 seconds rather than 365 days.
The circular navy blue scale positioned directly underneath the depiction of the planets indicates each of the planets' positions in relation to the zodiac through which it crosses. This ring-shaped scale sprinkled with gold dust and silver spangles symbolizes the night sky and is decorated with154 “stars” totaling 5.6 ct Top Wesselton VVS diamonds representing various constellations.

Measuring 1.5 m in height, this work of art originated in the mind of Rémy Chauvin, the gear specialist also responsible for the astronomical clock located in the Morteau watch museum. The positioning of the earth and moon even allow for the display of the moon's phases.

Its large movement driven by a complex set of 40 gear wheels comprises ten coaxial tubes with stainless steel spokes to support the planets and is powered by a micro motor.
Four whirlwinds

The planetarium is enhanced by the fascinating vision of four tourbillon wristwatches, one nestling comfortably on each side of the Meteoris's base, and each one embellished with the addition of a rare meteorite stone: Dhofar 459 (moon meteorite), Itqiy (from an asteroid close to the sun), Sahara 99555 (also known as Rosetta Stone, possibly from Mercury), and Jiddat al Harasis 479 (Mars meteorite).

The hand-wound tourbillon movements manufactured by Concepto are particularly aesthetic, conceived to showcase their technology within the 50-part cases, two of which come in white gold with baguette-cut diamonds and two in rose gold.

The entire set is unique and will be sold to a collector for a total of 4,900,000 Swiss Francs.