Sameera Gamage 
Louis Moinet brings history full circle with the revival of the world’s first chronograph. The new 1816 captures the spirit of the original 1816 pocket watch invention through a bold, modern reimagining. This is not just a tribute, it’s a resurrection of horological greatness!
If you are new to the world of watches or are just starting to dive into this deep rabbit hole of epic mechanical creations for the wrist, you may not know that Louis Moinet was the first to invent the chronograph. The beloved mechanism that we find in almost every line of watchmakers was invented by the prestigious Swiss watchmaker, Louis Moinet, named after the legendary 19th-century horologist who is credited with inventing the world’s first chronograph in 1816.
In 1816, Louis Moinet originally designed a novel instrument to carry out his celestial observations, which needed precise calculations of the speed at which the stars moved. In order to do this, the instrument used needed to be an accurate timing device, which led to the birth of the chronograph mechanism. Louis Moinet invented the “thirds counter” (compteur de tierces), a chronograph which was a first of its kind and a testament to his genius creativity.
The 1816 “Compteur de Tierces” chronograph was a groundbreaking instrument that could measure time intervals to 1/60th of a second, certainly an extraordinary feat for its era. The chronograph mechanism was housed in a pocket watch-style case, being part of an incredible movement that had an operating frequency of 216,000 vibrations per hour. The movement included a start, stop and reset functions, which means it predated modern chronographs by decades! It is stated to be a technical marvel that remained undiscovered for nearly two centuries before being officially recognised as the first of its kind.
Now, Louis Moinet is reviving the legacy of the very first chronograph through its latest 1816 release. The timepiece captures the essence of the 1816 pocket watch, with a modern integrated bracelet design and dial and movement aesthetics. The 1816 isn’t just a revival, it’s a reimagining. While the original model was a scientific tool, this timepiece is a modern version that captures the heart of the original while being suited for today’s watch enthusiasts and collectors alike. It takes inspiration from the original’s tricompax design and mechanical brilliance but translates it through contemporary craftsmanship and modern aesthetics.
Case And Bracelet Design
The Louis Moinet 1816 features a double-gadroon case, which is a design that features two parallel convex decorative bands (gadroons) that encircle the watch case. This specific design is rooted in classical architecture and decorative arts, adding a sculptural elegance to the timepiece. The 40.6mm case is made from polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium, and is composed of 51 parts! The vintage-inspired chronograph’s ascetic pushers are on either side of the winding crown, which has been decorated with fleur-de-lys, the emblem of Bourges, Louis Moinet’s birthplace.
This is also the first time that Louis Moinet has used an integrated bracelet on their timepeices. Not only that, but this grade 5 titanium bracelet is also the very first metallic bracelet that the Ateliers Louis Moinet has developed. While the case design is a mix of vintage-inspired and modern aesthetics, the integrated bracelet is a full contemporary design, conceived as a natural extension of the case.
Dial Design
The dial of the new 1816 chronograph has been directly translated from the original 1816 chronograph pocket watch. The three-counter layout presents a slightly offset design compared to the traditional tri-counter layout; however, it still presents a balanced design overall. The three counters include a 30-minute counter at 1 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and a constant seconds counter at 11 o’clock.
The dial is rhodium-plated and microblasted, giving a grey-grained look that matches the case’s aesthetic and presents a piece that looks like a metallic finish from a distance. What I like about the dial is the touches of blue on the chronograph and counter hands, as well as the blued screws along the chronograph scale, which against the monotone colour theme gives it a more “lively” appearance. Instead of you traditional tachymeter scale or 60-minute chronograph scale on the bezel, Louis Moinet has the minute and seconds chapter divided in increments of six, recalling the original sixtieths of a second indication.
Movement
For this timepiece, Louis Moinet has developed a new in-house, traditionally conceived calibre movement. The manual wound Calibre LM1816 movement features an instantaneous minute counter which prevents reading errors, a volume wheel used for high-end chronographs, and the swan-neck regulator, which, invented and patented in 1867, allows for the fine adjustment of a timepiece’s beating rate. Developed exclusively for this new 1816 model, the LM1816movement comprises 330 parts and beats at a 28,800 frequency (4Hz).
The 1816 comes with an open case back, which reveals the beautiful arrangement of the moving parts that reminds us why Louis Moinet’s 1816 has such a special place in the history of watchmaking. The caseback has been beautifully decorated, and with the absence of the winding rotor, the chronograph mechanism can be fully appreciated. The overlapping planes and bridges, concatenated cogs, and chronometric controls can all be seen, while the contrast in the different colours such as the white of the steel, satin finish and brassy hue of the bridges, the blued screwes and the deep red of the rubies all work beautifully together to present a very aesthetic movement.
“The challenge when designing the 1816 was to preserve the quintessence of the original chronograph while integrating a movement that could meet all haute horlogerie standards. This entailed designing a fully integrated calibre, conceived from scratch.”
Jean-Marie Schaller CEO & Creative Director of Louis Moinet
Initial Thoughts
The Louis Moinet is more than just a new release; it’s a resurrection of horological history. By bringing back the world’s first chronograph, Louis Moinet has not just recreated the past but also reimagined it with modern elegance, precision, and craftsmanship.
This new 1816 timepiece is a living tribute to one of the most important inventions in the world of horology. This is a watch that bridges the gap between Moinet’s original scientific instrument and modern mechanical mastery. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, it offers a rare opportunity to wear a piece of history, not just inspired by heritage, but born from it.
With almost every watch brand on the market having a chronograph timepiece in their lineup, Louis Moinet reminds us all where it began. This new 1816 celebrates the visionary mind of Moinet, who, over two centuries ago, sought to measure the stars, and in doing so changed the course of watchmaking forever.
Specification: Louis Moinet 1816 (LM-150.20.60)
- Dimensions: 40.6mm X 14.7mm thick
- Case Material: Grade 5 titanium double-gadroon case with satin brushed and polished finishes.
- Dial: Pocket Watch 1816 inspired Grey rhodium plated microblasted dial with chronograph counters and blued hands.
- Water Resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: LM1816 Manual wound movement.
- Movement Power reserve: Approx. 48 hours operating at 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire with Anti-reflective Treatment
- Bracelet/Strap: Grade 5 titanium integrated bracelet
