Louis Moinet has created a watch where depictions of a full moon and new moon are represented by two lunar meteorites on a domed disc in the centre of the dial.
The fragments in the Black Moon watch come from two separate meteorites, one greyish, the other black.
Dhofar 457 is a black meteorite that comes from a lunar crater and was found in the Dhofar desert in Oman.
Gadamis 005 was found in Libya, a greyish white meteorite found in Libya that comes from a region explored by Nasa’s Apollo 16 mission.
The automatic movement was designed by Louis Moinet and developed in collaboration with long-time watchmaking partner Concepto.
The gear train has a 135-tooth wheel, meaning the moonphase only needs correcting every 122 years.
The dial has an aventurine base that is designed, the brand says, to evoke the “immensity of the starry night skies”.
The red-framed marker at 3 o’clock shows the moon’s position.
A novel small seconds indicator is at 9 o’clock, using a hand in the style of a compass pointer.
The 40.7mm case is made from polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium.
The crown features Louis Moinet’s fleur-de-lis emblem.
The Swiss watch company’s name comes from the French horologist of the same name, credited with inventing the chronograph in the early 19th century.
The company’s focus on meteorites is nothing new.
Jean-Marie Schaller, founder of the modern brand, is a dedicated meteor hunter.
“Twenty 20 years after acquiring my first lunar meteorites, I felt like giving our nightly celestial companion a majestic vision,” he said.
He added: “Would this have pleased Louis Moinet, the man who invented a chronograph to track his astronomical observations? I really think it would have.”
The Black Moon movement has a 48 hour power reserve and the watch is water-resistant to 50m.
The Louis Moinet Black Moon is a limited edition of 60 pieces.
$POA louismoinet.com