ith the Moon Meteor, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet has brought this vision to life in a creation that is both a work of art and a timepiece. Its dial shows a celestial landscape in vivid colours, criss-crossed by meteors. At its centre is the Moon, accompanied on its journey by an astronaut.

But the spectacle doesn’t end there. At night, Moon Meteor reveals what the day kept hidden: the sky lights up and the Moon appears in all its splendour.

The Moon Meteor comes in a limited edition of just twelve pieces, echoing the quiet, unchanging rhythm with which the Moon marks the passage of time.

“Astronomy is inextricably linked to the history of Louis Moinet. The great watchmaker created the first chronograph in history for his celestial observations. Two centuries later, it has become part of my own personal history. Among the many passions my father passed on to me is this fascination with the cosmos and the infinite, with humanity’s great adventures and, of course, with meteorites, which he collected.”

“With the Moon Meteor, I wanted to build on this legacy through my own artistic vision: to work with colour, texture and light, and to create a dialogue between the delicacy of a luminescent miniature painting and the mineral power of rare meteorites, all orchestrated by an astronomical moon mechanism. Above all, I love that part of the work remains a secret, and that you have to wait until nightfall to discover it.” Nathanaël Schaller, Creative Director

The hand-painted Moon Meteor dial depicts a nebula of intense colours. And when night falls, this cosmic tableau reveals a stunning spectacle.

Creating this miniature scene requires rare expertise and a very delicate touch. The artist mixes special colours to capture the nuances of the nebula and paints using a binocular microscope and a brush with just a few hairs. The scene takes shape through successive layers of lacquer and varnish. He then applies the luminescent paint, which is viscous and contains luminous pigments. This process demands perfect technical mastery, a precise balance between fine brushwork and the amount of material used. The work is never assessed solely in daylight — each stage must also be examined in the dark, until the desired effect is achieved.

Three of the meteors crossing the sky are represented by fragments of real meteorites, each chosen for its rarity and history. The first comes from Mars: NWA 13925 is a genuine piece of the Red Planet, priced at more per gram than gold and platinum combined. The second, the Jbilet Winselwan, contains amino acids, which are known to be molecules essential to life. Finally, the extremely rare Sahara 97093 is an EH3-type enstatite meteorite containing microdiamonds of interstellar origin.

Framing this cosmic landscape, the flange is crafted from the Muonionalusta meteorite. It was formed nearly 4.5 billion years ago and numbers among the oldest meteorites discovered on Earth. It reveals fascinating Widmanstätten patterns. For precision and clarity, the hour markers and graduations have been laser-engraved.

Moon Meteor offers a unique representation of the lunar cycle. At the centre of the dial, a large, slightly domed disc recreates the surface of the Moon with engraved and hand-painted craters and reliefs that become visible at night thanks to luminescent material.

Two rare fragments of lunar meteorites, originating from specific rocks, bring the full moon and new moon to life. The full moon is represented by a fragment of Gadamis 005, considered by specialists to be one of the most beautiful in the world due to its marbled grey-and-white texture. Moreover, it comes from a region explored by the crew of the Apollo 16 mission. The meteorite used for the new moon is the Dhofar 457, whose intense black colour is due to the rock being formed inside a crater.

The astronaut, a relief appliqué meticulously painted by hand, is the reference point for this display: positioned above the Moon, he indicates the lunar phase as the disc continues its cycle beneath his feet.

To set the astronomical moon complication in motion demanded cutting-edge engineering and technology. Driven by a gear train that includes a 135-tooth wheel, this intricate mechanism delivers remarkable precision, with a deviation of just one day every 122 years. This exclusive, self-winding calibre is signed Louis Moinet, independent watchmaker, and was developed in collaboration with its longstanding partner, Concepto.

The Moon Meteor features a polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium case with sophisticated, modern lines. It is extremely lightweight (just 18 grams) and is fitted with a domed sapphire crystal, providing the wearer with a deep view of the celestial landscape on the dial down to the smallest detail.

The openworked lugs perfectly highlight the integration of the strap and reinforce the gracefulness of this design. The crown is adorned with the fleur-de-lys, the emblem of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, whilst the watchmaker’s signature is engraved on the side of the case. 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Limited edition 12 pieces (engraved “One of Twelve”)

CASE

• Material Grade 5 titanium | Polished and satin-finished
• Sapphire crystal Box-type sapphire crystal | Double-sided anti-reflective treatment
• Diameter 40.7 mm
• Height 17.92 mm
• Water-resistance 30 metres

DIAL AND HANDS

• Dial:
• Decoration: Luminescent miniature painting depicting a celestial landscape
• Appliques: Astronaut | Fleur-de-lys
• Three meteorites
• Jbilet Winselwan meteorite (at 2 o’clock) | Sahara 97093 enstatite meteorite (EH3) (at 4 o’clock) | Martian meteorite NWA 13925 (at 8 o’clock)
• Flange Muonionalusta meteorite | Laser-engraved hour markers and graduations
• Lunar disc: Domed disc | Hand-engraved and hand-painted with luminescent material
  – Lunar meteorites: Gadamis 005 (full moon) | Dhofar 457 (new moon)
• Hands Hours, minutes: faceted and skeletonised with luminescent material

MOVEMENT

• Calibre: Louis Moinet LM113
• Dimensions: Diameter: 30.40 mm | Height: 12.70 mm
• Functions: Hours | Minutes | Seconds | Lunar cycle display
• Complication: Central astronomical moon
• Type: Self-winding movement
• Oscillations: 28’800 vibrations per hour
• Frequency: 4 Hz
• Jewels: 29
• Power reserve: 48 hours

STRAP

• Material: Louisiana alligator | Alligator lining
• Clasp: Triple folding clasp | Fine adjustment | Fleur-de-lys