Louis Moinet - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Louis Moinet, founded in 2004 in Saint-Blaise (Switzerland) by Jean-Marie Schaller, carries the legacy of the eponymous master watchmaker (1768–1853) into contemporary pieces with strong artistic and astronomical themes. The brand addresses collectors drawn to expressive high complications, rare materials and limited-edition production.

From the “Compteur de Tierces” to a deliberate revival

The modern chapter stands on Louis Moinet’s 1816 invention, the Compteur de Tierces, officially recognised as the “first chronograph” and “first high-frequency stopwatch,” while today’s house operates as an independent based in Saint-Blaise; this historical lineage underpins a contemporary approach that stages time itself. Collections are issued as limited editions or unique pieces within a controlled “mechanical art” philosophy.

Memoris, Tempograph and satellites: chronograph and tourbillon on stage

The brand’s language often puts the complication front and centre: on Louis Moinet Memoris, the chronograph works are dial-side; on Tempograph Spirit, the retrograde seconds “dance” in 20-second slices; and on Space Revolution, two satellite tourbillons and tiny spaceships rotate in opposite directions—an animated yet readable theatre; the guiding idea is to make technical motion immediately visible and almost didactic.

• Louis Moinet Memoris — mono-pusher chronograph with a dedicated architecture exposing the mechanism on the dial.
• Louis Moinet Tempograph Spirit — 20-second retrograde sequences, dual animation with off-centre hours/minutes.
• Louis Moinet Space Revolution — twin “satellite” tourbillons with miniature spaceships, counter-rotating on multiple levels.
• Louis Moinet Starman — tourbillon featuring a Jbilet Winselwan meteorite fragment set on the dial.
• Louis Moinet Derrick — signature “derrick pump” animation, produced in very limited runs.

Meteorites, Cosmopolis and dial arts

The Ateliers work with “cosmic” materials (lunar, Martian, asteroid) and thematic dials—up to Cosmopolis, a tourbillon with 12 meteorites set on the dial that earned a record for the most inserts; using celestial fragments and sophisticated décor is both a narrative and visual identity marker. This bridges haute horlogerie with a space-themed imagination for uniquely memorable readings.

Independent high complication: positioning and reach

Louis Moinet operates in independent haute horlogerie with intentionally limited output (uniques and small batches), selective distribution (direct sales and retailers) and pricing that varies widely with materials and complexity (precise brackets: not disclosed); its core audience seeks character pieces where history, matter and mechanical animation form a coherent whole. The Saint-Blaise base and Jean-Marie Schaller’s creative lead anchor this vision.

Conclusion

Louis Moinet suits those who want a watch as a stage: Memoris for the exposed chronograph gesture, Tempograph for a hypnotic seconds rhythm, Space Revolution for orbital sculpture, plus “cosmic” dials. The style is instantly recognisable for storytelling and rare matter. To decide, weigh your use case (expressive daily wear, collector’s piece, astronomical theme) against your tolerance for visual exuberance. To validate your pick with real-world ownership, rely on Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)