Experience the beauty of the moon with Louis Moinet Black Moon Limited Edition

When you think of Louis Moinet, you think of the chronograph; after all, the company’s namesake invented the complication back in 1816. But today we’re looking at something on another level: the moonphase complication is also traditional, but the new Black Moon Limited Edition introduces a new way of displaying the lunar cycle.

Admittedly, an old-fashioned moon phase display is not my favorite complication. I don’t mind a dressy, old-fashioned watch, but a watch with the moon and stars on it often ruins the dial, so when a watchmaker tries to represent the heavens in an innovative way, I take notice. The Louis Moinet Black Moon succeeds in presenting this theme in a modern, yet easy-to-read way.

Louis Moinet Black Moon Limited Edition

At first glance, you can see that the Black Moon breaks with tradition by eliminating the arc-shaped window on the dial that indicates the current phase of the moon. It’s a thoroughly modern, yet highly legible watch. Before we discuss the complications, let’s go over the basic details. Louis Moinet chose grade 5 titanium for its lightweight construction. The tall, domed sapphire crystal and seven-screw secured display back give it a useful depth rating of 50 meters. The watch comes with a black leather strap with a titanium folding buckle.

Caliber LM110

Owner Jean-Marie Schaller, who we unfortunately won’t be able to meet at Geneva Watch Days 2024, wanted to represent the phases of the moon in a novel way. His team worked with long-time movement partner Concept to develop the automatic caliber LM110. The result is a domed platform in the center of the dial, on which two contrasting circles of lunar meteorites are placed. This platform rotates with a gear train with 135 teeth, ensuring a high precision of just one day in 122 years. Awesome!

How to read the dial

The rhodium-plated indexes and hands are coated with luminous material for better visibility in low light conditions. However, the red anodized aluminum index at 3 o’clock is noteworthy. It acts as a pointer and indicates the current phase of the moon. The dark meteorite comes from Dhofar 457 in Oman and represents the new moon. The contrasting mottled meteorite, Ghadamis 005, represents the moon at its brightest phase. The aventurine dial below completes the image of the night sky. Functionally, the sub-dial at 9 o’clock houses the seconds counter. The rotating hand comes in two lengths and indicates an inward or outward 30-second arc.

Thoughts and availability

The Black Moon takes a modern and classy approach to displaying the phases of the moon. Plus, with a titanium case and excellent water resistance, this watch is made to be comfortable to wear. Louis Moinet is not a large manufacturer, and as a result, only 60 numbered pieces were made. Pricing will be made available upon request, but you can expect it to be more affordable than the brand’s precious metal offerings.

For more information on the Black Moon Limited Edition, visit the official Louis Moinet website

Watch Specifications