Borna Bosniak The central moon phase display is made from slices of Dhofar 457 and Ghadamis 005 lunar meteorites and is accurate to 122 years. The 40.7 mm case is made from grade 5 titanium and features wide skeletonized lugs and a domed sapphire crystal. The Louis Moinet Black Moon is limited to 60 pieces and is priced at US$34,000.
It’s no mean feat to invent the world’s first complication, but it seems even more worthy of praise to have invented the double pusher chronograph, which beats at 216,000 vibrations per hour, long before anyone had invented the chronograph. Louis Moinet did just that in 1816, kick-starting the development of what is perhaps the most widespread complication today (apart from the date display). The brand’s contemporary creations are decidedly avant-garde, inheriting the spirit of its namesake watchmaker and developing the ideas behind the creation of the Contour de Thiersses. While the Louis Moinet Black Moon is not a chronograph, it takes inspiration from the starry skies that Louis Moinet would look at to adjust his astronomical clock, and also uses the high beat rate of his first chronograph. With a precise 122-year moon phase display, the Black Moon uses two centrally placed lunar meteorites to represent the full and new moons, driven by a movement developed by Concepto.
The Black Moon largely follows the design language of Louis Moinet’s latest models: a bold dial with large, prominent indices and many layers, including a meteorite center surrounded by an outer ring of aventurine glass. While space-themed watches often use shimmery glass to depict the stars in the night sky, the differentiating feature here is undoubtedly the central moon phase indicator. Made from Dhofar 457 and Ghadamis 005 meteorite fragments found in Oman and Libya respectively, the Black Moon displays the current lunar age via a red-lined index at 3 o’clock.
Unlike the Gibeon meteorite, for example, the Black Moon uses moonstone. Before being sliced into thin wafers for Louis Moinet watches, Dhofar 457 was a 99.52 gram stone discovered by Luc Lavenne in 2001, one of 12 stones found in the area, which sold for US$99,000. The Black Moon’s red accents represent the full moon. Ghadamis 005 was discovered in 2022, is much larger, weighing a total of 10 kilograms, and is similar in composition to the specimen brought back by the Apollo 16 crew.
The left side is dominated by the seconds hand, a compass-like needle with a short and long side allowing the wearer to more easily read the scale on one side, which is suspended in an open heart that offers a glimpse of the working escapement.
With a diameter of 40.7mm, the Louis Moinet Black Moon is much more imposing than the dimensions of the case would suggest. The strong skeletonized lugs and protruding crown are the main reasons why the Black Moon looks so powerful. Although its water resistance of 50 meters is not exactly sporty, the case is made of grade 5 titanium, which matches its sporty build.
Developed in collaboration with long-time partner Concept, the Black Moon is powered by the LM110 caliber. A skeletonized winding rotor bearing the Louis Moinet logo allows plenty of room for the decoration below to shine through. It is finished with exquisite detailing, primarily featuring circular graining and circular stripes. Specifications include a 4Hz frequency and a 48-hour power reserve, which is admittedly short for a caliber of this level. However, the LM110’s main innovation is the aforementioned moonphase, the precision of which is achieved by a 135-tooth wheel, requiring adjustment once every 122 years.
Louis Moinet Black Moon Pricing and Availability
Louis Moinet Black Moon is a limited edition of 60 pieces. Price: US$34,000
Brand Louis Moinet Model Black Moon Reference LM-110.20.50 Case Size 40.7mm (D) Case Material Grade 5 Titanium Water Resistance 50 meters Crystal Sapphire front and back Dial Aventurine and lunar meteorite Strap Fitted black alligator leather, folding clasp Movement LM110, Concepto, automatic Power Reserve 48 hours Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase Availability Limited to 60 pieces Price US$34,000
