Louis Monet sonic chronograph

Today, let’s take a look at Louis Monnet’s Speed ​​of Sound Chronograph. This is a stunning modern watch with a vintage heart. As we will see, this rare vintage movement has been improved both functionally and aesthetically to provide a novel moon phase display.

Louis Monet is credited with devising an innovative way to display traditional time-related complications. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the brand’s relaunch, the Speed ​​of Sound Chronograph embodies this in the most contradictory of ways. It uses a new-age case material and combines a vintage movement with old-fashioned dial finishing techniques. Don’t forget to use the moon material. If you find this interesting, you’re not alone.

Louis Monet Speed ​​of Sound Chronograph

The Speed ​​of Sound Chronograph is a 40.7 mm watch made from grade 5 titanium and is water resistant to 30 meters. It comes with a black alligator strap and matching titanium buckle. However, the normal specifications end here.

Louis Monet decorated his watches with large pushers and openwork lugs. This watch has an incredible thickness of 18.87mm (!!!) due to the huge domed sapphire crystal that aims to magnify the details on the dial. And what a dial that is!

impressive dial

The Louis Monet Speed ​​of Sound has a black guilloché dial handmade by the famous Swiss Jan von Köhnel. Guillocher. Gold highlights include the rings around the main dial and subdials, the printed telemeter scale, and the chronograph hands. The polished silver hands and Arabic numerals create a contrast with the rest of the dial without obstructing your view. But the most notable aspect of this already impressive dial comes from the sky.

Aretai meteorite is used for the sub-seconds and 30-minute counter. The lower moonphase register shows a hand-painted bright lunar surface inset with a domed circular slice of the Dhofar 457 meteorite. This register rotates to indicate a full moon when the Dhofar 457 piece is centered between the left and right indicators. Apparently, this is a new way to show the moon’s cycles. It is clean and unique, unlike the usual arc apertures of the moon and stars.

beating heart

All of this functionality comes from an unexpected source. Louis Monet was able to source a new and used stock Valjoux 88 movement. This hand-wound chronograph caliber was produced from approximately 1947 to 1974 and uses the same base as the more popular Valjoux 72. In its regular form, this movement features a chronograph, a moonphase display, and a triple calendar. To avoid cluttering the dial and taking away the focus on meteorites, Louis Monnet’s team removed the calendar feature.

A typical Valjoux 88 has a basic level of finishing. Louis Monet rectified this problem with rose gold plating and fine engravings throughout the movement. The motif is inspired by lace, and the details are elaborate.

eye catcher on wrist

When you wear the Speed ​​of Sound, it is truly an eye-catching watch. I wrote that the thickness is towering, but it’s not that noticeable when you wear it on your wrist. Additionally, the crystal magnifies the dial, helping you see all the details. The other notable thing you get from wearing a watch has to do with tactile sensation. Unsurprisingly, the Valjoux 88 is a great gem to wind, and the pusher action is great. Chronographs can be used for regular timekeeping or to measure the speed of sound using the aforementioned telemeter scale. This proves that there is no comparison to mechanical vintage chronograph movements.

conclusion

The Louis Moinet Speed ​​of Sound is limited to just 20 pieces and retails for CHF 50,000. This brand specializes in highly innovative and creative watches, and this price is one of the lowest among many products. It is also worth praising that it uses a new vintage movement. Finally, the level of finishing and the use of meteorite make this watch a unique proposition.

For more information on the Speed ​​of Sound Chronograph, please visit the official Louis Monet website.

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Watch specifications