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Lot Essay
To support the 2026 edition of Watches for ELA, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet have reimagined the iconic 1816 CHRONOGRAPH.
'Watchmaking has this unique power to evoke emotions through materials, colours, aesthetics and craftsmanship. Our 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece seeks to create a dialogue between the heritage of the world’s first chronograph and an artistic expression especially designed for ELA. Every detail of this timepiece pays tribute to the association’s remarkable commitment and the hope it embodies'. - Nathanaël Schaller, Creative Product Manager
The 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece and Meaning
For this unique timepiece, the design language of the 1816 Chronograph takes on new signs and symbols. It begins with the subtle, soft blue-grey hue adorning the flange and the rings of the sub-dials, which suggests confidence, kindness, and the gentle determination that define the association’s mission. At the centre of the 6 o’clock totaliser sits ELA’s iconic sun, a symbol of hope, commitment and collective spirit. It has been painted onto a disc of aventurine with sparkling flecks. True to the cosmic universe so dear to Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, this composition evokes a star-studded sky where the ELA sun shines with all its symbolic healing power.
This interpretation extends to the bracelet. For this model, the intermediate links are finished in black, creating a visual dialogue with the aventurine disc and accentuating the distinctive geometry of their U-shaped architecture. One final detail sets the 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece apart: on the flange is a white indicator pointing to the 26-minute mark, a subtle nod to the 2026 edition of Watches for ELA.
The Chronograph 1816, A Heritage Renewed
To carry out his astronomical observations, Louis Moinet designed a novel instrument in 1816 intended to calculate the speed at which celestial bodies move. The first of its kind, this device, known as the 'third counter', is a testament to its creator’s genius: it is the first chronograph in history. A pioneering creation, it also incorporated numerous innovations, some of which would not be equalled until a century later.
With the 1816 Chronograph, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet carries forward this legacy through a timepiece of resolutely contemporary style. Every detail draws on the DNA of the pioneering piece: understated, functional and ahead of its time. The contemporary version of the dial remains faithful to the functional architecture and layout of the counters designed by Louis Moinet. The sub-dial hands and the central seconds hand are crafted from blued steel, whilst the hours and minutes are indicated by openwork hands in the Louis Moinet style. Finally, the fleur-de-lys at 12 o’clock pays homage to Bourges, the birthplace of the great watchmaker.
A Louis Moinet Calibre in the Finest Watchmaking Tradition
The challenge faced when designing the LM1816 calibre for the 1816 Chronograph was to preserve the DNA of the original Louis Moinet chronograph while building a brand-new movement that would meet the standards of haute horlogerie. From the outset, the architecture of the movement was dictated by the unique position of the counters on the original 1816 model.
The movement has 330 components, including 34 jewels, and runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The exhibition caseback reveals the interplay of carefully finished parts, the overlapping planes and bridges, interweaving gears, and chronometric controls. The contrasts are striking: the white of the steel, the satin finish and brassy hue of the bridges, the blue of the fixing screws, and the deep red of the rubies.
Watch enthusiasts wishing to have a physical connection with their timepiece will appreciate the manual-winding ritual, which ensures 48 hours of autonomy. The instantaneous minute counter, the column-wheel control, and the swan-neck regulator are other elements that draw the expert eye, as they are hallmarks of the authenticity, care and quality of the movement.
'Watchmaking has this unique power to evoke emotions through materials, colours, aesthetics and craftsmanship. Our 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece seeks to create a dialogue between the heritage of the world’s first chronograph and an artistic expression especially designed for ELA. Every detail of this timepiece pays tribute to the association’s remarkable commitment and the hope it embodies'. - Nathanaël Schaller, Creative Product Manager
The 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece and Meaning
For this unique timepiece, the design language of the 1816 Chronograph takes on new signs and symbols. It begins with the subtle, soft blue-grey hue adorning the flange and the rings of the sub-dials, which suggests confidence, kindness, and the gentle determination that define the association’s mission. At the centre of the 6 o’clock totaliser sits ELA’s iconic sun, a symbol of hope, commitment and collective spirit. It has been painted onto a disc of aventurine with sparkling flecks. True to the cosmic universe so dear to Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, this composition evokes a star-studded sky where the ELA sun shines with all its symbolic healing power.
This interpretation extends to the bracelet. For this model, the intermediate links are finished in black, creating a visual dialogue with the aventurine disc and accentuating the distinctive geometry of their U-shaped architecture. One final detail sets the 1816 Chronograph Unique Piece apart: on the flange is a white indicator pointing to the 26-minute mark, a subtle nod to the 2026 edition of Watches for ELA.
The Chronograph 1816, A Heritage Renewed
To carry out his astronomical observations, Louis Moinet designed a novel instrument in 1816 intended to calculate the speed at which celestial bodies move. The first of its kind, this device, known as the 'third counter', is a testament to its creator’s genius: it is the first chronograph in history. A pioneering creation, it also incorporated numerous innovations, some of which would not be equalled until a century later.
With the 1816 Chronograph, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet carries forward this legacy through a timepiece of resolutely contemporary style. Every detail draws on the DNA of the pioneering piece: understated, functional and ahead of its time. The contemporary version of the dial remains faithful to the functional architecture and layout of the counters designed by Louis Moinet. The sub-dial hands and the central seconds hand are crafted from blued steel, whilst the hours and minutes are indicated by openwork hands in the Louis Moinet style. Finally, the fleur-de-lys at 12 o’clock pays homage to Bourges, the birthplace of the great watchmaker.
A Louis Moinet Calibre in the Finest Watchmaking Tradition
The challenge faced when designing the LM1816 calibre for the 1816 Chronograph was to preserve the DNA of the original Louis Moinet chronograph while building a brand-new movement that would meet the standards of haute horlogerie. From the outset, the architecture of the movement was dictated by the unique position of the counters on the original 1816 model.
The movement has 330 components, including 34 jewels, and runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The exhibition caseback reveals the interplay of carefully finished parts, the overlapping planes and bridges, interweaving gears, and chronometric controls. The contrasts are striking: the white of the steel, the satin finish and brassy hue of the bridges, the blue of the fixing screws, and the deep red of the rubies.
Watch enthusiasts wishing to have a physical connection with their timepiece will appreciate the manual-winding ritual, which ensures 48 hours of autonomy. The instantaneous minute counter, the column-wheel control, and the swan-neck regulator are other elements that draw the expert eye, as they are hallmarks of the authenticity, care and quality of the movement.