Introducing: The Louis Moinet Starman Flying Tourbillon

June 26, 2011

The Louis Moinet Starman is the latest release from the small Swiss brand that specializes in creating rare and extraordinary watches. The brand often blends exotic materials with high-level complications. Because of their low production numbers, Louis Moinet watches aren t for everyone, but they re always worth a look.Every release from Louis Moinet is worth further investigation. Owner and Creative Director Jean-Marie Schaller is a fun person to speak with, and while he and his team create serious watches, they seem to have fun while doing it. We ve seen that during events like Geneva Watch Days, and it s a breath of fresh air after so many hotel-room discussions. The newest model, the Starman, combines a tourbillon with fragments from two very different-looking meteorites.The Louis Moinet StarmanThe Starman is a 47.4mm watch made from 18K white or 5N red gold. Louis Moinet did not provide the thickness, but two sapphire crystals and a tourbillon likely make this a tallish watch. A bezel affixed by six screws is mirrored on the back side with a similar construction. This is certainly not a sports watch and has a 30m depth rating. A blue alligator strap accompanies either gold hue and comes with a matching gold deployant clasp.An exotic, space-themed dialA watch with such a grand design doesn t rely on a simple dial. The Starman takes a multilayered approach. The bottom level is made of a slice of the Gibeon meteorite. This meteorite is famous for its Widmanst?tten pattern, showing nickel-iron phases. This layer is dyed blue using a proprietary process and mimics the night sky. Then, a clear sapphire disc has a grid of longitude and latitude lines. The constellations are handpainted with luminous material. A small circle crafted from the nearly black Jbilet Winselwan meteorite is at the top of the dial. The well-known trait of this meteorite is the presence of amino acids, a basic building block of life. Finally, the bottom of the dial reveals the flying tourbillon. This mechanism sits within an off-balance cage and rotates.A case back that captures the solar systemThe case back is also a delight. The Starman depicts the solar system with small, handpainted orbs. These sit within two layers of sapphire. Interestingly, the positioning is identical to the night sky over Neuchatel on March 21st, 2013. This was the evening that Schaller announced the discovery of Louis Moinet as the inventor of the chronograph.A limited offeringThe Starman flying tourbillon is a limited edition. Louis Moinet will produce just 12 numbered editions of each case material. The price is on request, but the watch should provide ample viewing and wearing pleasure for whoever has pockets deep enough. If you re interested in learning more or inquiring about pricing, visit the official Louis Moinet site.This is a featured post.?Read about our transparency here.Watch specifications Brand Louis Moinet Model StarmanReference LM-139.50.25 (red gold) / LM-139.70.20 (white gold)Dial Multilayered with blue-tinted Gibeon meteorite, sapphire disc with luminescent handpainted stars, and Jbilet Winselwan meteorite discCase Material 18K 5N red gold / 18K white goldCase Dimensions 47.4mm (diameter)Crystal SapphireCase Back 18K red gold or white gold with sapphire display, fixed by six screws Movement Louis Moinet 139: in-house caliber with flying tourbillon, manual winding, double mainspring barrels, 28,800vph frequency, 96-hour power reserve, 26 jewelsWater Resistance 30 metersStrap Blue alligator with 18K red gold or white gold deployant claspFunctions Time (hours, minutes, small seconds)Price On requestWarranty Two yearsSpecial Note(s) Limited edition of 12 numbered pieces in each gold material