Louis Moinet Metropolis Mexico
Mexico City’s Salon Internacional Alta Relojería (SIAR) is Latin America’s most important annual watch fair. As such, this major horological event has become an opportunity for brands to release special editions celebrating Mexico and its culture. Among the watches presented in 2019 are two Louis Moinet pieces, the “Only Mexico” and “Louis Moinet Metropolis Mexico”.
Only Mexico is a unique piece celebrating Mexico’s culture and history, in particular, its Aztec heritage. Animated by the ballet of a tourbillon, its richly engraved dial is inspired by the Piedra del Sol, one of the most celebrated Aztec sculptures. Exhibited in the museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, this Sun Stone monolith provides a representation of the Aztec cosmic worldview.
The engraved openwork pattern contrasts with a black background that is made from Allende meteorite. One of the most “studied” meteorites in history and the largest ever found on Earth, the Allende meteorite fell as a shower of stones after breaking up in the atmosphere neat the village of Pueblito de Allende in Chihuahua, in 1969. It is classified as a carbonaceous chondrite, the most primitive of meteorites and contains some of the oldest known matter, estimated to be 4.567 billion years old.
The centre of the dial is made from Toluca Meteorite, an iron meteorite found near the eponymous city, that has been treated in blue. Measuring 45.4mm in diameter, the 18k pink gold case features open-worked lugs and the brand’s signature six-screw bezel. It is extensively hand-engraved with pre-Colombian patterns (masterfully executed by Boris Nemitz). The crown is adorned with the brand’s fleur de lys logo.
This unique piece is powered by the calibre LM35 regulated by a one-minute tourbillon. With a 3Hz frequency and 72 hours of power reserve, this hand-wound movement is visible via the exhibition caseback. It comes in a white monochrome finish with circular Geneva stripes and with a cool ‘octopus’ spring, which is actually 3 springs in one: pull-out piece spring, lever spring and click spring. The watch is worn on an alligator leather strap with alligator lining. The gold folding clasp comes in the shape of a fleur de lys.
The second special edition presented at SIAR by Louis Moinet Metropolis Mexico is the Metropolis Mexico. This steel 12-piece limited edition stands out with its brown, open-worked dial. The Roman numeral hour markers are suspended in between two rings. It reveals parts of the movement and an intermediate plate engraved with a characteristic repetitive pattern. At 3 o’clock, a fragment of the Allende Meteorite is contained in a tiny capsule held in place by 4 screws.
The Louis Moinet Metropolis Mexico comes in the brand’s Neo case with open-worked lugs and six-screw bezel. Measuring 43.2mm in diameter, it is made wtih 316L stainless steel. Turning the watch over, the exhibition caseback reveals the automatic calibre LM45, a proprietary movement with 4Hz frequency and 48h power reserve. It is decorated with Geneva stripes, perlage, diamond-cut angles and a clous de Paris guilloché rotor. The brown alligator leather strap is fitted with a steel folding clasp.
