The original and spectacular ONLY INDIA is a one-of-a-kind creation representative of Indian culture. It notably features a unique Martian meteorite, Shergotty, which fell to Earth on 25 August 1865 near Sherghati, in the state of Bihar, India. Ateliers Louis Moinet are proud to pay tribute to this country through an authentic horological work of art.
Shergotty meteorite – Original from 1865 | Unique in the world
The shergotty meteorite fell to Earth on 25 August 1865 near Sherghati, Bihar State, India. It is now kept in a London Museum.
It is of global significance, as it represents one of the three categories of Martian meteorite: Shergotty, Nakhla and Chassigny. It is also extremely rare, as among the world’s 72,000 classified meteorites, less than 300 are from Mars, of which 200 come under the Shergotty name.
Authentic peacock feather
The dial base is made from a real peacock feather, giving it a natural iridescent effect. The peacock is the national bird of India because of the rich traditions it evokes. For thousands of years, it has been considered a symbol of immortality and fertility.
The eternal wheel – Ashoka chakra
The hand-engraved applique represents 20 spokes of the eternal wheel of the law of Dharma, embodied by the Ashoka chakra found on the Indian flag. The sense of movement suggested by the wheel is highlighted by the micro-painting delicately applied to the different spokes and in the centre of the engraving.
Hand-engraved 18-kt gold case
The decoration is inspired by motifs representing the grandeur of India. The lugs are accentuated by four rubies lighting up the engraving.
The world’s best movement
Louis Moinet ONLY INDIA is fitted with the legendary LM-35 movement, winner of the latest International Chronometry Competition. The elegant dial includes a technical touch: a view of the tourbillon’s rotating cage. Inside, the balance spring, anchor and anchor wheel perform a full rotation every minute. For this mechanism to carry off the first prize at the International Chronometry Competition, it had to pass four months’ worth of tests – and sustain no fewer than 150 impacts.
Louis Moinet ONLY INDIA Technical Specifications
Calibre LM-35: High-precision tourbillon movement, awarded first prize in the International Chronometry Competition.
ABOUT LOUIS MOINET
Jean-Marie Schaller created Les Ateliers Louis Moinet in St-Blaise (NE) in 2004. The fully-independent firm was established to honour the memory of Louis Moinet (1768-1853): master watchmaker, inventor of the chronograph and high frequency (216,000 vibrations per hour) (certified by two Guinness World Records™). Louis Moinet was a watchmaker, artist and astronomer. He is the author of the Traité d’Horlogerie, a watchmaking treatise published in 1848 that remained a definitive work of reference for a century. Today, Ateliers Louis Moinet is perpetuating this legacy. The firm’s mechanical timepieces are produced as one-of-a-kind models or limited editions only and comprise two categories: “Cosmic Art” and “Mechanical Wonders”. Louis Moinet creations often make use of unusual and rare components, such as extraterrestrial meteorites or prehistorical materials. The brand’s core values are creativity, exclusivity, art and design. This uniquely creative mechanical approach combined with bespoke fine watchmaking has enabled Louis Moinet to win some of the most coveted honours around the world, including a UNESCO Award of Merit, six Red Dot Design Awards (including one Best of the Best Award), a Horological Creativity Contribution Award, gold and bronze medals in the International Chronometry Competition, ten Good Design Awards, five Middle East Watch of the Year Awards, two Robb Report “Best of the Best” Awards, three German Design Awards, a Moscow Grand Prix Award, and a “Chronograph of the year” distinction from Begin Magazine, Japan.