The story sped up, and then there was a pause. A long, very long pause. This story began with Abraham-Louis Breguet’s patent application for the tourbillon in 1801 and, 15 years later, in 1816, Louis Moinet’s invention of the chronograph. But it took two centuries for these two inventions to come together in a creation by Ateliers Louis Moinet: Impulsion. It was unveiled in 2023. Today, for the first time, it is presented in a 100% titanium version.
Understanding the relevance of this creation means grasping its origins. At the source of Impulsion is Memoris. With this piece, the Saint-Blaise (NE) workshops paid tribute to the brilliant inventor of the chronograph. Its key idea was ingenious: shifting the entire chronograph mechanism to the dial side.
Memoris has been in the catalog for about a decade without major stylistic changes, proving its original precision. Even today, it remains one of the most beautiful chronographs on the market. But how do you make it evolve once all materials have been explored and case diameters varied? The answer is to add a complication: the tourbillon. Thus, Impulsion was born.
A Long Watchmaking Tradition
Combining a tourbillon and a chronograph is nothing new. Recently, we saw an example at TAG Heuer. Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Bulgari, Jacob & Co, Zenith, Bell & Ross, IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, Parmigiani Fleurier, Richard Mille, and many others have had them in their collections for a long time. However, at Louis Moinet—who invented the chronograph and has been making tourbillons for 20 years—this combination had not yet been done.
A 21st-Century Movement
Impulsion’s added value is significant. First, there is the irreplaceable charm of its visible chronograph mechanism at 12 o’clock, adorned with deep black onyx inserts. Then, there is the fine tradition of the monopusher chronograph, positioned at 2 o’clock. It could be interesting to design a coaxial crown and pusher, both at 3 o’clock, but this slight asymmetry also gives Impulsion its unique aesthetic.
Finally, there is the movement’s performance, featuring a double barrel that provides four full days of power reserve. The comfort is appreciable. The tourbillon, located at 6 o’clock, is also notable. The precious escapement is still developed by Concepto, a close partner of Ateliers Louis Moinet for nearly 20 years. The La Chaux-de-Fonds movement maker has significantly refined its design compared to its earlier iterations (Vertalor, Vertalis), particularly with a redesigned upper bridge that first appeared in limited series such as Métiers d’Art or Starman, among others.
Accessible... If You Can Find One
Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO and Creative Director of the brand, took his time and did things in order. Around sixty Impulsion cases were initially ordered in red gold. Twenty-eight were produced with aventurine inserts, 28 with onyx, and three as "Artist’s Proof" editions. The aventurine and onyx versions were priced at 130,000 CHF excluding tax.
With the newly revealed Impulsion Titanium, the goal is to offer greater accessibility to the model. This has been achieved with a price set at 110,000 CHF excluding tax. However, acquiring one will require quick action. Louis Moinet only produces limited series. This time, there will be just 12 pieces.
