LOUIS MOINET – 1816 CHRONOGRAPH UNIQUE PIECE

WATCHES FOR ELA 2026

To support the 2026 edition of Watches for ELA, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet have reimagined the iconic 1816 CHRONOGRAPH. This special timepiece will be auctioned by Christie’s at the Rare Watches Live Auction on 9 November 2026 in Geneva, with proceeds going to ELA International.

“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

ELA: LIGHT CARRIED BY COMMITMENT
Founded in 1992 by Guy Alba and championed for over twenty-five years by footballer Zinédine Zidane, the European association ELA works to fund research into leukodystrophies.

Watches for ELA, in collaboration with Christie’s, supports that mission by uniting leading watch manufacturers in an exceptional charity auction.

For the 2026 edition, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet have created a unique timepiece inspired by the 1816 Chronograph — a watch whose creative language speaks directly to the values ELA embodies.

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 suggest confidence, kindness, and the gentle determination that define the association’s mission.

At the centre of the 12 o’clock totaliser sits the 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 CHRONOGRAPHE 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 that also incorporated numerous innovations, some of which would not be equalled until a century later.

With the 1816 CHRONOGRAPH, Les Ateliers Louis Moinet carry 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. Its double-gadroon grade 5 titanium case, polished and satin-finished, measures 40.6 mm in diameter and retains the demi-bassine profile with flat band of its predecessor, a nod to the elegance of the Directoire era.

The contemporary version of the dial remains faithful to the functional architecture and layout of the counters designed by Louis Moinet. The backgrounds and centres of the three sub-dials feature a bead-blasted finish. The flange, meanwhile, is divided into six sections and secured, as on the original model, by four blued-steel screws. The engraving has allowed the dial markings, the “1816” inscription, and the name Louis Moinet to be precisely inscribed, using the same typography as on the compteur de tierces.

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 case back 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 authenticity, care and quality of the movement.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS