Presenting Louis Moinet second integrated bracelet watch, the Louis Moinet 1806 Chronomètre d’Observatoire.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Louis Moinet 1806 Chronomètre d’Observatoire
The Louis Moinet 1806 Chronomètre d’Observatoire is CHF 18,900 without VAT while Singapore’s AD retails it at SGD 31,400 including Singaporean Taxes
Commentary
Louis Moinet has followed up on the success of its first integrated-bracelet timepiece with the launch of the new 1806 during Geneva Watch Days 2025. This marks the maison’s second foray into the integrated category, coming just months after the debut of the 1816, a chronograph watch at Watches & Wonders earlier this year.
At first glance, the two watches may appear closely related. Both share the same Grade 5 titanium bracelet known as the “Bridge Project” where the distinctive wide links resemble a stylised bridge. We tried the 1816 on earlier in the year, and both Peter and I found the fit remarkably comfortable on the wrist. The titanium build also ensures lightness and hypoallergenic properties, making it a practical choice for daily wear. The finish specification on both the 1806 and the 1816 Chronograph is the same, which makes sense as they are in the same lineup.
But beneath the surface, the differences between the 1816 and the new 1806 are substantial. While the 1816 is a chronograph, the 1806 pares things back to a classical time-only layout with petite seconde. Curiously, the dimensions tell an unexpected story. The 1806 measures 15.15 mm thick, compared with the 1816’s 14.70 mm. One would naturally assume that the chronograph would come bulkier, but the opposite is true. Examining the specifications of the two movements do not yield further clues. The new LM1806 measures 6.60 mm high, whereas the chronograph calibre LM1816 comes in slightly thicker at 7.90 mm.
We reached out directly to Jean-Marie, and he clarified that the height difference is on the dial side. It is a deliberate choice for potential evolution of the series in the future. Apart from the height, both watches sit within the same 40.6 mm case diameter, creating an interesting comparison.
The heart of the new release, the LM1806 movement, is an in-house development that is created by Concepto. The movement features exclusive finishing and an aesthetic signature made specifically for Louis Moinet.
Beating at 28,800 vph with a 48-hour power reserve, the calibre underscores Louis Moinet’s technical aspirations. Beyond the raw specifications, each LM1806 undergoes a rigorous 15-day certification by the Geneva Astronomical Observatory, tested across multiple positions and temperatures to ensure chronometric precision. However this certification is also found in the Ba111od Chapter 7, which is offered at a considerable lower pricing.
Release details
The 1806 – homage to a pioneer of chronometry
“It is essential not to depart from the genuine.” — Louis Moinet
“When we think about measuring time, what is genuine to that art is accuracy, exactness and reliability. This quest for precision guided the work of the great watchmaker Louis Moinet. Today, this quest has found a new echo with the 1806, a chronometer certified by the Geneva Astronomical Observatory. A timepiece that also reminds us that astronomy and watchmaking have been intimately linked for centuries. In fact, it was Louis Moinet’s desire to measure the movement of the stars that paved the way for modern chronometry.” – Jean-Marie Schaller, CEO & Creative Director
A pioneer of chronometry
Louis Moinet dedicated his life and talent to a very ambitious goal: the precise, scientific measurement of time. His invention of the first-ever chronograph ushered in the era of high frequency, achieving a phenomenal rate of 30 Hz, which was essential for measuring the tierce, or 60th of a second. As president of the Chronometric Society in Paris, he brought together the era’s greatest scientists and watchmakers in their shared pursuit of precision. He later crowned his achievements by presenting a chronometer with several important complications at the 1851 Universal Exhibition in London.
Thus, guided by the quest of exact measurement, Louis Moinet laid the foundations of modern chronometry and became its most illustrious pioneer.
The 1806 chronomètre d’Observatoire
Since its founding in 1772, the Geneva Astronomical Observatory has been the historic home of Swiss chronometric certification. It perpetuates the tradition of precision contests that marked the nineteenth century.
The new Louis Moinet timepiece, the 1806, has been certified as an observatory chronometer and is thus a part of that tradition. To obtain this designation, each 1806 movement undergoes fifteen days of trials, during which it is tested in different positions and subjected to various temperature variations. The results of these tests provide proof of the chronometer’s precision and reliability.
Historic roots, contemporary look
Inspired by history’s very first chronograph, the 1806 case draws attention with its understated power. Its Directoire-style semi-bassine silhouette, highlighted by the double gadroon, combines the sobriety of the historical lines with the contemporary lightness of polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium. The crown, engraved with a fleur-de-lys, pays homage to the French town of Bourges, Louis Moinet’s birthplace.
The rhodium-plated dial seems alive thanks to a subtle interplay of satin and bead-blasted finishes. The classic, highly readable numerals convey the rigour of a genuine scientific instrument. The small seconds dial at nine o’clock in the same bead-blasted decor is offset by a polished circular frame, accentuating the depth and clarity of the display.
The minute chapter is arranged on a peripheral flange with a circular satin finish. It is punctuated by twelve blackened nickel cabochons and four blued steel screws, a crucial detail that further evokes the historical roots of this timepiece.
The 1806 dial showcases how traditional watchmaking fits in with a modern look. Classic elements pay homage to the original: the name Louis Moinet appears in its historic typography, while Chronomètre d’Observatoire is displayed in the same font used for the hour numerals.
The slender, openworked hands in blued steel maintain the visual clarity that defined Louis Moinet’s original timepieces, while their tips, enhanced with modern SLN luminous material, guarantee immediate legibility in any light. The fine seconds hand stands out with its circular openworked counterweight—a detail that bridges historical craftsmanship with contemporary precision. At the dial’s centre, the ruby-set barrel, flanked by two polished screws, adds a technical accent that is both rigorous and refined.
The sapphire crystal caseback reveals an automatic movement certified as an “Observatory chronometer.” Its circular-grained plate serves as a backdrop to the openworked, gilded rotor designed in a purposefully clean, modern, style. As it spins, it reveals the movement’s individual number, guaranteeing authentication and official certification. The four engraved symbols on the caseback represent the company’s core values: exclusivity, creativity, artistry, and design.
As for the bracelet, it was given the name “BRIDGE project.” It is the first grade 5 titanium bracelet by Louis Moinet and takes its name from the distinctive wide links that recall a stylised bridge. It is resolutely contemporary, thanks to a unique design, and was conceived as a seamless extension of the case. Each link seems to flow fluidly into the next, enabling the bracelet to hug the wrist naturally without disrupting the watch’s balance. The alternating satin-finished and polished surfaces create a sculptural ensemble that is both graceful and ergonomic.
1806: The prestigious origin
Louis Moinet creations carry extraordinary stories within them, both through the technical advances they embody and the distinguished personalities for whom they were intended. Some were conceived as exceptional commissions, such as the clock created for Napoleon in 1806—a landmark work whose date now inspires the name of this new timepiece.
To wear the 1806 “Observatory chronometer” is to continue a story that has been evolving for more than two centuries…
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
WATCH
Model 1806
CASE
Material Grade 5 titanium, polished and satin-brushed
Crystals Sapphire crystal | double anti-reflective treatment
Diameter 40.6 mm
Height 15.15 mm
Water-resistance 50 metres
DIAL
Dial Colour: rhodium-plated
Construction : 35 pieces
Finishing: bead-blasted
Markings: engraved
12 cabochons, black nickel
4 blued steel screws
Counter Satin-brushed ring, bead-blasted centre
Flange Circular satin finish
Hands Hours and minutes: blued steel, facetted and openworked, with luminescent material
Blued steel second hand with circular openworked counterweight
MOVEMENT
Manufacture Louis Moinet
Calibre Observatory-certified chronometer, LM1806
Dimensions Diameter : 30.4 mm | Height: 7.9 mm
Functions Hours | Minutes | Seconds
Type Mechanical self-winding | Screw balance
Oscillating weight New design | Bimetallic | Openworked and gold-plated | Ball-bearing with 6 balls | Blued steel screws and fleur-de-lys applique
Finishing Mainplate: circular Côtes de Genève, circulargrained, perlage
Automatic bridge: perlage, diamondcut bevelling, Louis Moinet symbols engraved and gilded
Wheels: circulargrained
Oscillations 28,800 vph
Frequency 4 Hz
Jewels 22
Power reserve 48 hours
BRACELET
Material Grade 5 titanium, polished and satin-brushed
