If your tastes run into both the prehistoric and cosmic, the Louis Moinet Vertalor Qatar Tourbillon could be more your thing than the Jurassic Watch we recently featured. Based on the Vertalor Qatar, it incorporates elements of both. The cosmic is represented by two fragments of the one and only meteorite ever found in Qatar inlaid in the dial while a three-billion-year-old red stromatolite fossil at the center of the dial represents the prehistoric. The tribute to Qatar extends to additional dial elements in the form of two Qatari bent swords and sand dunes.
The metorite itself is known as Qatar 001. It is a chondrite type H5 with visible chondrules, distinctive round grains, that give the dial a unique look. According to the Meteoritical Society, it hails from the asteroid belt found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It traveled some 260 million kilometres to land in the area of Jariyan al Batnah.
As the name implies, the dial includes a tourbillon with a cage hung beneath a three-armed gold bridge at the six o’clock position. The mainspring is visible at the twelve o’clock position. The ‘octopus spring’ of the winding and setting mechanism are visible from the back of the case.
Louis Moinet Vertalor Qatar Tourbillon specifications:
- Caliber: Louis Moinet manual
- Case diameter: 47mm
- Case material: 18K white gold
- Case colours: White gold
- Dial: Meteorite fragments and stromatolite fossil
- Glass material: Two sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment
- Battery: 72 hours
- Water resistance: 30m
- Strap: Hand-sewn Louisiana alligator leather with 18-carat pin buckle
Like the Louis Moinet Jurassic Watch, the Louis Moinet Vertalor Qatar Tourbillon will only be available as a limited edition of 12 watches. It is based on the Vertalor Tourbillon, itself limited to only 28 watches but without the inlaid meteorite or stromatolite.
Source : Louis Moinet