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The world's very first chronograph was created by Louis Moinet. It is only fitting that this brand takes the concept of chronographs further with each release — creating watches that can be seen as works of art.
The Memoris Spirit does just that: It highlights the chronograph in a way you have never seen before.
Made of grade 5 titanium, the Memoris Spirit case is a lightweight work of art on the wrist. We must afford a moment of consideration and appreciation to Louis Moinet’s engineers here.
The case and crystal have strong aerodynamic qualities, which feel more modern and sleek than the original Memoris Chronograph. The effect is streamlined and smooth, combined with the crystal’s seamless integration.
The beautiful open-worked lugs have a fantastic satin-brushed curve, giving them a contemporary, even technical appearance. It’s tough not to be impressed with the overall visual impact of this watch.
The light is the catalyst that brings the watch to life. While the beautiful box sapphire crystal allows for panoramic views, the flange also allows a cheeky side view.
As for the dial, well, there isn’t much of a dial. Most of what we’re looking at from the dial side is part of the LM84 movement. The sub-dials are sapphire, allowing the wearer to view the works beneath.
As it has become a bit of a signature for our Fratello limited editions, we decided to use our favorite RAL2005 shade of orange for the flange printing. Orange is obviously a color that’s very close to the Fratello brand, thanks to its Dutch connection, but RAL2005 also fluoresces under UV lighting, adding a whole other character to the watch.
The real beauty of this watch lies in the gorgeous automatic movement that steals the show. This is Calibre LM84, a monopusher column-wheel chronograph composed of 311 individual components.
There are 147 components for the upper part dedicated to the chronograph and 164 components for the lower part corresponding to the self-winding movement. Alongside a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 48 hours, the movement delivers all the classic Swiss decorations we’d expect from a Louis Moinet movement.
Our partnership with Louis Moinet is built on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. We set out to design an aesthetically ambitious watch that sat comfortably alongside the Memoris Spirt 40mm collection. In my opinion, it is the perfect ambassador for the chronograph's legacy.
This extraordinary creation truly reflects the spirit of both Fratello and Louis Moinet and our commitment to perpetuate the art of fine watchmaking while staying true to traditional crafts and horological savoir-faire.
Countless late nights spent in photoshop, mocking up our concept ideas and then numerous revisions, all manifested into the beautiful watch you see before you today. To say we are chuffed would be an understatement.
Sometimes when we meet with a brand, things just click from the get-go. We find ourselves aligned and on the same page and the watch design almost brings itself to life. Without any exaggeration, this is how our collaboration with Louis Moinet came about.
Rob and Dave from Fratello visited the Louis Moinet Atelier in March of this year and meet with Jean-Marie Schaller. The timing of our visit was a couple of weeks before Watches & Wonders, and so Louis Moinet had not announced the Memoris Spirit Chronograph in its smaller 40mm format. We were blown away when Jean-Marie Schaller presented us with the new watches. At that exact moment, we “knew” that this was the watch we would work together on.
Jean-Marie Schaller became obsessed with the legacy of Louis Moinet. In the year 2000, he founded Les Ateliers Louis Moinet to protect the great man’s reputation. He became the custodian of a history unlike most others in our craft. And when it was discovered that Louis Moinet created the very first chronograph, his call to destiny finally had a focal point. He would express the beauty of this popular complication in a way that paid homage to the origins of the brand and its founder’s genius while embracing the modern capabilities of Haute Horlogerie in 2022 to further Moinet’s story.
Louis Moinet is a brand based on the past. Ask Jean-Marie Schaller and he will tell you anything you want to know about what has gone before.
Despite this, however, he is always moving forward. His eyes are fixed, unblinking, on the future. He knows the burden of the legacy he bears, but he does not slow his march. He wants to grow it, develop it, and honor it by never letting it rest.
This drive helped make the Fratello × Louis Moinet Memoris Spirit 40mm Chronograph a reality. And we could not be more grateful or proud.