W&W 2024 Louis Moinet Around the World in 8 Days

Imagine travelling around the world in just eight days to discover the essence of eight of the world’s most beautiful cities. Having returned from this wonderfully long journey, I open my travel journal describing these eight unforgettable stops. What an extraordinary adventure! It starts in Paris, birthplace of that genius, Louis Moinet, and ends in New York, passing through the colourful floating markets of Bangkok, and the avant-garde metropolis of Kuala Lumpur.

I would like to invite you to discover those eight cities I have described, by way of eight works of watchmaking, each celebrating métiers d’art and extraordinary materials..."

Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner & Creative Director

The famous odyssey imagined by Jules Verne has now been revisited by Jean-Marie Schaller, and sublimated by the art and excellence of watchmaking.

Day 1. Paris: Fragments of history and jigsaw puzzle dial

"Paris and the Eiffel Tour are inseparable. After intense research, I finally acquired a real fragment of this extraordinary icon. It comes from a beam that had been replaced during the centenary."

Day 1: Paris

A jigsaw puzzle dial made up of 81 interlocking pieces and reproducing the map of Paris serves as a backdrop for the Eiffel Tower, which is sculpted by hand from a fragment of an original beam (1889).

Day 2. Abu Dhabi: The purity of rock crystal invites the micro-painted Sheikh Zayed Mosque

“What impressed me most in Abu Dhabi was the beauty and grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. To express its sheer serenity, limpid rock crystal was the obvious choice.”

Day 2: Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque has been hand-painted on a rock crystal base to evoke its majesty and pay homage to its pure lines.

Day 3. Bangkok: Miniature hand-painted glimpse of a floating market

"I emerged from the din of the city with its myriad emanations to find one of the amazing floating markets, a wonderful oasis of peace. This great labyrinth stretching across many canals is a veritable paradise for the senses that thrills the eye with its riot of colours.”

Day 3: Bangkok

A bird’s eye view of Bangkok’s floating market, with colourful, handmade boats, hats, and water lilies over a labyrinthine design, all done with great precision.

Day 4. Kuala Lumpur: Sculpting the Petronas Towers on ultra-modern material

“For over a quarter-century, the Petronas Towers have dominated the Kuala Lumpur skyline. They are the world's tallest twin towers. While admiring them, I realized that they stand as a symbol of Malaysia's global importance as a major producer of microelectronic circuits amongst many other products.”

Day 4: Kuala Lumpur

On this fourth day, we continue our adventure in Kuala Lumpur, a hub of information technology whose skyline is graced by the emblematic Petronas Towers.

Day 5. Singapore: Straw marquetry radiating in the heart of the city

“When I think of Singapore, I see an extraordinary blend of ancient and modern. Straw marquetry has a particularly animated look that easily reflects the flamboyance and diversity of this magnificent city.”

Day 5: Singapore

The straw marquetry serves as a sprightly composition for Singapore’s iconic buildings and evokes the city’s liveliness.

Day 6. Tokyo: Real origami

“Travelling to Tokyo was tantamount to total immersion in a culture that blends deep tradition in a very modern and dynamic city. The venerable aura of Mount Fuji and the delicate Origami creations are both perfect symbols of Tokyo’s contrasting aspects.

Day 6: Tokyo

The origami crane, made from a piece of metallic paper, the hand-painted cherry blossoms, and Mount Fuji, which all appear on a starry-spangled aventurine backdrop, are traditional symbols of longevity, fleeting beauty, and perseverance in Japanese culture.

Day 7. San Francisco: The hand-painted Golden Gate Bridge on a high-tech backdrop

"While observing the classic architectural design of famous American districts, I had a sudden flash: these urban landscapes often have the patchwork regularity of electronic circuit boards. What better way to suggest San Francisco's proximity to silicon valley?"

Day 7: San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, carefully sculpted and hand-painted, is depicted on a silicon wafer etched with microelectronic circuits. This high-tech pattern recalls the nearby Silicon Valley and the architectural design of San Francisco’s cityscape.

Day 8. New York: Holographic technology animating buildings

"The city that never sleeps with its soaring skyscrapers that change colour as day turns to night...Breathtaking sight that thrills me every time. A holographic film was used to reproduce this striking effect by paying on the contrasting lights."

Day 8: New York

To capture the essence of the city that never sleeps, a holographic film on a sapphire crystal base illuminates the buildings, which change colours depending on the viewing angle. The Statue of Liberty, precisely engraved and hand-painted, dominates the scene.

Unpacking the trunk

The trunk immediately conjured the fascinating discoveries that travel brings. The world map dated to 1786, the year of Louis Moinet's birth, and represents a direct link to the past.

These eight exceptional creations are presented in a luxurious, leather-covered wooden trunk, where every detail showcases the exceptional skills of the craftsmen.

The trunk’s outer surface features a delicately stencilled fleur-de-lys monogram recalling the heritage and history of Louis Moinet. Opening this trunk is the beginning of a unique adventure, an artistic world tour in eight days.

Inside, elegantly laid out, are the eight timepieces that highlight this journey from Paris to New York. They are accompanied by an old map of the world, drawn by Thomas Jefferys, the famous geographer at the court of King George III. This map, dating from 1786, the year Louis Moinet was born, and is a reminder that the creations of this pioneering watchmaker also crossed the globe to be with the eminent personalities of his time.