he Geopolis Opal radiates unique artistry thanks to the opal, with its captivating range of colours. As the light glides over the twelve jewels, it flashes an ever-changing range of hues, transforming this timepiece into a veritable work of animated visual art.

The design of the Geopolis Opal has been rigorously thought out to celebrate the splendour of the opal. Ten opals delicately encrusted on small bases stand out against the intense black of the onyx dial to form a spellbinding rainbow. A larger opal disc takes pride of place in the centre. The twelfth gem nestles at the back of the tourbillon cage, under the beating heart of the regulating mechanism.

The Geopolis Opal displays a fascinating spectacle of colours with kaleidoscopic reflections. It’s a veritable delight for the senses and an invitation to contemplate.

The opal has a rich and varied history. It is an integral part of myths and legends the world over and has been described as the "light of the world”. In Indian mythology, for example, the Goddess of the Rainbow was turned into this beautiful gemstone to escape her suitors.

For Geopolis Opal, the choice fell on crystal opal, a highly sought-after variant for its vibrant and hypnotic spectrum of colours.

The fragility and exquisiteness of opals demand meticulous cutting. Louis Moinet founder Jean-Marie Schaller entrusted this delicate task to a renowned gem cutter and his friend, Daniel Haas. The process requires patience, precision, and skill. Each opal must be carefully cut and polished by hand, then reduced to discs just 0.5 mm thick.

The creation of the dial illustrates the expertise of master dial-makers, who faced the challenge of arranging the opals in such a way as to create the rainbow effect. What drove the creation of the Geopolis Opal was this quest for perfection, and the result is a tribute to the art of watchmaking and the treasures of the Earth.

To defy gravity in a particularly spectacular way, the Geopolis Opal comes with an off-centre tourbillon in the subdial at 6 o’clock. The movement is hand-wound, with two barrel springs, providing an impressive ninety-six hours of power reserve. The system, known as “volte-face”, places one barrels upside-down over the other. This allows them to deliver their energy simultaneously for a ninety-six hour power reserve.

This exceptional work of art is delicately framed by a red gold case, 40-millimetre in diameter and exhibiting fluid and well-defined lines. The highly technical sapphire crystal dome reveals the many fascinating facets of the opals below. The openworked lugs perfectly underline the integration of the bracelet.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

WATCH

• Unique piece

CASE

• Material: 18k red gold, grade 5 titanium (inner case)
• Diameter 40.7 mm

DIAL & HANDS

• Dial: Twelve discs of opal on an onyx dial
• Hands: Hours, minutes: facetted and skeletonised, with luminescent material (SLN)

MOVEMENT

• Functions: Hours | Minutes
• Complication: Flying tourbillon
• Type: Manual winding, double spring barrel
• Oscillations 28,800 vibrations per hour
• Jewels 26
• Power reserve 96 hours
• Water resistance 30 meters