Geneva, Switzerland – Despite the current economic recession, both Officine Panerai and Louis Moinet unveiled multi-million dollar planetarium inventions during SIHH (Salon International de Haute Horlogerie) and the Geneva Time Exhibition this week in Geneva, both viewed by Elite Traveler.
Panerai, who showed at SIHH, introduced the “Jupiterium” based on Galileo’s interpretation of the solar system. It was previously presented for the first time ever at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, during installation of the exhibition Galileo’s Telescope—The Instrument that Changed the World. The Jupiterium shows the positions of the stars, the sun, the moon and Jupiter from the observer’s point of view on Earth, which is at the center as it was thought to be by Galileo. Jupiter’s system features the so-called “Medicean Planets,” namely the planet’s four main satellites, observed for the first time by Galileo Galilei through his telescope. The Jupiterium mechanism has a titanium base, powered by a perpetual calendar watch with a 40-day power reserve, and is comprised of a square wooden base that supports a glass sphere holding the Earth and planets on titanium arms. There are three creations in total but only one can be purchased by consumers. One is on display in Italy’s Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, and Panerai is keeping one within the brand. The last and final piece retails for over $2million USD.
Meanwhile, at the GTE, independent watch brand Louis Moinet displayed its “Meteoris” planetarium depicting the entire solar system (all known planets orbiting around the sun), along with four tourbillons. Rémy Chauvin, a mechanic who specializes in gears, created the planetarium based on a previous astronomical clock he designed and manufactured, which took 14 years to complete and is now in the Watch Museum in Morteau, France. Based upon this previous feat, Chauvin was able to create Meteoris in roughly two years. Meteoris rotates at a faster speed to provide a better understanding of the solar system and this acceleration of the planets enables the Earth to rotate around the sun in 37 seconds instead of the usual 365 days. Each of the Louis Moinet tourbillons included with the piece contain material from legendary meteorites, including a meteorite from Mars; the oldest meteorite ever found on earth, Rosetta Stone; Itqiy, a mysterious asteroid that was formed near the sun; and a lunar meteorite. The entire planetarium plus the four tourbillon watches is selling for $4.9 million CHF (approximately $4.7 million USD).
For more information visit <ahref=”https://www.panerai.com>www.panerai.com and <ahref=”https://www.louismoinet.com> www.louismoinet.com.
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