MIH Gaïa,
a truly inspired creation

The appearance of the MIH Gaïa watch is reminiscent of the museum’s concrete architectural design by Zurich’s Pierre Zoelly and La Chaux-de-Fonds’ Georges-Jacques Haefeli. Produced in Le Corbusier’s birthplace, the timepiece shares a number of similarities with the Brutalist movement. The building’s bold, raw, minimalist outlines are reflected in the lugs and dial of the watch, combining rectangular and rounded forms. The watch also takes inspiration from the architectural interplay of empty space and solid mass : the hour, displayed on a revolving disc, is shown through the window at the top of the dial, and the minutes are indicated through an opening in a domed disc – a reference to the Gaïa trophy – which also rotates. On the case back, the oscillating weight uncovers a message, as a nod to the underground building which reveals its many treasures as the visitor continues to explore. The initials MIH are subtly engraved on the crown and the museum’s geographical coordinates are featured on the pin buckle of the strap. Unusual yet understated, unisex and timeless, the MIH Gaïa watch illustrates a harmony between industry and craftsmanship. An initial limited series of 200 pieces will be produced with a blue finish – the official colour of the MIH – with the possibility of subsequent variations. The accompanying case consists of a cardboard container especially designed for long-term storage, as a reminder of the initiatives the watch has been designed to fund.