Louis Moinet · Time to Race Green Racing
The movement in detail
The movement’s idea
The most interesting thing to watch in the Louis Moinet Time to Race is not the stopwatch hand but the parts that drive it. Beneath the high sapphire crystal, the chronograph’s levers, gears and column wheel are exposed. Hours and minutes occupy a small white dial at the bottom. On Green Racing LM-96.20.8VF, the green strap and yellow accents help distinguish the sporting indications from ordinary time.
The automatic LM96 divides its duties clearly: 147 components belong to the chronograph on top, while another 164 form the automatic section beneath. That makes 311 parts in total. The column wheel coordinates the controls, and a horizontal clutch connects the stopwatch to the movement’s drive. This layout makes particular sense in an open watch: you can observe the switching process that would normally require turning a chronograph over.
Control is concentrated in a single pusher at two o’clock. The central hand measures chronograph seconds, while a separate counter records up to 30 minutes. Seconds and tachymeter scales run around the perimeter. The latter lets you estimate average speed over a known distance: covering one kilometre in 30 seconds gives 120 km/h. The practical appeal is clear even away from a racing circuit: measure a short interval and see the mechanism carry out the command.
Practical meaning
The case is made of Grade 5 titanium and measures 40.7 mm across. The brand’s stated 18 grams refers to the case, not the complete watch. The domed crystal opens a lateral view; the GPHG entry for this reference lists an overall thickness of 17.92 mm. A moderate diameter therefore does not make this a thin watch. Before buying, check whether the high profile suits you and works with your clothing.
EnlargeGreen Racing in profile: the domed sapphire exposes the chronograph. This official example carries the chosen number 8.
© Les Ateliers Louis Moinet · SourceThe balance runs at 4 Hz, power reserve is 48 hours and water resistance is stated as 50 metres. Automatic winding is convenient with regular wear, but a full reserve will not cover a long weekend without movement. A rubber strap with a folding clasp reinforces the sporting character, although racing-inspired looks alone say nothing about the shock resistance of an intricate, exposed chronograph.
Louis Moinet introduced Time to Race in June 2022 and built the series around personalisation: the buyer chooses a one- or two-digit number and a colour theme, and that combination is not repeated. Official Green Racing photographs show different such numbers under the same version reference. The manufacturer’s page offers a purchase enquiry rather than a public price; current cost and available numbers need to be confirmed. For me, the strength of LM96 is that it turns a technical explanation of a chronograph into something you can watch happening.
