From content partner JustLuxe iW Magazine
La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton earlier this year debuted the impressive Louis Vuitton Tambour Jacquemart Minute Repeater 200th Anniversary, a minute repeater in a white gold and titanium case with an astronomical-themed dial that Louis Vuitton says means imitates “a window into an infinite galaxy”.
Louis Vuitton Tambour Jacquemart Minute Repeater Impressive 200th Anniversary.
In that dial-born galaxy you will find an unusual space capsule automation mechanism equipped with a church gong-style minute repeater.
Inside the watch’s 46.8 mm x 15.2 mm titanium case (with white gold lugs and bezel), Louis Vuitton houses nine gold automatic movements (historically known as jacquemartscharacter devised to beat the gong to the church bell).
When the wearer presses the slide button, the rocket takes off to reveal the diamond ‘passengers’ in its cockpit. At the same time, the planets on the dial rotate while the Louis Vuitton Monogram flower rotates and the two stars shoot into the blue void. Even the case itself is finished with a celestial theme as its design is intended to reflect the shape of the astronaut’s helmet.
As this cosmic show unfolds, a gong minute repeater in the church will ring the hour, quarter hour, and minute alarm.
La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton spent two years developing this unique piece as a gift for Louis Vuitton’s 200th birthday. The watchmaker enlisted the creativity of engraver Dick Steenman and enameler Anita Porchet to decorate the case and fabricate the dial components.
You may recall that Steenman and Porchet also collaborated on Louis Vuitton Tambour Carpe Diem, an earlier automaton unique work, won the Audacity Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2021.
Look closely at the dial at 7 o’clock on this new watch and you’ll see Mrs. Porchet’s signature.
On the bezel, the Louis Vuitton signature is inlaid with blue rubber lettering. The crown, crown and initials LV are set with tourmaline and sapphire gradations to match the dark blue dial.
From the case back, a sapphire crystal allows a glimpse of the caliber LV200, a hand-wound movement with 480 parts, some of which have been finished in blue.
This timepiece uniquely combines traditional gem-set and high-end watchmaking techniques with a contemporary space-themed design. Its unique personality proves once again how successful La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton has been. its own path among its peers in the traditional high-end Swiss watchmaking industry.
