Flying High
Louis Vuitton has joined an exclusive club with the unveiling of its first watch granted the prestigious Geneva Seal. Sean Li discusses the groundbreaking project with LV’S Hamdi Chatti and Michel Navas
ouis Vuitton, already known for making luxury timepieces, made a significant move in 2012 by acquiring La Fabrique du Temps, a Geneva-based specialist that developed high-end mechanical movements for a number of brands. Headed by renowned watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, La Fabrique du Temps had an enviable reputation in the industry. By bringing its know-how and experience in-house, Louis Vuitton was making a bold statement about its own ambitions on the horological front. With the acquisition, LV’S vice-president for watches and jewellery, Hamdi Chatti, saw an opportunity to pursue one of the most illustrious certifications in the industry, the Poinçon de Genève, or Geneva Seal. Not only are the technical and functional requirements to achieve the certification very specific, a watch must be produced within the Canton of Geneva to be eligible. In the following interview, Chatti and Navas explain some of the challenges they faced before being able to unveil the Louis Vuitton Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève.
Top: Hamdi Chatti and Michel Navas. Following its acquisition of La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton has produced a number of impressive high complications, including the Flying Tourbillon watch that carries the Geneva Seal