Space and Time
Louis Vuitton takes ‘Indonesia Tatler’ on a timeless journey through the marriage of art, travel and time that embodies the idea of nothingness 104
ay back in 2001, Louis Vuitton unveiled a department with which the brand had not before been acquainted: watchmaking. The first Louis Vuitton watch was created and, with that, a meaningful name was brought into the world of timepieces: Tambour.
Since then, the distinctive design of this watch has given rise to a whole collection of timekeepers for both men and women. Simple Tambour models and complicated versions (GMT, Chronograph, Tourbillion, Spin Time and repetitions minutes) have all enabled the brand to remain true to its demanding standards in the quest for exceptional services as well as to maintain its name as an acclaimed watchmaker.
To extend and achieve these aims and more, Louis Vuitton brought together the finest craftsmen in the world. With its headquarters based in Paris, the timepieces themselves are carefully created in Geneva, Switzerland, in workshops whose name alone epitomises its spirit: La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
To celebrate this chapter in Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking history, the brand has created a workspace that is conducive to creativity. This workshop brings together all of Louis Vuitton’s principles when it comes to watchmaking, such as its respect for tradition, craftsmanship and innovation, and with that a heavenly marriage of travel and time is created. With this collaboration, Louis Vuitton has obtained the Poinçon de Genève certification, joining an inner circle of celebrated maisons.
The Poinçon de Genève is an independent institution regulated by the laws of the Geneva canton, which examines the manufacturing and finishing of all the components that go into the making of a watch. It has guaranteed the highest degree of craftsmanship and compliance with fine watchmaking standards since 1886. Sixteen months after establishing itself in Geneva, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton shone even brighter after having achieved this distinction.
The Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève watch is a major advancement for Louis Vuitton watchmaking, being the first timepiece to receive the certification. The skeleton tourbillon movement and an
exceptional degree of transparency make this watch one of the brand’s masterpieces. The powerful impact of “nothingness” imposes its presence on this timepiece where the contemporary approach is combined with the highest degree of watchmaking quality.
The Poinçon de Genève states that the surface of each watch component must be decorated. Louis Vuitton fuels this with its modern vision while retaining the purity of the brand. The V of the tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock is entirely black polished and has a mirror-like shine. The case alternates between a mirror-like shine and a circular satin-brushed finish. The LV104 calibre was developed from scratch by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and the skeleton calibre appears to be suspended in mid-air by invisible forces, as if floating inside its 950 platinum case.
With lightness in mind, the dial is made of smoked sapphire, achieved by metalisation. As the newest addition to the Louis Vuitton collections, the case is a combination of a circle and a square. Measuring 41mm in width and 43.7mm diagonally, it fits into no existing shape category. At just 9.1mm thick, the Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève watch fits naturally on any wrist.
This creation is one of Louis Vuitton’s trendsetters because it plays with nothingness, oozes sophistication and yet is the ultimate definition of simplicity.