T IME FOR A CHANGE
Louis Vuiton launches the new Tambour — the House’s first automatic three-hand movement timepiece
Change was always expected when Jean Arnault took the reins of Louis Vuitton’s watch division. And this is evident in the Tambour watch, which debuted in 2002, and is now presented in two steel versions—tonal grey and deep blue. “With this launch, we seek to open a new chapter in the history of the Maison’s watchmaking by creating a watch with strong horological credentials while identifiably Louis Vuitton in style,” says Arnault. While the signature drum-shaped case remains, the new models sport a compact 8.3mm thick case with a unisex 40mm diameter and a slight curvature on the back following the contour of the wrist—an understated but significant ergonomic detail. The new Tambour also features an integrated, lugfree bracelet with an invisible closure that defines the sleek aesthetic that harks back to the Maison’s avant-garde style. Likewise, the dial is updated with split-level chapter rings—an outer ring for the minutes and an inner ring for the hours—creating depth and differently levelled dial markers that are easy on the eyes. Within is the new micro-rotor calibre LFT023 in high-inertia 22K gold with a 50-hour power reserve, and a certified timekeeping accuracy of -4 seconds and +6 seconds per day. This is the first proprietary automatic three-hand movement by Louis Vuitton, La Fabrique du Temps and in conjunction with
Le Cercle des Horlogers. The launch of these two pieces will be accompanied by three more models so as to bridge the old and the new for experienced collectors and budding enthusiasts.