TAKE THREE
Louis Vuitton’s take on the jumping hours complication has given it much latitude to showcase its creativity across the three Tambour Slim Vivienne Jumping Hours references. In the white gold “Circus”, Vivienne appears as a juggler on a mother‑of‑ pearl dial; in the pink gold “Fortune”, she’s a fortune teller, mysterious against a background of aventurine; in the yellow gold “Casino”, she’s a croupier, with the green of the skarn dial reminiscent of a casino table.
Each Tambour Slim Vivienne Jumping Hours model is a miniature world unto itself, complete with motifs such as tarot cards for the fortune‑telling Vivienne and balls (with the Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower design, no less) for the juggling Vivienne. Of particular note here is how each model’s respective motif is also found on the tip of the minutes hand and appears to orbit Vivienne as she goes about her work.
To bring these little universes to life, Louis Vuitton has utilised various decorative techniques, from gem‑setting to miniature painting. The result is an interplay of textures and colours, from the sparkle of various brilliant‑cut gemstones to the shine of the polished gold elements and the intense, saturated hues of the miniature paintings. Louis Vuitton’s artistic savoir faire is on full display here, and there’s much to see and admire.
Viewed as a whole, the Tambour Slim Vivienne Jumping Hours is a breath of fresh air in the watchmaking industry and a triumph for Louis Vuitton’s vision of technical watchmaking with the house’s personal twist.