Seven versions and various sizes enable Louis Vuitton to convey its new feminine watch identity in a contemporary and elegant manner. The Tambour Monogram launched in autumn 2013 interprets the watchmaking expression of the iconic Monogram canvas – reflected both on the guilloché dial and on the tourbillon carriage of the Haute Horlogerie model. The legendary LV subtly suspended at noon infuses the entire model with the power of the brand image. Immediately identifiable by its inverted case and its eight-sided crown, this newcomer to the house of Louis Vuitton asserts its family ties with the Tambour, its elder by ten years, while subtly evolving with a slimmer silhouette and a broader dial opening. The brand watchmakers and designers have succeeded in striking the perfect balance between a casual watch and the kind one wears for a gala dinner. The strength of pink gold naturally adds a luxurious touch to the model, of which the timeless beauty in its gem-set steel version will appeal to fans of aesthetic restraint. The precious Monogram also takes on a whole dimension when its mechanical contents portray the most evocative symbol of watchmaking expertise, the tourbillon. At the peak of the Tambour Monogram pyramid, this initiative bearing the signature La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton is distinguished by a self-winding calibre of which the gold oscillating weight is engraved with the famous Lozine edging featured on the brand’s prestigious luggage. Hamdi Chatti, head of the Louis Vuitton watch and jewellery division, specifies that the balance is off-centred and the oscillating weight is deliberately small so as to preserve the transparency of the carriage and indeed the entire structure. Delightful diamonds sparkle across the dials and bezels, meeting a wide range of aspirations depending on personal taste and means (see also the version presented in the 4×4 section on page 19). The Tambour Monogram Tourbillon is clearly appreciated by the jury of the 2013 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, which has selected in the “Ladies’ Complications watch” category.