Louis Vuitton : Tambour Evolution Tourbillon Volant

Tambour éVolution Tourbillon Volant

Case : ceramised aluminum, 18K pink gold bezel, lugs and crown, sapphire back Diameter : 43mm Movement : mechanical automatic (Caliber LV81, 40h power reserve), 152 parts, flying tourbillon 18ct pink gold micro-rotor, bridges adorned with striped canvas motif Functions : hours, minutes, one-minute flying tourbillon Dial : 18K pink gold hands, hour-markers and numerals Water resistance : 100m Bracelet : 18K gold

In the wake of the new Tambour case shape presented last year, which was indeed featured on the cover of the GMT Baselworld edition, Louis Vuitton is enriching its Tambour eVolution line in a manner that is both high-end and sporty with the brand’s first automatic flying tourbillon model. Entirely developed and assembled by the Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, this automatic flying tourbillon is suspended in its mirror-polished V-shaped carriage, an historical motif designed in 1901 by Gaston Vuitton for his famous steamer bag. Tradition thus meets contemporary creations, and the various skills cultivated by the world’s largest luxury house share their expertise within the watchmaking micro-universe. The same goes for the off-centered pink gold micro-rotor and the bridges visible through the sapphire caseback, featuring finishes inspired by the striped canvas motif created by Louis Vuitton to adorn trunks in 1872. Surrounding the dial crafted by Léman Cadrans (the Louis Vuitton dial-making workshop), its inner bezel ring composed of 60 pink gold micro-studs beads enhances the overall equilibrium of the amphitheater-style design. The simple yet powerful personality of this timepiece is also based on the refined elegance of its pink gold bracelet with satin-brushed and polished finishes. The contrast between the pink gold of the bezel and the ceramized aluminum of the case (a material stemming from the world of Formula 1 and aerospace) confers added aesthetic value that admirably sets off the carriage performing one rotation per minute. The first Tambour eVolution Tourbillon Volant watches will reach Louis Vuitton boutiques in the fall of 2014, starting with the one in Geneva of which the complete renovation will coincide with this launch as well as with the brand’s 160th anniversary celebrations. In parallel, Louis Vuitton is presenting around 15 new references this year, including a brand-new feminine collection named Emprise.


Brice Lechevalier is editor-in-chief of GMT and Skippers, which he co-founded in 2000 and 2001 respectively. He has also been CEO of WorldTempus since it joined the GMT Publishing stable, of which he is director and joint shareholder. In 2012 he created the Geneva Watch Tour, and he has been an advisor to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève since 2011. Also closely involved in sailing, he has published the magazine of the Société Nautique de Genève since 2003, and was one of the founders of the SUI Sailing Awards in 2009 and the Concours d’Elégance for motor boats at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2015.

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