20 years ago, the Tambour hit the market, launching Louis Vuitton's watchmaking division. "The Tambour has become an iconic model because it is so simple, bold and at the same time innovative," says Michel Navas, Master Watchmaker at La Fabrique du Temps. manufacture near Geneva where, in 2014, the brand amalgamated all the professionalism and technical structures that, since 2002, had competed in the production of its watches. "It is recognisable at a glance with its round case without a bezel sculpted from a block of metal and its applied lugs inspired by the metal reinforcements of the iconic luggage. The design was born 20 years ago and hasn't changed since then'.
Celebrating the anniversary is the Tambour Twenty, a watch that remains faithful to the original Tambour by taking up its stylistic codes. And above all, the mechanics, that of the collection's first chronograph: the LV 277 calibre, which exploits the synergies of the LVMH group, to which Vuitton belongs, using Zenith's high-frequency El Primero (36,000 vibrations per hour) as its base, allowing accurate readings down to a tenth of a second. Customised with a gold oscillating weight.
The 41.5 mm polished steel case bears the 12 letters of the Louis Vuitton name on the case middle indicating the position of the hours. The brushed brown dial features yellow chrono hands (a reference to the yellow thread historically used in the brand's manufactured leather goods), large Arabic numerals applied at the even and baton numerals. It is a limited edition of 200 delivered with a miniature Louis Vuitton Monogram canvas case.
Over the past 20 years, the Tambour has given rise to refined complications, from tourbillons to minute repeaters. But also highly original displays, such as the Spin Time. And in the Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton has brought together all the skills, materials and savoir faire to produce exceptional pieces.
Price14,000 euro.
