Of Artistry And Automata

THREE NEW HIGH WATCHMAKING MODELS FROM LOUIS VUITTON'S FABRIQUE DU TEMPS BRINGS US TO EXCITING NEW FRONTIERS IN HOROLOGY.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

IN CRAFTING A WATCH worthy of the annals of haute horlogerie, a maison must consider several things: the watch is aesthetically outstanding; it embodies the founding principles of its brand; it lives up to a specific theme important to the brand or the zeitgeist in which it exists; and it is mechanically supreme. These watches are not made for the sake of watchmaking. They push the limits of the manufacture.

From its state-of-the-art facility, La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton has unveiled three new High Watchmaking novelties that embody these ideals—watches that, by their mere existence, enrich the world of horology. The movement also incorporates a minute repeater that features cathedral gongs, emitting sonorous peals on the hour, every hour. You can do this manually, too. When pushing the slide piece on the target, the minute repeater chimes the hour and the dial springs to life, offering a fascinating visual spectacle.

The Wild Heart of Haute Horlogerie: Louis Vuitton Escales autour du Monde ‘Escale en Amazonie’ Pocket Watch Pocket watches are collectors’ items in the 21st century. People purchase them for novelty rather than practicality. The Escales autour du Monde ‘Escale en Amazonie’ Pocket Watch, however, features advanced mechanisms expected of a product from La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, while delivering artistry and craftsmanship.