A New Dawn

Jean Arnault tells how Louis Vuitton is taking the Tambour collection to greater heights

- Brice Lechevalier

With help from movement specialist La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton has been quietly carving a place for itself in the realm of haute horlogerie. This year, under the watchful eyes of Jean Arnault, the 24-year-old watch director at Louis Vuitton, the French maison is ready to make a greater impact, starting with the flagship Tambour collection that has undergone a buzz-worthy makeover.

Arnault explains: “Louis Vuitton launched the Tambour in 2002 with distinctive features such as a thick, round case, strong lugs and the ‘Louis Vuitton’ words around the edge. The watch has benefited enormously from the expertise of La Fabrique du Temps, which stepped up the design game on collections like Spin Time and Carpe Diem, and by contributing one-of-a-kind models, grand complications and automata. This expertise in haute horlogerie, led by a team that has grown and strengthened over the years, especially in artistic crafts, has been infused into the new Tambour.”