To celebrate opening of Louis Vuitton Vendôme on October 4th, 2017, the brand launched the Tambour Moon Tourbillon Volant Poinçon de Genève Pavée. The case and plate are entirely encrusted with diamonds - a first for a watch with Poinçon de Genève certification. It is a technical and artistic tour de force, an illustration of the House’s watchmaking expertise.
In 2002, Louis Vuitton created the iconic Tambour watch boasting a unique form. Fifteen years later, the House pays tribute to its flagship timepiece with a new collection: Tambour Moon, a curved-case reinterpretation of the original Tambour. Its latest example of high watchmaking, the Tambour Moon Tourbillon Volant is "Poinçon de Genève" certified. The manually-wound calibre LV 97 reinterprets the tourbillon with a 80-hour power reserve. It is a demonstration of craftsmanship whose aesthetics are as spectacular as its mechanism. Assembled by the master watchmakers at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the flying tourbillon has a delicately open worked carriage, giving it a sense of lightness.
The case is adorned with 145 baguette-cut diamonds, the movement is set with 106 brilliant-cut diamonds and its crown presents a rose-cut diamond - weighing a total of approximately 7.6 carats. It is fitted with a black alligator strap with a platinum PT950 ardillon buckle pavé-set with baguette-cut diamonds.
This is the first time a watch with a gem-set movement has received Poinçon de Genève certification. Entirely hand-crafted, the piece required over 120 hours of meticulous work, during which the stones were cut on the piece in order to create a puzzle of 296 diamonds. Displayed within the platinum case of the Tambour Moon, with the bezel, flange and horns pavé-set with diamonds, the movement has an architecture structured around the circle, as well as a linear construction. Three circles set with brilliant-cut diamonds are arranged on a vertical line: at 12 o’clock, the finely chiselled barrel bearing the Louis Vuitton signature; at the centre, the hours and minutes; at 6 o’clock, the tourbillon carriage featuring the Monogram Flower, in tribute to Louis Vuitton’s signature. This singular alignment provides a unique aesthetic based on transparencies seen through a skeletonised plate that’s pavé-set with round diamonds. The barrel, dial and tourbillon carriage appear to float in mid-air, appearing weightless.
