The Louis Vuitton story began in 1854, when a shop dedicated to the art of travel was opened in Paris, near the Place Vendôme. The superbly crafted, innovative luggage cemented the reputation and success of the company, which continued to grow.
Louis Vuitton’s first forays into watchmaking date back to 2002, and the launch of the Tambour watch. This timepiece, with its evocative name and distinctive design, was the first of what is now a complete range of watches for men and women, which includes both simple three-handers and sophisticated complications including chronographs, tourbillons, Spin Time, minute repeaters and GMT – the latter a reminder of the company’s origins in travel.
The Tambour established Louis Vuitton’s position as a genuine player in watchmaking. Other models were quickly added to the collection. The Escale watch, for instance, drew inspiration from the legendary travel trunks that forged the company’s reputation.
The pursuit of excellence and the continuing need to push the limits of creativity and innovation were behind Louis Vuitton’s decision to bring together the best watchmaking specialists and artisans within a genuine manufacture. Thus La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton was set up in Geneva, the cradle of Swiss fine watchmaking. This mastery of traditional watchmaking craftsmanship resulted in Louis Vuitton’s obtaining the Geneva Hallmark for the first time in 2016, for the Voyager Flying Tourbillon “Poinçon de Genève”. This exceptional watch and the award of the exclusive certification marked a new chapter in Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking story.
