Louis Vuitton launches the Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Kaleidoscope – a limited edition of the highest watchmaking art. The new watch combines the traditional craftsmanship of Cloisonné-Emaille with an artistic reinterpretation of the monogram flower. To bring the extraordinary kaleidoscope to life, Louis Vuitton chose a unique flying tourbillon caliber made entirely at the Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
When Louis Vuittondesigned a new case in 2017 to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Tambour watch model, the Maison paid special attention to the aesthetic standards that make this model so successful. The rounded, inverted curvature of the Tambour Moon gives this timepiece a novel half-moon profile. With its subtle play of light on the wrist, this case perfectly matches the aesthetic of the Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Kaleidoscope. The main source of inspiration is the monogram flower that Louis Vuitton first introduced in 1896.
Michel Navas, Master watchmaker at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
“We wanted to create a contemporary version of the watch by turning it into a kaleidoscope.”
A dial like a painting
The Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Kaleidoscope is a modern homage to the traditional technique of cloisonné enameling. Gold threads are used to draw patterns by forming thin partitions, which are then filled with enamel.
To make the cloisonné enamel stand out, Louis Vuitton left the “canvas” of the dial unmarked. The entire surface of the dial is dedicated to the enamel work of Anita Porchet. It took several weeks to perfect the shades used for this creation, using antique enamels. In addition to the various shades of blue, the Maison wanted intense shades of purple in different gradations to enhance the kaleidoscopic effect of the dial.
This extremely delicate process requires a perfect balance between the components that make up the enamel. A technical feat that only a hand as experienced, precise and skilled as Anita Porchet’s can accomplish. The decoration of the dial alone takes almost two weeks of work.
The hypnotizing aesthetic of the dial is underlined by the powerful color palette. The effect is enhanced by the masterful realization of an endlessly repeating monogram flower pattern, whose central motif in gold-interwoven cloisonné enamel seems to repeat itself beyond the boundaries of the dial, like an extraordinary mandala.
A high-flying caliber
To ensure that the Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Kaleidoscope lives up to the vibrancy of its kaleidoscopic dial, Louis Vuitton has equipped the watch with one of its most magnificent automatic movements: the caliber LV 81 flying tourbillon. The iconic regulator at 6 o’clock captivates with its refined design, which reveals the V for Gaston-Louis Vuitton at the heart of the flying tourbillon cage. On the caseback, a sapphire crystal reveals the micro-rotor and the watch mechanism. The delicate decoration is reminiscent of the striped Trianon fabric from 1858.
Mit der Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Kaleidoscope ist es Louis Vuitton gelungen, eine der außergewöhnlichsten Uhrenkomplikationen neu zu interpretieren und dabei eine ebenso traditionelle wie innovative Ästhetik zu bewahren.