In 2002, Louis Vuitton introduced the Tambour watch. Its instantly recognizable drum-shaped case embodied a bold and eye-catching vision of timekeeping. Twenty-one years later, the Tambour has matured and is reimagined with a slimmer form, characterized by its unparalleled finishes, subtle elegance, and sculptural, flowing lines.
©LOUIS VUITTON
Jean Arnault, Director of Watches, said: "Twenty years after the introduction of a bold watchmaking design based on the iconic Tambour shape, Louis Vuitton further expands its watch collection with this new timepiece, showcasing an unprecedented level of refinement in every aspect, while maintaining the modernity, elegance, and functionality that have been the Maison's cornerstones for over 160 years." The new Tambour is available in two steel versions, highlighting its desirability for everyday wear. The reimagined collection features two models, one with a silver-gray dial and the other with a contrasting deep blue dial. This enhanced Tambour also features two new Louis Vuitton firsts: an integrated bracelet and a new, original automatic movement, beautifully designed and crafted by Louis Vuitton's in-house watchmaking atelier, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Jean Arnault, Director of Watches, said: "With this launch, we aim to write a new chapter in the Maison's watchmaking history by creating a watch that is unmistakably Louis Vuitton in style and is backed by the utmost in watchmaking craftsmanship."
©LOUIS VUITTON
Form and Function
What characterizes the Tambour watch? Its rounded, curved case, engraved with the 12 letters of LOUIS VUITTON, and its substantial volume, crafted with an architectural approach to size and proportions, remain. The reimagined Tambour retains all of these characteristics and more, further enhanced by refined details. The new Tambour explores design in every aspect. This is design in its truest sense, not just in aesthetic terms, but also in purpose and intent. It begins with a modern form, with a completely unisex 40mm diameter, 8.3mm thick case, grounded in contemporary morphology and designed to fit the contours of any wrist. The new Tambour's integrated bracelet, a first for Louis Vuitton, combines robustness with fluidity. Its slim, curved links fit snugly and comfortably around the wrist, rivaling the exceptionally soft leather strap. Everything about the new Tambour is centered on its design. Everything has meaning and a reason: every surface on the watch's exterior that touches the skin is designed to conform to the body. The caseback is not flat, but curves upward toward the center of the case, conforming to the natural curve of the forearm as it approaches the wrist. By following the contours of the human arm, the Tambour appears even slimmer than its 8.3mm thickness. The bracelet links, which are convex on both sides, form a rounded shape that maintains a continuous line of contact with the entire wrist.
©LOUIS VUITTON
©LOUIS VUITTON
©LOUIS VUITTON
The bracelet blends seamlessly with the case. Thanks to its lugless construction, the new Tambour is the only truly circular watch with an integrated bracelet. The bracelet's elegant beauty is completed by an invisible clasp. This is achieved through a three-blade fold-over clasp, located only through subtle clues: the links engraved with "LOUIS VUITTON" and the lack of polished parts separating them. Craftsmanship may be apparent at a glance, but its true value is revealed at a touch. This principle informs the tactile feel of the new Tambour. While matte finishes dominate, there are exceptions, such as the polished beveled edges and central links of the bracelet, or the polished crown. The crown, like the case, is drum-shaped but features soft-touch fluting that makes winding and setting the watch a tactile pleasure. The sandblasted bezel, bordered by a polished finish, bears the Tambour's signature 12-letter "LOUIS VUITTON" inscription. However, this time, only the letters are raised and polished. Each letter, like the hour markers, is meticulously engraved. The new Tambour offers balance and cohesion to the wrist, clarity and precision to the eye.
©LOUIS VUITTON
©LOUIS VUITTON
Light and lightness
In contrast to the taut curves of the case and bracelet and the smooth tactile design of the new Tambour, the dial features crisp, sharp edges, revealing the fine details of the texture of the Tambour's displays in the light. Despite being just over 1 mm thick, the new Tambour's dial exudes a remarkable sense of depth and three-dimensionality. The polished, stepped chapter ring is comprised of an outer ring for the minutes and an inner ring for the hours, both of which have micro-sandblasted main surfaces. The dial's markers are designed to complement each other spatially: the five-minute markers are recessed, while the hour markers are inset. These differences in height create different lighting effects that the eye automatically detects and quickly reads without needing to pay attention. The gold indexes are diamond-polished for enhanced light interaction, while the Super-LumiNova®-coated numerals and hands ensure the new Tambour remains legible even in dim light. The Tambour's gold hands have evolved from broad baton hands to tapered, faceted, openworked hands, providing more space for the display. The slimmer hands allow the dial to appear wider at all times, contributing to the overall visual and conceptual lightness of the watch. This lightness is also carried over to the tone of the watch itself. The new Tambour expresses its new identity through a central matte-finished dial section bearing the inscription "LOUIS VUITTON PARIS," a nod to the Maison's origins in Paris, founded in 1854. Beneath the small seconds counter, which features a concentric circle pattern, is the inscription "FAB.EN SUISSE," replacing the previous "SWISS MADE" quality guarantee. This subtle change evokes the dials of historic luxury watches from the 1950s and 1960s. Spelled out, the inscription reads "Fabriqué en Suisse" (Swiss Made), alluding to "La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton" and the highest standards of craftsmanship that go into this timepiece: Parisian flair and Swiss expertise united in a single creation.
©LOUIS VUITTON
©LOUIS VUITTON
Movement and Operation
The new Tambour was created in La Fabrique du Temps, the Maison's watchmaking atelier in Geneva. This was only possible thanks to Louis Vuitton's advanced watchmaking expertise, embodied by "Louis Vuitton." Founded and directed by master watchmakers Enrico Barbasini and Michel Navas, La Fabrique du Temps has brought award-winning horological complications to Louis Vuitton. The new caliber LFT023 not only powers the evolved Tambour, but is also Louis Vuitton's first in-house automatic three-hand movement, designed by the brand in collaboration with movement specialist Le Cercle des Horlogers to embody all of the Maison's design codes, from the openworked barrel cover reminiscent of the Monogram Flower to the micro-rotor featuring a stylized repeating "LV" motif. This unmistakably modern movement features micro-sandblasted bridges, polished edges, and bevels that echo the finishes of the rest of the watch. The circular-grained baseplate echoes traditional movement decoration, while the use of colorless, transparent sapphires instead of the traditional magenta movement rubies affirms the avant-garde visual approach of the Caliber LFT023. The micro-rotor is made of high-inertia 22K gold and is equipped with a 4Hz (28,000 vph) escapement, coupled with a peripheral gear that provides exceptionally efficient winding of the barrel, which has a 50-hour power reserve.
©LOUIS VUITTON
©LOUIS VUITTON
A chronometer certified to the same performance standards applied by the industry's leading watchmakers, the Caliber LFT023 is accurate to within -4 to +6 seconds per day. This certification, awarded by the Geneva-based Chronometer Testing Institute under the patronage of the TIMELAB Foundation, guarantees that Caliber LFT023 complies with the strict specifications of ISO 3159 and the rigorous standards of timekeeping precision. Louis Vuitton is the first watchmaking company to have its watches certified through the Consejo Chronometer Testing Institute, demonstrating the Maison's ongoing commitment to excellence and quality in contemporary watchmaking. Modern, elegant and meticulously crafted, Caliber LFT023 powers the first models to bear the code for the latest Tambour. These two steel models will be joined by three more models, completing a step that marks the beginning of a new era for Tambour.
©LOUIS VUITTON
Tambour
2,618,000 yen (tax included)
Stainless steel case, 40 mm diameter, 8.3 mm thick. Gray dial. Small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. White gold hands, numerals, and indices. Hands and numerals are coated with Super-LumiNova(R). Anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Self-winding mechanical movement, caliber LFT023, 30.6 mm diameter, 4.2 mm thick. Visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Hours, minutes and small seconds. 22K rose gold micro-rotor. 50-hour power reserve. 31 jewels. Frequency: 28,800 vph, 4 Hz. Certified chronometer by the Geneva Chronometer Testing Institute. Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp with three invisible blades. Water resistance: 50 m
©LOUIS VUITTON
Tambour
2,618,000 yen (tax included)
Stainless steel case, 40 mm diameter, 8.3 mm thick. Blue dial. Small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. White gold hands, numerals, and indices. Hands and numerals coated with Super-LumiNova(R). Anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Automatic mechanical movement, caliber LFT023, 30.6 mm diameter, 4.2 mm thick. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. Hours, minutes and small seconds. 22K rose gold micro-rotor. 50-hour power reserve. 31 jewels. Frequency: 28,800 vph, 4 Hz. Certified chronometer by the Geneva Chronometer Testing Institute. Stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp with three invisible blades. Water resistant to 50 m. Contact: Louis Vuitton Client Service: T 0120 00 1854
©LOUIS VUITTONJean Arnault, Director of Watches, said: "Twenty years after the introduction of a bold watchmaking design based on the iconic Tambour shape, Louis Vuitton further expands its watch collection with this new timepiece, showcasing an unprecedented level of refinement in every aspect, while maintaining the modernity, elegance, and functionality that have been the Maison's cornerstones for over 160 years." The new Tambour is available in two steel versions, highlighting its desirability for everyday wear. The reimagined collection features two models, one with a silver-gray dial and the other with a contrasting deep blue dial. This enhanced Tambour also features two new Louis Vuitton firsts: an integrated bracelet and a new, original automatic movement, beautifully designed and crafted by Louis Vuitton's in-house watchmaking atelier, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Jean Arnault, Director of Watches, said: "With this launch, we aim to write a new chapter in the Maison's watchmaking history by creating a watch that is unmistakably Louis Vuitton in style and is backed by the utmost in watchmaking craftsmanship."
©LOUIS VUITTONForm and Function
What characterizes the Tambour watch? Its rounded, curved case, engraved with the 12 letters of LOUIS VUITTON, and its substantial volume, crafted with an architectural approach to size and proportions, remain. The reimagined Tambour retains all of these characteristics and more, further enhanced by refined details. The new Tambour explores design in every aspect. This is design in its truest sense, not just in aesthetic terms, but also in purpose and intent. It begins with a modern form, with a completely unisex 40mm diameter, 8.3mm thick case, grounded in contemporary morphology and designed to fit the contours of any wrist. The new Tambour's integrated bracelet, a first for Louis Vuitton, combines robustness with fluidity. Its slim, curved links fit snugly and comfortably around the wrist, rivaling the exceptionally soft leather strap. Everything about the new Tambour is centered on its design. Everything has meaning and a reason: every surface on the watch's exterior that touches the skin is designed to conform to the body. The caseback is not flat, but curves upward toward the center of the case, conforming to the natural curve of the forearm as it approaches the wrist. By following the contours of the human arm, the Tambour appears even slimmer than its 8.3mm thickness. The bracelet links, which are convex on both sides, form a rounded shape that maintains a continuous line of contact with the entire wrist.
©LOUIS VUITTON©LOUIS VUITTON©LOUIS VUITTONThe bracelet blends seamlessly with the case. Thanks to its lugless construction, the new Tambour is the only truly circular watch with an integrated bracelet. The bracelet's elegant beauty is completed by an invisible clasp. This is achieved through a three-blade fold-over clasp, located only through subtle clues: the links engraved with "LOUIS VUITTON" and the lack of polished parts separating them. Craftsmanship may be apparent at a glance, but its true value is revealed at a touch. This principle informs the tactile feel of the new Tambour. While matte finishes dominate, there are exceptions, such as the polished beveled edges and central links of the bracelet, or the polished crown. The crown, like the case, is drum-shaped but features soft-touch fluting that makes winding and setting the watch a tactile pleasure. The sandblasted bezel, bordered by a polished finish, bears the Tambour's signature 12-letter "LOUIS VUITTON" inscription. However, this time, only the letters are raised and polished. Each letter, like the hour markers, is meticulously engraved. The new Tambour offers balance and cohesion to the wrist, clarity and precision to the eye.
©LOUIS VUITTON©LOUIS VUITTONLight and lightness
In contrast to the taut curves of the case and bracelet and the smooth tactile design of the new Tambour, the dial features crisp, sharp edges, revealing the fine details of the texture of the Tambour's displays in the light. Despite being just over 1 mm thick, the new Tambour's dial exudes a remarkable sense of depth and three-dimensionality. The polished, stepped chapter ring is comprised of an outer ring for the minutes and an inner ring for the hours, both of which have micro-sandblasted main surfaces. The dial's markers are designed to complement each other spatially: the five-minute markers are recessed, while the hour markers are inset. These differences in height create different lighting effects that the eye automatically detects and quickly reads without needing to pay attention. The gold indexes are diamond-polished for enhanced light interaction, while the Super-LumiNova®-coated numerals and hands ensure the new Tambour remains legible even in dim light. The Tambour's gold hands have evolved from broad baton hands to tapered, faceted, openworked hands, providing more space for the display. The slimmer hands allow the dial to appear wider at all times, contributing to the overall visual and conceptual lightness of the watch. This lightness is also carried over to the tone of the watch itself. The new Tambour expresses its new identity through a central matte-finished dial section bearing the inscription "LOUIS VUITTON PARIS," a nod to the Maison's origins in Paris, founded in 1854. Beneath the small seconds counter, which features a concentric circle pattern, is the inscription "FAB.EN SUISSE," replacing the previous "SWISS MADE" quality guarantee. This subtle change evokes the dials of historic luxury watches from the 1950s and 1960s. Spelled out, the inscription reads "Fabriqué en Suisse" (Swiss Made), alluding to "La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton" and the highest standards of craftsmanship that go into this timepiece: Parisian flair and Swiss expertise united in a single creation.
©LOUIS VUITTON©LOUIS VUITTONMovement and Operation
The new Tambour was created in La Fabrique du Temps, the Maison's watchmaking atelier in Geneva. This was only possible thanks to Louis Vuitton's advanced watchmaking expertise, embodied by "Louis Vuitton." Founded and directed by master watchmakers Enrico Barbasini and Michel Navas, La Fabrique du Temps has brought award-winning horological complications to Louis Vuitton. The new caliber LFT023 not only powers the evolved Tambour, but is also Louis Vuitton's first in-house automatic three-hand movement, designed by the brand in collaboration with movement specialist Le Cercle des Horlogers to embody all of the Maison's design codes, from the openworked barrel cover reminiscent of the Monogram Flower to the micro-rotor featuring a stylized repeating "LV" motif. This unmistakably modern movement features micro-sandblasted bridges, polished edges, and bevels that echo the finishes of the rest of the watch. The circular-grained baseplate echoes traditional movement decoration, while the use of colorless, transparent sapphires instead of the traditional magenta movement rubies affirms the avant-garde visual approach of the Caliber LFT023. The micro-rotor is made of high-inertia 22K gold and is equipped with a 4Hz (28,000 vph) escapement, coupled with a peripheral gear that provides exceptionally efficient winding of the barrel, which has a 50-hour power reserve.
©LOUIS VUITTON©LOUIS VUITTONA chronometer certified to the same performance standards applied by the industry's leading watchmakers, the Caliber LFT023 is accurate to within -4 to +6 seconds per day. This certification, awarded by the Geneva-based Chronometer Testing Institute under the patronage of the TIMELAB Foundation, guarantees that Caliber LFT023 complies with the strict specifications of ISO 3159 and the rigorous standards of timekeeping precision. Louis Vuitton is the first watchmaking company to have its watches certified through the Consejo Chronometer Testing Institute, demonstrating the Maison's ongoing commitment to excellence and quality in contemporary watchmaking. Modern, elegant and meticulously crafted, Caliber LFT023 powers the first models to bear the code for the latest Tambour. These two steel models will be joined by three more models, completing a step that marks the beginning of a new era for Tambour.
©LOUIS VUITTONTambour
2,618,000 yen (tax included)
Stainless steel case, 40 mm diameter, 8.3 mm thick. Gray dial. Small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. White gold hands, numerals, and indices. Hands and numerals are coated with Super-LumiNova(R). Anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Self-winding mechanical movement, caliber LFT023, 30.6 mm diameter, 4.2 mm thick. Visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Hours, minutes and small seconds. 22K rose gold micro-rotor. 50-hour power reserve. 31 jewels. Frequency: 28,800 vph, 4 Hz. Certified chronometer by the Geneva Chronometer Testing Institute. Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp with three invisible blades. Water resistance: 50 m
©LOUIS VUITTONTambour
2,618,000 yen (tax included)
Stainless steel case, 40 mm diameter, 8.3 mm thick. Blue dial. Small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. White gold hands, numerals, and indices. Hands and numerals coated with Super-LumiNova(R). Anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Automatic mechanical movement, caliber LFT023, 30.6 mm diameter, 4.2 mm thick. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. Hours, minutes and small seconds. 22K rose gold micro-rotor. 50-hour power reserve. 31 jewels. Frequency: 28,800 vph, 4 Hz. Certified chronometer by the Geneva Chronometer Testing Institute. Stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp with three invisible blades. Water resistant to 50 m. Contact: Louis Vuitton Client Service: T 0120 00 1854
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