Louis Vuitton combines an exclusive high watchmaking caliber with a striking vanitas motif to create the Tambour Carpe Diem, a meticulously crafted spectacle of awe. This masterful timepiece marks a new chapter in the history of Jacquemart watches. Louis Vuitton, which has crafted numerous special-order bespoke watches incorporating hidden automata, decided to reveal the secrets of mechanical clocks through a one-of-a-kind model and embarked on development. Two years later, the Tambour Carpe Dième has been added to the Maison's watch collection. Michel Navas, Master Watchmaker at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the Maison's watchmaking atelier, explains, "Our goal was to create a model that no one could have imagined. We wanted to create a Jacquemart watch that reflects the Maison's vision for the 21st century by channeling all the energy and creativity that has characterized Louis Vuitton since the launch of its watch department in 2002." Originally, the term "Jacquemart" referred to the automaton that chimed the time in church clock towers, where mechanical figures struck bells. However, as watchmakers began incorporating miniature Jacquemarts into timepieces, their role primarily shifted to adding a touch of playfulness to decorative dials, while the hands continued to indicate the hours.

Louis Vuitton wanted to restore the Jacquemart to its original function. To that end, the framework of the Tambour Carpe Diem was built around two key pillars: the exquisite caliber and the automaton's inherent role of telling the hours instead of the hands. The result is a one-of-a-kind timepiece in which, with the press of a push-button, a miniature theater unfolds on the dial, featuring a skull and a snake playing the role of Jacquemart.

In addition to the exquisite intricacy of its mechanism, which embodies the pinnacle of high watchmaking, the Tambour Carpe Diem's design incorporates the art historical theme of vanitas in a positive yet rebellious manner, emanating a truly distinctive character.


Watchmaking Performance
Not content with simply having this model accurately tell the passage of time, Louis Vuitton decided to incorporate complications. As a result, the Tambour Carpe Diem incorporates four complications: a jumping hour, a retrograde minute, a power reserve display, and an automaton. "To create a powerful mechanical movement that could integrate all four complications, which had never been combined before, and ensure the smooth functioning of each…was no small challenge," recalls Michel Navas.

The Tambour Carpe Diem displays the time on demand. To achieve this, simply press the snake-shaped pusher on the right side of the case. The central snake's head lifts, revealing an hour window carved into the skull's forehead. At the same time, the snake's tail swings and points to the minute display beneath the power-reserve hourglass.

A Monogram Flower appears in one eye socket, while the skull's jaw forms a teasing smile, revealing the Latin phrase "Carpe Diem," meaning "seize the day." These words, from a poem by the ancient Roman poet Horace, evoke a call to cherish each passing day. This remarkable spectacle, lasting 16 seconds, is all the more astounding given the breathtakingly smooth movements of both the snake and the skull.

Entirely developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the LV525 caliber is a testament to the technical excellence of high watchmaking and is currently subject to multiple patent applications. Another unique feature of the Tambour Carpe Diem is its movement design. Visible through the skeletonized case back, the caliber is assembled in the shape of a skull, echoing the vanitas motif on the dial.


A Refined, Contemporary Aesthetic
Since the 15th century, skulls, crossbones, and hourglasses have been depicted on pocket watches and grandfather clocks as allegories of the passing of time. To update this vanitas image, Louis Vuitton reinterpreted each element for a contemporary look, commissioning top Swiss craftsman Anita Porcher for the enamel and Dick Steenman for the engraving. The enameling of the snake and dial took more than 50 hours. Bringing the snake, which appears in profile atop the case's push-button, Dick Steenman meticulously hand-engraved the gold to perfectly evoke the snake's slithering motion. Incredibly intricately carved gold skulls, snakes, and hourglasses complement Louis Vuitton's timeless and contemporary emblems. For example, the Monogram flower is engraved into the skull, tattooed on the snake's scales, and appears blood-red in the skull's eye sockets. The precision, transparency and vibrant colours of the enamel – particularly in the skull's teeth, which appear to astonishing effect and are so lifelike – emphasise the three-dimensional feel of the dial. Even when the time is not displayed, the characters in the Tambour Carpe Diem playhouse seem poised to come to life at any moment, celebrating the value of living each day individually.


Movement
・LV525 Caliber: Hand-wound mechanical movement developed and assembled at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton
・Jacquemart mechanism with four mechanisms, jumping hour, retrograde minute hand, power reserve indicator
・Number of parts: 426
・Power reserve: 100 hours
・Voltage frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour
・Number of jewels: 48

Case
・Case and lugs made of 18K pink gold
Hand-carved 18K pink gold crown, push buttons and push buttons set with two rubies
- Case diameter: 46.8mm
- Thickness: 14.42mm
- Domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 30M

Dial
- Enamelling and miniature hand-painting by Anita Porcher (dial, snake and teeth)
- Hand-engraving by Dick Steenman (dial, snake, skull, teeth and hourglass)
- Glass-engraved hourglass
- Dial set with a brilliant-cut diamond

Strap
- Black alligator strap

Buckle
- 18K pink gold folding buckle

Box
- High Watchmaking Trunk

Set with one brilliant-cut diamond (up to 0.02 carats) and two rubies (up to 0.01 carats)

[About Louis Vuitton]
Since its founding in 1854, Louis Vuitton has consistently offered distinctive designs that combine innovation and style, always with the finest quality. Today, through its travel luggage, bags, accessories, and other products, Louis Vuitton remains true to the spirit of "the essence of travel" created by its founder, Louis Vuitton: creative, elegant, and practical. Boldness has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Respecting tradition, throughout history, the brand has opened its doors to architects, artists, and designers, expanding into a wide range of fields, including fashion items and fine jewelry. These meticulously crafted products are a testament to Louis Vuitton's commitment to craftsmanship.

[Contact Information]
Louis Vuitton Client Service
0120-00-1854

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