A magical watch where the movement appears to float at its center

Louis Vuitton's new release this year, the "Tambour Mystérieuses." It's a magical mystery watch that makes the hour and minute hands seem to float. This playful timepiece was created by Gérald Genta, who is responsible for mechanical movement design at Louis Vuitton's "Atelier d'Horlogerie Louis Vuitton." Genta also designed the distinctive "Tambour Orientation" watch with its integrated compass.

"I wanted to create a mysterious, enigmatic watch," Genta explains. This watch, with its intriguing mechanism, secures the central movement with three crystal discs. The uppermost disc, with gears on its outer edge, is directly connected to the crown for time setting, while a second disc, also connected to the crown, winds the mainspring.

"It was a very challenging task to miniaturize the movement, which is normally arranged horizontally, and fit everything in. Moreover, this watch has a tiered movement and boasts an 8-day power reserve despite its small size. Developing the case was also difficult, as it plays a role in the mechanism."



Crafting watches that give form to "creativity"

A key feature of the "Tambour Mystérieuses" is its customizability to the owner's taste. From the case material to the choice of whether to add jewelry or initials, every detail can be selected. Genta notes that this meticulous attention to detail is quintessentially Louis Vuitton.


"This watch even has facets on the jewels. As we progressed with the watchmaking, I realized that 'Louis Vuitton' means not overlooking even the smallest detail. Although Louis Vuitton's serious foray into watchmaking is recent, I believe their approach to watchmaking stems from the concept of giving form to 'creativity.' Everything, starting with the movement, was achieved through teamwork. This watch, with its hidden technology beneath a mysterious exterior, truly tells its own story just by being seen."

There are countless reasons for choosing a watch. Perhaps it's for practicality, to match one's fashion, or to signify status. However, for a luxury watch, it can be rewarding to choose one that satisfies the owner's "playfulness" rather than just fulfilling a purpose. With this original timepiece, Louis Vuitton has articulated its vision of what constitutes a luxury watch.