A Closer Look: Louis Vuitton X Frank Gehry Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon

The recently released Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry watch represents a fusion of haute horlogerie and architectural brilliance, a testament to the collaborative ingenuity between Louis Vuitton’s La Fabrique du Temps and the visionary architect Frank Gehry. This timepiece emerges as a true masterpiece, drawing inspiration from Gehry’s iconic architectural designs, notably the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul.

At the heart of this horological marvel lies a flying tourbillon caliber, meticulously crafted and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, adorned with the prestigious Poinçon de Genève seal, a mark of exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Gehry’s design ethos, characterized by fluidity and dynamism, finds expression in the transparent architecture of the watch, offering an unobstructed view of the intricate tourbillon movement within.

The collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Gehry was not merely a partnership but a creative journey spanning two years, marked by intensive discussions and meticulous design considerations. Gehry’s vision for the timepiece draws from his architectural repertoire, particularly the rippling glass structures he designed for Louis Vuitton  —  evoking a sense of weightlessness and motion akin to sails billowing in the wind.

Transposing Gehry’s architectural signature into a horological masterpiece demanded innovation and precision. Sapphire, renowned for its hardness and transparency, was chosen to craft the case and dial, allowing Gehry’s distinctive textures and light effects to come to life. Each component, including the case, dial, crown, lugs, and hands, was meticulously cut from a single 200-kilo block of sapphire, a feat requiring 250 hours of meticulous craftsmanship.

The dial, a true miniature sculpture, embodies Gehry’s asymmetric forms and curved swirls, painstakingly sculpted by hand to replicate his architectural motifs. Satin and matte finishes, achieved through delicate diamond polishing, enhance the interplay of light on the sapphire surface, drawing attention to the mesmerizing tourbillon movement at its center.

The Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon is powered by the manufacture flying tourbillon LFT MM05.01 movement, developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva. This mechanical marvel, equipped with an 80-hour power reserve, features Gehry’s signature glass sails within the tourbillon carriage, symbolizing movement and dynamism.

As a tribute to Gehry’s pioneering spirit, his signature graces the case back, underscoring the exceptional nature of this collaboration. The Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry is more than a timepiece; it’s a work of art that encapsulates Louis Vuitton’s ethos of innovation and Gehry’s architectural brilliance in miniature form.

Tech Specs: Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry

Case

• Case, lugs and crown in sapphire
• Frank Gehry’s signature engraved on the case-back • 43.8 mm diameter
• 11.27 mm thickness
• Anti-reflection sapphire crystal
• Water-resistant to 30 m

Dial

• Sapphire, polished and mattified by hand, inspired by Frank Gehry’s architectural works
• Sapphire hands, outline in HyCeram® Luminex (luminescent pigments)

Movement

• Calibre LFTMM05.01: mechanical movement with manual winding developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton
• “Poinçon de Genève” certification, visible on the central bridge
• Functions: skeleton flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, Monogram flower tourbillon cage rotating in one minute
• 160 components
• 80 hours of power reserve
• 21,600 vibrations per hour
• 17 jewels

Strap

• White taurillon leather strap

Buckle

• Rose gold folding buckle