Louis Vuitton X Frank Gehry Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Sapphire

Louis Vuitton has recently introduced a High Watchmaking timepiece inan extraordinary collaboration with acclaimed architect Frank Gehry. Encased in a crystal-clear sapphire crystal, the watch showcases the intricacy of its internal workings, including rose gold- and rhodium-plated gears, a meticulously detailed plate, and a captivating flying tourbillon. This launch follows Gehry’s acclaimed handbag collection for Louis Vuitton, unveiled at Art Basel Miami in 2023, and joins the prestigious ranks of the Louis Vuitton High Watchmaking series. Significantly, each piece within this exclusive series receives the esteemed Poinçon de Genève certification, a testament to the superior craftsmanship and finishing of every component crafted by the independent institution in Geneva.

Drawing inspiration from Gehry’s architectural marvels—the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul—the watch reflects Gehry’s innovative designs, marking his first foray into High Watchmaking. Notably, this timepiece is distinguished as the inaugural watch featuring both a sapphire dial and case to be graced with the Poinçon de Genève seal, a hallmark of unparalleled quality and craftsmanship, created, developed, and assembled by the master artisans and watchmakers at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva.

Frank Gehry’s influence on the watch’s design is profoundly inspired by his visionary work on the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, where he envisioned a rippling glass structure that elegantly hovers above the building’s roof, reminiscent of sailboats gliding across the water. This design ethos, rooted in the natural movement and dynamism of the maritime world, is ingeniously miniaturized in the watch, encapsulating Gehry’s architectural philosophy in a wearable art form limited to just five exquisite pieces.

Gehry’s passion for capturing the essence of movement, speed, and fluidity in static materials is eloquently expressed in his statement at the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul’s grand opening, highlighting his profound connection to the sea and nautical elements as sources of inspiration. The creation of the watch required over 250 hours of meticulous craftsmanship by the artisans at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. The watch’s crystalline face is masterfully carved from a single 200-kilo block of sapphire, renowned as the second hardest material on Earth, next only to diamond.

The painstaking process involved in sculpting the dial—a feat of engineering and artistry no thicker than a sheet of paper—showcases the extraordinary skill and dedication of Louis Vuitton’s craftsmen. The use of specialized medical tools was imperative to accurately replicate the complex asymmetrical shapes and swirling curves that echo Gehry’s architectural signature, resulting in a piece that is not only a marvel of High Watchmaking but also a testament to Gehry’s architectural genius.

The final masterpiece reveals the inner beauty of the rose gold- and rhodium-plated gears, plate, and flying tourbillon through the transparent sapphire glass, accentuated by the intricate chamfering and satin finishes. With an 80-hour power reserve, the hand-wound mechanical movement intricately displays a Monogram Flower within the tourbillon carriage, seamlessly blending Louis Vuitton’s iconic design language with Gehry’s architectural prowess. Gehry’s signature, alongside the prestigious Poinçon de Genève seal on the case back, marks the exclusivity and innovative spirit of this timepiece.