Louis Vuitton heads for the future with the new Tambour Curve

The iconic Tambour with a brand-new concept This lightweight, openwork rather than skeletonized design, controlled by a flying tourbillon belongs to a new generation of intensely masculine watches. It brings to life a new timepiece that has been reinvented down to the last detail: from the caliber and materials to the caseband, strap and folding clasp. Assembled and finished by hand, it bears the prestigious Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève) at 6 o’clock. Inspired by the Möbius strip, the case now has a stretched, elongated shape. Its convex surface is enclosed in a circle, which takes one’s imagination on a never-ending journey. With a diameter of 46mm, the timepiece deconstructs the circle to become a shape in its own right. From the side, the caseband reveals a continuous curve from one attachment to the other and appears round from above. It follows the natural curve of the wrist to perfection.

The master watchmakers of la Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton have combined cutting edge technologies with traditional fine watchmaking expertise. The Tambour Curve Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève is encased in ultra-lightweight, resistant technical materials used in aeronautics. The outer part of the case is made from CarboStratum®, a composite material developed exclusively for Louis Vuitton. It is produced by layering over 100 assorted sheets of carbon at random. The combined layers are then compressed at a controlled temperature. Once stabilized, this ultra-rigid material is then milled using next generation multidimensional machines. Once finished, this carbon overlay fits neatly over a grade 5 titanium base. Finally, lugs made from micro-machined, extruded titanium are set in the CarboStratum® case to create a perfectly coherent ensemble.

A true ode to kinetics, the Tambour Curve Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève timepiece features an innovative mechanical movement with 80 hours of power reserve and a tourbillon regulator. Designed and crafted by master watchmakers at la Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, the geometric openwork of the construction draws the eye to the titanium tourbillon carriage. Taking pride of place at 9 o’clock, the carriage is inspired by one of the motifs of the famous Louis Vuitton Monogram. Another of the House’s signatures, the initials LV are perfectly integrated through a skillful play on architectural transparencies in surroundings that reflect the art of beveling. The model is awarded the Poinçon de Genève, the most prestigious certification of origin, beautiful craftsmanship and reliability.