Louis Vuitton sets sail for glory
THE great fashion and luxury house Louis Vuitton is becoming an ever growing force – if a relatively niche one – in watchmaking. Its models, all based around a highly recogniseable “tambour” – meaning “drum” – shape, frequently exhibit something of a nautical theme thanks to the brand’s longterm involvement in the America’s Cup.
As it happens, watches for sailing regattas occupy their own little space in the sports watch firmament. What marks them out is a display for counting down the final minutes before the start of the race, normally marking off ten minutes before start time by coloured sections. Louis Vuitton’s latest piece, the Tambour Regatta America’s Cup Automatic (pictured left), however, has a five-minute countdown to account for new rules in the grand competition. A flyback chronograph with black rubber moulded over its steel case and 42 hour power reserve, it is limited to 720 pieces. £6,600 www.louisvuitton.com