This exquisite timepiece, born from a remarkable partnership between La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and the renowned architect Frank Gehry, is a masterpiece of high watchmaking. Drawing inspiration from Gehry’s iconic Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, this transparent watch showcases an unparalleled view of its flying tourbillon movement, meticulously crafted and assembled at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and adorned with the prestigious Poinçon de Genève seal.
Embarking on his first foray into high watchmaking, Gehry, after designing landmark buildings for Louis Vuitton in Paris and Seoul, embraced the challenge to create the Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry. The development process, spanning two years of collaboration with Louis Vuitton, culminated in a watch that transcends the boundaries of transparency, embodying the architectural genius of Gehry within a compact 48.3 millimeter diameter.
Gehry’s design for the dial, influenced by the fluid glass facade of the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, captures the essence of movement and fluidity, resembling the sails of a boat caught in the breeze. This effect was achieved by crumpling a photograph of the 2022 Tambour Moon Saphir, creating a dial that resonates with the themes of the sea and nautical adventure that Gehry holds dear.
To translate Gehry’s architectural vision into the realm of high watchmaking, sapphire was chosen for its clarity and durability. Crafting the watch’s transparent case and dial involved sculpting a single block of sapphire into a miniaturized version of Gehry’s architectural marvels, showcasing textured light effects that mirror his signature style.
The dial, one of the most challenging creations of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, required 250 hours of meticulous handcrafting to achieve its paper-thin sculpture. The use of medical tools for precision and diamond powder for matting, along with the expertise of the artisans, highlights the extraordinary skill involved in its production.
The Tambour Moon Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire features a manufacture flying tourbillon LFT MM05.01 movement, entirely produced by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton’s master watchmakers in Geneva. This movement is showcased within a sapphire glass case, allowing every detail of the mechanism to be admired, from the chamfered and satin finishes to the two-toned, openworked calibre.
With an 80-hour power reserve, this hand-wound movement includes a Monogram Flower in the tourbillon carriage, completing a full rotation every minute. Gehry’s signature on the case back adds a personal touch to this timepiece, embodying Louis Vuitton’s dedication to innovation and boldness through the vision of a pioneering architect.