The New Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection (incl. Video)

Since the arrival of Jean Arnault as the head of the watchmaking division of Louis Vuitton, things have changed quickly, with the launch of the new Tambour in 2023, the Escale dress watch in 2024, and multiple automata and métiers d’art watches too. Today, we’ll be talking about what’s possibly the most recognisable high-end watch of LV, a watch, or actually a movement and its display, that’s been part of the collection since 2009, the Spin Time. For 2025, the collection will be entirely revamped with updated designs and new in-house movements, giving birth to the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection.

The Spin Time Concept

This complication was developed by Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini for Louis Vuitton back when the French powerhouse did not yet own La Fabrique du Temps (LFT). The Spin Time concept emerged in 2007 in the minds of Navas and Barbasini, founders of LFT. The idea, a dynamic display using 12 rotating cubes to indicate the hours, was inspired by the overhead flap panels that show timetables in airports – once again connecting these watches with the spirit of travel dear to Vuitton. You can see this display as a three-dimensional reinterpretation of the traditional jumping hour complication.

These 12 cubes, one for each hour, are connected to the central movement using arms. These cubes rotate every 12 hours, thus bearing four faces – two with the hour to be displayed and two with a discreet tone-on-tone background blending in with the rest of the dial. When 60 minutes have passed, the current cube rotates quickly and firmly by 90 degrees and disappears, while the next cube turns 90 degrees to indicate the hour to come with a contrasting background. A central hand indicates the minutes classically. These cubes can either be inserted into a solid dial or are floating, with each of the cubes levitating within the case while the movement is suspended at its centre. The formula is well known since 2009 but will be rejuvenated this year.

Redesigned, the Tambour Taiko Spin Time

Meet the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time collection comprised of six models, all released in limited editions, with four different mechanical bases and new design codes that follow the work started with the Tambour automatic in 2023. 

Still centred on the patented three-dimensional jumping cubes display, the Tambour Taiko Spin Time debuts in 39.5mm and 42.5mm sizes depending on the complication and display, both sharing the new Tambour Taiko case. All are executed in white gold with a dolphin grey colour scheme, including some with dials made of hawk’s eye, a form of grey-blue quartz – once again confirming the trend for stone dials. But more importantly, the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time also inaugurates brand new in-house calibres, including an all-important classic automatic movement that will be used as a base for future developments. 

But let’s start by talking about the design and the redefined Tambour case. A classic since 2002, the Tambour was reimagined in 2023 as a no-lug elegant sports watch. For the Tambour Taiko Spin Time, Louis Vuitton continues with the design language already established but evolves once more to re-integrate lugs and emphasise the drum-like central case. The name Taiko refers to large drums used for ceremonial occasions in Japan, and the drum-shaped case outline has been preserved but has been made smaller and slimmer compared to previous editions of Spin Time. Look closely, and you’ll see that most stylistic elements of the 2023 Tambour have also been kept –  indices, hands, typography and the bezel with the 12 letters of the Louis Vuitton in a much more discreet way. 

Made in-house at La Fabrique du Temps, the case combines convex and concave shapes, polished, brushed and matte surfaces and elegant details such as the sculpted lugs – machined separately and secured with screws to the case middle. 

A new in-house automatic base movement

Louis Vuitton presents four main versions of the Tambour Taiko Spin Time: a classic closed dial, a version with floating cubes, one with a travel time display and finally, a central tourbillon model. Although the four calibres are distinct, they all share the same base movement: a compact automatic calibre developed and manufactured internally at La Fabrique du Temps. 

These movements feature a solid gold rotor with LV in a repeating motif, with the rest of the movement decorated in a modern, appealing way – micro-blasted bridges, polished edges and chamfers, a circular-grained mainplate and transparent jewels instead of conventional magenta rubies. From a technical perspective, the base movement boasts a 45-hour power reserve and a free-sprung balance with inertia blocks beating at 4 hertz. This base calibre serves as a timekeeping ground to power the module on top with the rotating cubes, which have been reworked with curved faces. 

The complication operates on the same principle as before – the instantaneous and simultaneous jump of two cubes –  as the prior hour disappears and the current hour appears. Yet, the brand has reworked the concept of the original Spin Time. Each cube features a patented Maltese cross gear positioned at its base, allowing for more convenience as the watches can now be adjusted backwards and forwards without damaging the movement. A heart-shaped cam ensures a crisp jump of the cubes. Compared to previous editions, the display module has been simplified and is cleverly built – things you can clearly see in our video at the top of the article.

The Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection

As said, the new Spin Time is launched as a collection of four main models, starting with the purest and most compact one, the Tambour Taiko Spin Time. This white gold version, like all the models, measures a reasonably compact 39.5mm diameter with a thickness of 12.15mm. The refined case, with brushed surfaces, hollowed lugs and 12 letters on the bezel, features a closed caseback and is surprisingly versatile, with 100m water-resistance and a tone-on-tone rubber strap. 

This classic version is also the most discreet of them all, with its closed and streamlined dial. The dolphin grey base is brushed with applied markers, white gold hands, and the 12 cubes that are inserted within this base. Because the base is closed, this is also the version where you can best see the curved profile of the cubes. These have classic numerals from 1 to 12, and the current hour is highlighted in silver. This version is limited to 150 pieces and priced at EUR 80,000.

There is also a gem-set version with 4.30 carats of baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, lugs and dial, matched with a dial centre in falcon eye stone. This edition is limited to 50 pieces and priced at EUR 160,000.

Quick facts: 39.5mm x 12.15mm – white gold case – sapphire crystal, closed back – screw-down crown, 100m water-resistance – closed dial in dolphin grey, white gold markers and hands – calibre LFT ST13.01, in-house automatic, 28,800vph, 45h power reverse, 246 components – integrated rubber strap with 18k white gold pin buckle – ref. W9WG62 (no stones), 150 pieces, EUR 80,000 – ref. W9WG52 (diamonds), 50 pieces, EUR 160,000

Next up is the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air, a larger version that uses the rather emblematic style of the collection, where the cubes are suspended in thin air, almost levitating within the case while the movement is suspended in the centre. This Air version is larger and comes in a 42.5mm x 12.45mm white gold case. It features sapphire crystals on both sides to create this suspended effect, but it also reveals the automatic movement on the back.

The movement is lodged at the centre of the timepiece, allowing the cubes to float like satellites. The movement is essentially the same as the closed version but features cubes mounted on longer shafts to support the levitating display. This Spin Time Air version is presented on a beige calfskin leather strap. A specificity of the Air model is to be seen on the cubes; they don’t feature numerals but the 12 letters of Louis Vuitton instead. This version is limited to 150 pieces and priced at EUR 90,000.

Again, there’s a jewelled model with over 1,000 diamonds arranged in a snow setting and a hawk’s eye chapter ring. This limited edition of 30 pieces is priced at EUR 160,000.

Quick facts: 42.5mm x 12.45mm – white gold case – sapphire crystals on both sides – 50m water-resistant – sunray dial in dolphin grey, white gold markers and hands – calibre LFT ST13.01, in-house automatic, 28,800vph, 45h power reverse, 246 components – beige calfskin leather strap with 18k white gold pin buckle – ref. W9WG41 (no stones), 150 pieces, EUR 90,000 – ref. W9WG31 (diamonds), 30 pieces, EUR 160,000

Then we have the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode, an innovative take on the world time watch. With a jumping hours mechanism in the middle, this watch also indicates the time across the world’s 24 time zones simultaneously with a day-night indication. A conventional 360-degree hand indicates the minutes, while the hours are displayed by an arrowhead pointer in yellow. The pointer is mounted on a rotating disc bearing a world map.

The world time function uses the 12 rotating cubes, and the hour numeral adjacent to each cube indicates the time in the two cities on each cube – and not only does it offer a rather spectacular way to indicate time zones, but each cube has two colours, with the background indicating if it’s day or night time. The city pairs on each cube are exactly 12 time zones apart. For instance, when it’s midnight in Los Angeles, it is midday in Dubai.

The Spin Time Antipode is housed in a 42.5mm x 12.45mm white gold case, powered by the same automatic base movement. Of course, the display module and the cubes have been reworked to accommodate the traveller’s complication. This version is limited to only 50 pieces and comes at EUR 110,000.

Quick facts: 42.5mm x 12.45mm – white gold case – sapphire crystals on both sides – 50m water-resistant – sunray dial in dolphin grey, world map in galvanic growth, white gold markers and hands – calibre LFT ST12.01, in-house automatic, 28,800vph, 45h power reverse, 271 components, jumping central hours, world timer – beige calfskin leather strap with 18k white gold pin buckle – ref. W9WG21, 50 pieces, EUR 110,000

The final version is the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon, which combines the floating display of the Spin Time Air with a central flying tourbillon regulator. The base automatic movement has been deeply reworked to integrate this central tourbillon – the going train was rearranged to locate the tourbillon on the dial, but the minutes hand also had to be positioned under and around the tourbillon. The latter is housed in a cage in the form of a Monogram flower, and the lower steel plate is polished to show the underside of the carriage.

This Tourbillon version of the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air retains the same case, measuring 42.5mm x 12.45mm, with a dolphin grey dial, white gold hands and markers and cubes that exhibit numerals. The price will be EUR 190,000, and only 70 examples of this spectacular watch will be made.

Quick facts: 42.5mm x 12.45mm – white gold case – sapphire crystals on both sides – 50m water-resistant – sunray dial in dolphin grey, white gold markers and hands – calibre LFT ST05.01, in-house automatic, 28,800vph, 45h power reverse, 283 components, central flying tourbillon – beige calfskin leather strap with 18k white gold pin buckle – ref. W9WG11, 70 pieces, EUR 190,000

For more details, please visit LouisVuitton.com.