Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Louis Vuitton Voyager Skeleton
The slender Voyager case gets the attention it deserves with this new skeletonised reference.
Tambour may be the name that is rightfully associated with Louis Vuitton watches, as the drum-shaped case dominates in the luxury giant’s watches catalogue. Still, Tambour, with its variations like Tambour Curve and Tambour Moon, is not the only shape that constitutes the offer. A few years back, the Voyager case, house to the Louis Vuitton Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève, was chosen to represent the GMT models and now seems reserved for special occasions only. Like the launch of the new Voyager Skeleton, which is here to highlight Louis Vuitton’s expertise in openworked movements.
The Voyager case is a beautiful creation, with an attractive round shape that seems oval and sometimes even square. It has a monobloc construction, so the middle part and the bezel are one piece. The curves and different finishes on its surfaces, mirror-polished and brushed, provide a perfect and luxurious (Pt 950) frame to enjoy the functional beauty of the open-worked calibre.
The new skeletonised movement LV60 fits perfectly into the distinctive 41mm Voyager case as it was created for this particular model. The Calibre LV60’s architecture is designed within the stylistic codes of the Maison to remind nothing less than the exceptional forms of the Fondation Louis Vuitton building by Frank Gehry. And the movement spells Louis Vuitton, like the brand’s most leather goods, with LV-shaped bridges, LV-decorated tungsten micro-rotor and a “Louis Vuitton” cut-out ratchet wheel. But it somehow remains quite discreet.
This movement is the brand’s first automatic time-only skeleton calibre; it beats at a frequency of 28,800vph and has 48 hours of power reserve. Designed and developed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, an in-house, Geneva-based specialist atelier, this calibre was manufactured in partnership with Le Cercle des Horlogers out of Neuchâtel – LV must be praised for communicating this and not usurping all the laurels.
The Voyager Skeleton movement’s decoration aligns with expectations as we remember the exquisite finish done on the openworked Louis Vuitton Poinçon de Genève watches, Tambour Curve Flying Tourbillon and Voyager Flying Tourbillon. The LV-shaped bridges show fine linear graining on the top and sandblasted finish on the caseback side, with chamfered edges. The rhodium-plated parts make the watch look very monochromatic. This feeling is enhanced by the contrasting deep blue-coloured minute ring on the dial’s periphery and the pair of semi-skeletonised hands for hours and minutes, with their blue contour.
The caseback is transparent, and the sight is no less spectacular than the dial, especially if you enjoy viewing the mechanism at work. Still, with the Voyager Skeleton, you can enjoy the dial side equally, if not much more. Louis Vuitton invites you to guess the power left for the watch to properly function by looking at the mainspring coils or paying attention to the arrangement of the coils so as not to miss the moment to wind your Voyager Skeleton.
The new Louis Vuitton Voyager Skeleton is offered with two straps, a navy blue alligator leather strap and a taurillon leather strap, closed with a platinum ardillon buckle. The watch will be a limited edition of 150 pieces, costing EUR 48,000. Another series may be released in material other than platinum, but this is only a guess. For more information on Louis Vuitton watchmaking, please visit www.louisvuitton.com.
