But with Tambour , Louis Vuitton entered into high-end watchmaking with serious intent and long-term goals that , twenty years later , have successfully steered the fashion house to be recognized as a peer among the world ’ s leading makers of high-end watches .
TAMBOUR TWENTY To celebrate the importance of the Tambour collection to its success as a high-end watchmaker , Louis Vuitton this year launches the Tambour Twenty , a limited edition chronograph of 200 pieces that pays tribute to the original Tambour .
For the limited edition , Louis Vuitton revives the original Tambour ’ s deep , flared steel case that widens at its base ( tambour is French for drum ). The celebratory watch is again engraved around its 41.5mm case with the twelve-letter Louis Vuitton name , with each letter corresponding to each hour marker .
And as on the original series , the new limited edition model features a sun-ray brushed brown dial that displays seconds with a long yellow seconds hand colored to echo the threads Louis Vuitton utilizes in much of its leatherwork .
While ETA-based movements powered the original Tambour time-only and GMT models in the premiere series twenty years ago , Louis Vuitton strategically teamed with its sister company Zenith to supply the base movement for the first Tambour chronograph . That movement , the LV277 , based on a Zenith El Primero caliber , again powers the new watch , offering the high-frequency , tenth-ofa-second precision built-in to Zenith ’ s famed series .
FALL 2022 | INTERNATIONAL WRISTWATCH | 71