The Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LVKV-02 GMR 6

As we’ve seen with current initiatives, issues are shifting quick at Louis Vuitton’s watch division. Along with the basic assortment, with the Tambour, Spin Time and Escale watches, the model has demonstrated quite spectacular experience in excessive watchmaking, with its automata and metiers d’artwork fashions. However there’s additionally a robust reference to unbiased watchmakers, exemplified by the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Impartial Creatives, or the current relaunch of the Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth manufacturers. Lastly, there are collaborations between Louis Vuitton and a number of the most famous unbiased watchmakers, an idea that began in late 2023 with the Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie. It’s now time for the second chapter, this time with Finnish-born watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, as LV presents a tantalum/platinum Escale watch powered by a splendid Voutilainen motion, the LVKV-02 GMR 6.

The connection between LV and indies is getting stronger and stronger, fueled by the fervour of its director of watches, Jean Arnault, for high-end watches. Kari Voutilainen, who wants no introduction anymore, is likely one of the most revered and revered indie watchmakers of its era, began his solo journey in 2002, the identical 12 months Louis Vuitton launched the Tambour watch. Kari Voutilainen is understood for its advanced and fantastically completed watches, mixing conventional horology (direct-impulse escapement, guilloché dial, basic ornament) with signature problems completed in low manufacturing numbers – nicely under 100 watches a 12 months. He’s additionally a member of the committee of consultants of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Impartial Creatives, and the proceeds of this collaboration watch between Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen will contribute to supporting indie watchmaking and the Prize itself… The very trigger that impressed the “Louis cruises with…” sequence. And cruising with Rexhep Rexhepi, founding father of Atelier Akrivia, Louis is now cruising with Kari.

The Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LVKV-02 GMR 6

What are we right here…? Properly, a watch that mixes components of each basic Louis Vuitton design components, with its metier’s d’artwork experience, and inside a motion completed by Kari Voutilainen. Sound interesting, proper? Let’s test this new LVKV-02 GMR 6 intimately.

This Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen being a GMT watch, it was solely pure for it to be housed in a case that exudes journey, specifically the Escale watch – a reputation that may be translated as stopover and a watch that has been just lately revamped. Primarily based on the design of this renewed assortment, the LVKV-02 is housed in a 40.5mm case that’s designed with LV trunks in thoughts, specifically the lugs, an allusion to the angles and brass brackets discovered on many Vuitton creations. What’s particular about this version is the mixture of supplies, as the center case is finished in tantalum – a darkish gray, very onerous metallic – whereas the bezel, lugs, again and octagonal crown are completed in polished 950 platinum. The case is solely completed by hand, particularly the lugs with polished and satin-finished surfaces, and inner angles, in addition to the satin-brushed tantalum case aspect (requiring 4 hours of hand work).

This travel-oriented Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen measures 12.54mm in thickness, however Kari’s actions have by no means been identified for being the thinnest… As mentioned, the selection of an Escale case was solely pure, since this assortment created in 2014 was launched as a world-time mannequin, with a dial that includes 24 metropolis areas adorned with miniature-painted vibrant flags or blazons, traditionally used to establish the house owners of LV’s trunks. The platinum caseback of the LV x Kari, with a sapphire crystal, is engraved with “Louis cruises with Kari” to recall the collaborative effort behind this watch.

The dial of the LVKV-02 GMR 6 merges the abilities of each events to the sport, with basic LV and Kari options. Beginning with the periphery of the dial, there’s a round brushed, darkish gray ring with dotted minutes. The, now we have a basic LV Escale theme with an hour chapter ring adorned with miniature work completed by Marysa Bossy, an artisan of La Fabrique des Arts (the metiers d’artwork workshop of LV). The diamond sample is finished by utilizing 28 totally different colors – all utilized individually by hand – and requires 32 hours of portray and eight hours of firing. It was completed in a mode that echoes historical stained-glass home windows, with white gold Roman numerals utilized on prime, within the basic Voutilainen type.

Then, the central a part of the dial is typical Voutilainen. The stable gold base is hand-guilloché by Kari’s workshop with an intricate sample of scales, utilizing historical machines managed by expert artisans. The Voutilainen workshop can be chargeable for the solar and moon disc that serves as a day-and-night indicator on the second time zone sub-dial. It’s first hand-engraved after which enamelled utilizing blue and saffron LV colors, with a gradient impact. A better inspection reveals the hid shapes of LV’s monogram flower and stylized solar rays. Today-and-night indicator in addition to the GMT operate with its 24-hour disc is framed by a small seconds observe. And a retrograde energy reserve indicator will be discovered on this advanced dial too at 12 o’clock – all paying homage to the Kari Voutilainen GMR watch.

The palms, in blued metal and white gold, are additionally completed by the Voutilainen workshop, with the basic and really interesting open-eye tip, and a brand new brand has been particularly designed for the event – it combines the basic LV brand with the Voutilainen title, the second of the intertwined initials serving as the primary letter of Voutilainen.

Haute Horologerie motion by Voutilainen

On the coronary heart of the Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LVKV-02 GMR 6 is a base motion that many will instantly acknowledge, the basic GMT hand-wound motion of Kari with two direct-impulse escapement wheels, and as you’d count on, a stunningly detailed ornament. The R within the GMR-6 refers back to the presence of the ability reserve indicator, whereas the 6 denotes the situation of the second time zone sub-dial – as mentioned, this show is a basic of the Voutilainen workshop, mixing components already seen in Kari’s GMR watch and the GMT-6 mannequin. Its GMT disc rotates in 24 hours and is designed to be set to dwelling time, whereas the primary hour hand signifies the native time. The latter will be adjusted by one-hour increments by urgent the crown, making it a real traveller’s GMT watch.

The motion itself depends on the Twenty-8 structure, a 30mm hand-wound motion with a big barrel, two direct-impulse escapement wheels in blued metal (for enhanced longevity, stability, effectivity and improved chronometric outcomes), an outsized steadiness wheel with gold adjustment weights, a steadiness spring with Phillips terminal curve and Grossmann inside curve and a frequency of two.5Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour). Comprising 254 elements, the LVoutilainen motion is made utilizing German silver for the primary plate and bridges, in addition to stable gold wheels and is finished virtually solely in-house by Voutilainen’s workshop. The motion boasts 65h of energy energy reserve when absolutely wound.

The motion is historically completed, utilizing Geneva stripes and perlage on the primary plate, giant anglages completed by hand, a rounded black polished steadiness bridge, and every thing else you’d count on from a motion of this stage. However then Vuitton provides its contact to the calibre, with the white gold mainspring cowl adorned with a multi-coloured miniature portray. As soon as once more, that is completed at La Fabrique des Arts, with 27 totally different paint colors and 5 kiln periods.

The ultimate touches

Every of the 5 (sure, solely 5 of those watches will likely be made) Louis Vuitton x Kari Voutilainen LVKV-02 GMR 6 will likely be delivered with two straps, a gray cloth strap and an anthracite alligator strap, closed by a platinum pin buckle.

The watches will likely be delivered in a bespoke Louis Vuitton journey trunk, made by hand within the model’s workshop in Asnières, France. As soon as the construction is finished, with Monogram Eclipse canvas, the tranks are then handed over to specialised artisans who hand-paint the trunks with a design that mirrors the dial of the LV x Kari watch, in addition to the signature “Louis cruises with Kari” to seal this collaboration.

The value is EUR 550,000. For extra particulars, please go to louisvuitton.com and voutilainen.ch.