New Launch: Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Watches

Persevering with its transformation to a real high-horology model, Louis Vuitton this yr for LVMH Watch Week 2025 has launched 6 information fashions of its fascinating Spin Time assortment. The brand new fashions, dubbed the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time watches observe on from 2023’s introduction of a completely new Tambour base assortment and 2024’s redesigned Escale line. Each of these revealed a model that was not considering “enjoyable” watches, however as a substitute had refocused itself on making really high-end timepieces. The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time watches proceed that shift, and will even set the model’s positioning firmly in stone.

The Spin Time and its thought of getting rotating blocks that flip to point the current hour will not be new. It was the primary motion patented by Louis Vuitton (or reasonably, by La Fabrique du Temps in 2009, which was acquired by Louis Vuitton in 2011), and we lined a GMT model of it all of the again in 2010. Neither is the Spin Time Air idea new: we went palms on with one in 2022. This new collection represents a redesign and refresh, bringing the Spin Time extra in keeping with LVMH’s present imaginative and prescient for LV watchmaking as a high-end producer competing with the easiest manufacturers. To that finish, the model has been thorough, clearly re-establishing the Spin Time as a core element of its catalog. In whole, six new fashions are made obtainable, maybe higher seen as two mannequin teams: The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time with two variants and the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air with 4.

Because the complication isn’t fully new (we even reviewed a tourbillon Spin Time), it’s price what has modified, and that’s the case. As an alternative of the blocky drum form of the sooner Tambours, these new fashions carry ahead the household’s redesign from 2023, with a way more natural form and ending that exhibits off the capabilities of La Fabrique du Temps’ workshops. The 18k white gold circumstances taper as they rise from the wrist, with a satin-brushed caseband with individually hooked up mirror polished lugs which have hollowed, sandblasted sides. As seen within the 2023 launch, the bezel is sandblasted with polished model lettering tracing its circumference. The fashions all use 18k gold palms and, the place relevant, matching markers, and the dials are described as Dolphin gray, although I’d name them “blue.” Whereas each mannequin will get a sapphire crystal, the stable dial Spin Time fashions are rated to 100m water resistance whereas the Spin Time Air fashions understandably charge to solely 50m.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time is a bit much less thrilling than the wide-open Spin Time Air, however most will agree that see-through dials are higher in principle (or hairless wrists) than they’re in particular person. These measure 39.5mm huge and 12.15mm thick, with the gem-set mannequin changing the branded bezel ring with 68 baguette diamonds, together with these set into the lugs. These time-only fashions have a stable Dolphin gray dial wherein the spinning hour blocks are nestled. The usual mannequin has an identical sunray Dolphin gray middle with an 18k white gold minute hand and 18k white gold markers, whereas the gem-set mannequin options a good looking hawk’s eye dial with diamond hour markers. The They’re each supplied on matching Dolphin gray rubber straps with 18k white pin buckles (with diamonds on the gem-set mannequin).

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air fashions will probably get extra consideration. As an alternative of that stable hour ring, the hour blocks float in midair. The circumstances stay unchanged aside from the size, which develop to 42.5mm huge and 12.45mm thick, prone to accommodate the extra sophisticated actions, and beige calf leather-based straps. The gem-set mannequin additionally goes additional right here: as a substitute of 68 baguette diamonds and 12 extra on the dial, the Spin Time Air case is bejeweled with 909 brilliant-cut pavé diamonds whereas its hawk’s eye dial and blocks are encrusted with 118 extra. However the Spin Time Airs convey way more. You could have the choice of time-only and time-only blinged-out, however extra impressively, of a central tourbillon or a world time complication; although each omit the “Air” from the identify, they’re see-through.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode presents the world time complication, swapping the hour blocks for metropolis blocks, with two cities, twelve hours aside on every; there’s no want to have interaction the watch to find out the time, simply discover your metropolis and take a look at the corresponding hour marker (studying native time is finished with the small yellow arrow on the rotating world map disc). The cities are color-coded to point out whether or not the town is in AM or PM, and the blocks rotate when that adjustments. The Spin Time Flying tourbillon retains the hour blocks however replaces the central dial with a flying one-minute tourbillon set above a mirrored plate to point out off either side of the mechanism. The minutes are indicated with a brief, floating minute hand that traces across the tourbillon.

Although you may solely see the motion on the Air fashions, that’s sufficient to permit us to understand the motion on each considered one of these watches. The 4 time-only watches use the identical LFT ST13.01 caliber, whereas the Antipode makes use of the LFT ST12.01 and the Flying Tourbillon makes use of the LFT ST05.01. All of those actions function stable 18k pink gold rotors and ship 45-hours of energy at 28,800 vph. Some might balk at such an influence reserve, however given the size and the are wherein the motion wants to suit, 45 hours appears greater than affordable. Ornament is saved easy: sprucing and graining make up many of the surfaces.

These watches are a far cry from the chunky, road fashion of the earlier Tambour and most earlier Spin Occasions. Whereas these might have higher embodied a tambour drum, these are way more aesthetically pleasing, trying extra 2025 than 2005. With pricing set between $72,5000 USD and $172,000 USD, these aren’t going to be for everybody, however the pricing is in keeping with the extent of watchmaking offered right here. Mixed with obvious top-tier ending, this complication, although not new, is each novel and spectacular, with few if any actual opponents at this or any value level; the one trendy choices that come to thoughts are from Ludovic Ballouard and Byrne, the latter of which is simply lets you change the format of the cardinal markers. All advised, this refresh is a welcome continuation of Louis Vuitton’s transformation from flashy vogue watches to severe excessive horology.

The whole assortment is reportedly restricted to a complete of 500 items, unfold amongst the fashions, with the jeweled and tourbillon fashions presumably being probably the most restricted. Pricing for the watches is about at $72,500 USD for the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time W9WG62, $145,000 USD for the gem-set Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time W9WG52, $81,500 USD for the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air W9WG41, $145,000 USD for the gem-set Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air W9WG31, $99,500 USD  for the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air Antipode W9WG21, and $172,000 USD for the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon W9WG11. For extra data, please go to the Louis Vuitton web site.