New Release: 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 collection and 2024’s redesigned Escale line. Each of these revealed a model that was now not inquisitive about “enjoyable” watches, however as a substitute had refocused itself on making actually high-end timepieces. The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time watches proceed that shift, and should even set the model’s positioning firmly in stone.

The Spin Time and its concept 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 quite, by La Fabrique du Temps in 2009, which was acquired by Louis Vuitton in 2011), and we coated a GMT version of it all of the again in 2010. Neither is the Spin Time Air idea new: we went hands on with one in 2022. This new collection represents a redesign and refresh, bringing the Spin Time extra according to 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 complete, six new fashions are made accessible, 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.

For the reason that complication isn’t solely new (we even reviewed a tourbillon Spin Time), it’s value 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 fingers 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 broad 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 by which 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 stupendous hawk’s eye dial with diamond hour markers. The They’re each provided 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 doubtless 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 broad and 12.45mm thick, more likely 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 rather more. You’ve 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 title, 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 completed with the small yellow arrow on the rotating world map disc). The cities are color-coded to point out whether or not town is in AM or PM, and the blocks rotate when that modifications. 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 each side of the mechanism. The minutes are indicated with a brief, floating minute hand that traces across the tourbillon.