Introducing Louis Vuitton's New Take on the Escale Collection

Louis Vuitton has long been a beacon of high fashion and exquisite craftsmanship. However, Louis Vuitton's influence extends far beyond the world of fashion. Its foray into watchmaking has captured the attention of enthusiasts and collectors alike. In recent years, Louis Vuitton has made significant strides in the horological world, steadily rebuilding its watch collection with a focus on intricate finishes and precise mechanisms. This evolution was marked by the redesign of the iconic Tambour watch last year, a timepiece that is now part of the luxury sport watch category.

Now, the brand is turning its attention to the Escale collection, unveiling a new iteration that embraces simplicity with a refined time-only display. Before we delve into the new release, let's take a brief look at the Escale collection. First released in 2014, the Escale collection debuted as a multicoloured Worldtimer. The name "Escale," which is French for "stopover"—a short stay in a place during a flight—aptly reflects the Worldtimer complication. Over the years, the brand has introduced other variations in this collection, including the Spin Time complication and the Escale Cabinet. Now, Louis Vuitton Escale is back, but it’s not the watch you’ve come to know over the past decade.

The new Escale comes in an elegant 39mm diameter case with a sleek 10mm thickness, available in 18k rose gold or 950 platinum. The case features an octagonal LV-signed crown and a combination of polished and brushed finishes. The dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, while an open caseback offers a glimpse into the intricate mechanics within. The lugs are designed to resemble the corner guards found on Louis Vuitton trunks.

The new release is available in four editions. The rose gold models offer two dial options, silver or blue. The two platinum models feature either a meteorite dial or a black onyx dial version with a case adorned with baguette diamonds, which is slightly larger at 40.5mm in diameter. A distinctive feature of this watch is its indices, which are applied gold elements inspired by the corners of Louis Vuitton trunks. On the rose gold variant, the hands are crafted from gold, and white gold on the platinum version.

The new releases are powered by the Caliber LF023, an automatic COSC-certified movement featuring a stunning 22K gold engraved micro-rotor. This movement offers a 50-hour power reserve and operates at 28,800 vph (4 Hz). Produced by Le Cercle des Horlogers, this caliber is also found in the new Tambour. All the watches come with leather straps and a pin buckle.

The rose gold variants are priced at EUR 29,000, equivalent to AED 115,000. The platinum variant with a meteorite dial is priced at EUR 39,000, equivalent to AED 154,000. The baguette-cut diamonds variant is priced at EUR 156,000, equivalent to AED 615,000.

For more information please visit Louis Vuitton’s official website.