Introducing Louis Vuitton Unveils the Escale à Asnières Pocket Watch

In 2002, Louis Vuitton established a dedicated department for haute horlogerie, and that same year introduced one of its most iconic models: the Tambour. Recently, we have witnessed the latest generation of this emblematic timepiece and the continued success it has achieved.

Over the past decade, Louis Vuitton has made significant strides in watchmaking, starting with the acquisition of La Fabrique du Temps and, more recently, the renowned clockmaker L'Epée. The maison also developed a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated to high horology, located just outside Geneva, in the heart of the watchmaking world.

Since then, Louis Vuitton has firmly positioned itself as a major player in the industry, earning numerous accolades from the GPHG and collaborating with exceptional independent watchmakers, notably in a surprising partnership with Rexhep Rexhepi. The French luxury giant did not stop there; it launched its own LVMH Watch Week, an event held in several major cities, with the latest in Miami, and even created its own award, as seen earlier this year when independent watchmaker Raoul Pagès won the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize.

Now, Louis Vuitton showcases its mastery of fine watchmaking with the release of the Escale à Asnières pocket watch, the first publicly presented pocket watch from the brand.

Measuring 50mm in diameter and 16.7mm in thickness, the pink gold case is adorned with diamonds on the bezel and around the crown at 12 o'clock, with a gold chain. The caseback features an intricate engraving of a horse and carriage, offering a beautifully detailed scene crafted by master engraver Dick Steenman.

On the dial, a picturesque scene from Asnières is depicted: the manor stands in the background, while in the foreground, a 19th-century horse and carriage are animated by pressing a button at six o'clock. The horse trots, the carriage wheels turn, the coachman moves, and the Louis Vuitton trunks in the carriage pop open to reveal miniature Monogram flowers. At 12 o'clock, the shining sun rotates, holding an LV Monogram Star-cut diamond—the smallest stone of its kind ever created by the maison.

This masterpiece represents the collaboration of two prominent artisans. Dick Steenman, the maison's in-house master engraver, meticulously sculpts the dial from a solid block of gold in bas-relief, adding exquisite depth and detail. After three weeks of engraving, the dial is handed over to the renowned Anita Porchet, a master enameller, who carefully applies 35 different hues of enamel, each layer meticulously applied.

The Escale à Asnières pocket watch is a unique piece, exquisitely decorated and equipped with a movement featuring a minute repeater and a seven-animation jacquemart mechanism. It houses the Calibre LFT AU14.01, a 480-component movement developed and assembled in-house at La Fabrique du Temps. Manually wound, it offers a 100-hour power reserve and chimes on demand to indicate the hour, quarter-hour, and minute, using cathedral gongs for a richer and more resonant sound.

This one-of-a-kind piece comes with a pink gold chain and is presented in a bespoke trunk—crafted in Asnières, wrapped in exotic green leather, and equipped with drawers to hold accompanying accessories such as a travel pouch and a magnifying loupe. The price of the watch is available upon request.

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