Pack those suitcases and pre-book that airport lounge – Louis Vuitton is adding to its Escales Autour du Monde collection, a pocket watch series that is directly inspired by the world’s most evocative destinations. Having previously touched down in the Amazon Rainforest and a monument closer to home – the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris – LV now travels to the toweringly famous Mount Fuji.
Encased between the glass faces of this pocket watch is an utterly serene scene – a rising sun casts a pastel glow upon a glistening body of water just beyond the esteemed Japanese summit. Yellow-gold encased sakura cherry blossoms, reminiscent of the LV monogram, surround the scene replicating Japan’s eternal springtime in miniature form.
A delicate wooden fishing boat, transporting easily recognisable LV trunks and suitcases – which slowly open and close to reveal LV monogram flowers as time ticks on – glides through the water from right to left. Inside the boat is the mythical Ebisu, a prominent Japanese folklore figure, patron of fishermen and general symbol of luck. Attention to detail and the virtue of patient craftsmanship is seen – from the fisherman’s calming expression to the soft gradients of the snowy peak beyond. The portrayal of clear Japanese waters is done exquisitely, with the river being brought to life with a paillonné enamel that deliberately incorporates gold leaf to create a layered volume.
The movement of the piece is especially considered, powered by the manual winding LFT AU14.03 caliber with the tiny tableau transforming in a slightly different way depending on the direction of the light when gazed upon. Handcrafted and handshaped from a total of 561 components and with around 1,000 focused hours of work, LV’s master engraver cut all of the intricate pieces by hand. This was accompanied by fine enamel work – the watch warranting multiple methods, including Grand Feu and miniature enamel.
The timepiece also boasts a Jacquemart mechanism with four animations, minute repeater, tourbillon, hours and minutes. The surrounding case flaunts a 750/1000 white gold setting with coloured stones including anti-reflection sapphire crystals, to really set the picture-perfect scene. Meanwhile, the two hands are thoughtfully placed on the caseback rather than the face, to allow the scene to shine in all its glory.
What’s more, LV’s origin in travel goods is reinforced with a complimentary bespoke leather trunk, which was created in Asnières – the historic trunk-making workshop for the maison. Think of the watch as a super small tableau vivant, or perhaps a new iteration of Monet’s Water Lilies. Either way, LV has created the perfect piece of pocket-candy for travel fanatics and homebodies alike.
Photography courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
