Louis Vuitton continues its journey of unrivaled collaborations with independent watchmakers – after the first collaboration with Akrivia in 2023 – by introducing the second creation in its series with Master Watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. Marking a historic union that began in 2002 alongside Louis Vuitton’s groundbreaking Tambour and Voutilainen’s establishment in Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland, the limited Louis Vuitton LVKV-02 GMR 6 celebrates travel, craftsmanship, and the spirit of exploration.
The LVKV-02 GMR 6 proudly wears a case carved from pure tantalum, meticulously processed at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Accented with platinum on the bezel, back, lugs, crown, and strap buckle, the case is an homage to Louis Vuitton’s historic trunkmaking with lugs reminiscent of reinforced brass brackets. Measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 12.54mm in thickness, and built from 52 components, the case’s design is elevated by hand-performed lug polishing, satin finishing, and detailed cabronnage. Each element, including a case back engraving that reads ‘Louis cruises with Kari’, is the result of labor-intensive manual artistry with up to 12 hours devoted to the engraving alone.
The hand-guilloché gold dial stands as a canvas for innovation and artistic finesse. Manufactured in four separate parts, its diamond-polished hour circle is adorned with miniature painting by La Fabrique des Arts – a process involving 28 distinct colours and over 40 hours of combined work.
The layout of the Louis Vuitton LVKV-02 GMR 6 includes a second time zone disc crafted in gold with a day/night indicator rendered through meticulous hand-engraving and enamelling in the iconic Louis Vuitton saffron and blue hues. The design subtly echoes the famed Monogram flower and stained-glass window patterns, while the integration of the ‘LV’ and ‘Voutilainen’ initials reflects the intertwined heritage of both maisons.
Beneath the open case back lies a manual-winding mechanical movement crafted entirely at the Voutilainen workshop. The GMR 6 calibre boasts a unique configuration with 254 components, including a very large in-house balance wheel and a distinctive balance-spring system that employs a combination of a Phillips overcoil and the rare Grossmann curve. The special feature of the movement is the GMT function display – referred to here as ‘GMR’ in the model name. This is because the ‘R’ refers to the retrograde power reserve display at 12 o’clock – the 24-hour GMT display, in turn, can be found at the 6 o’clock position. The GMT disc rotates once every 24 hours and can be set to the wearer’s home time, while the hour hand can be set to the local time by pressing the crown.
Two direct impulse escapement wheels in blued steel provide a precise and efficient beat at 18,000 vibrations per hour. Traditional artisanal finishes such as Côtes de Genève and perlage elevate the movement’s aesthetics, while hand-painted details and a white gold mainspring barrel cover further testify to the exceptional horological expertise behind this innovative design.
The Louis Vuitton LVKV-02 GMR 6 is presented with two distinct strap choices to suit varied tastes. The first is a grey fabric strap featuring refined edging topped with a brown leather lining, while the second is an Exo strap crafted from anthracite alligator leather with matching edging and a black leather lining. Both straps ensure a harmonious balance of comfort and style, perfectly complementing the watch’s sophisticated design.
Each of the five individually-numbered pieces is accompanied by a bespoke Louis Vuitton travel trunk, meticulously hand-crafted in the historic Asnières workshops. This exclusive presentation underscores the rarity and exceptional craftsmanship of the LVKV-02 GMR 6. Details regarding pricing have not been disclosed, further emphasizing the exclusivity of this collaborative creation.
