Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen Unveil the LVKV-02 GMR 6: A Highlight of Travel-Inspired Horology
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.
Artistry in Case Design
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.
Intricate Dial Mastery
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.
A Caliber Forged for Global Explorers
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 Versatile Strap Options of the Louis Vuitton LVKV-02 GMR 6
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.
Limited Edition and Exceptional Presentation
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.
Mangas here, sushi there. Zen Buddhism meets street style, and the crowds of Tokyo's Shibuya district meet the snowy dreamscapes of Hokkaidō. There's no doubt about it: viewed from afar, Japan conjures up a wide variety of associations. Clichés mingle with nostalgia, but in the end, what unites them all is the conviction that faraway…
At this years Baselword 2019, Rolex has introduced a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 ref. M126234 in white Rolesor (combining Oystersteel and 18 ct white gold). Rolex’s classical wristwatch with 36 mm case has a refined, black sunray-finish dial and fluted bezel. It is equipped with calibre 3235, first introduced on this model in…
With the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and the Speedmaster Chrono Chime, Omega launched two evocative timepieces yesterday in Los Angeles. Both watches carry a high degree of historical heritage. Swisswatches was in attendance, reporting live from LA for this milestone in watchmaking, and was able to take a closer look at the two watches on…
The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode is the latest result of the collaboration with the English rock band Depeche Mode. The partnership began 14 years ago to raise awareness for charitable projects. Since then, more than 2.3 million US dollars have been raised. In March 2023, Depeche Mode then announced their new album…
The Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition celebrates the Manufacture's connection with space flight. Today, Breitling is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Mercury Atlas 7 mission, during which astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a special Navitimer on his wrist as he circumnavigated the Earth three times. In fact, Breitling has therefore officially claimed…
Independent watchmaker Frederique Constant has revived its Highlife collection from 20 years ago with the introduction of Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic COSC. It is a certified chronometer thanks to its certification from the Swiss Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). It offers the same bracelet changing system as the other two innovations, the Highlife Perpetual…
Audemars Piguet is presenting the Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Music Edition consisting of five new Royal Oak Offshore models dedicated entirely to the world of music. The Tapisserie dials are emblazoned with a colourful equaliser motif, and the cases also feature a number of allusions to audio technology. In addition to two titanium variants, there…
Audemars Piguet has unveiled a new model within the Code 11.59 collection. The Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph now appears in a combination of black ceramic and 18k white gold. This watch, which first launched in 2021, showcases the brand’s watchmaking expertise with an open-worked dial and a complex movement. Case The case measures 41 mm…
From 29 June to 2 July, this great classic car meeting returns to the legendary Le Mans race track. Against a history-steeped backdrop, around 800 classic cars as well as another 8,500 club vehicles will take part in a series of fiercely contested races. This year, the 150 exhibitors and 1,000 drivers from 30 different…
With the RM 07-01 Racing Red, Richard Mille celebrates their eponymous racing team, which competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship in April 2021. The trio of female drivers of the Richard Mille Racing Team drive a fiery red Oreca Gibson there, which was the inspiration for the RM 07-01 Racing Red, a timepiece limited…
Frederique Constant presents a new version of its Classic Tourbillon Manufacture. This watch is a direct successor to the 2023 models and will be available in a limited edition of 150 pieces. It features a 39-millimetre steel case, a green dial, and a matching strap. The self-winding FC-980 manufacture movement powers the watch. This new…
After “Time To Move” and “Watches & Wonders Geneva” have already cancelled their fairs, today, also the board of direction at MCH has announced the cancelation of “Baselworld” fair 2020 due to concerns related to Coronavirus. The start of construction in the halls and of the stands was scheduled to commence next week (start of…
TUDOR is introducing a new Black Bay 58, which will be only available in the brand's shops. As the name suggests, the TUDOR Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze has a 39 mm case made of bronze. In addition, however, the bracelet with a new extension system is also made of the same material. The new model…