Louis Vuitton Launches A Limited Edition Timepiece To Mark The 20th Anniversary Of The Tambour

Louis Vuitton is a Maison that continually looks to its past design DNA in order to catapult the brand into a modern era. Case in point: to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its first-ever automatic GMT watch, the Tambour, the brand has launched a new timepiece, the Tambour Twenty, that honors the design of the original timepiece that was launched two decades ago.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The first iteration of the Tambour timepiece, unveiled in 2002 at the La Chaux-de-Fonds workshop in Switzerland, sported a 39.5mm diameter stainless steel case with a gradient dial in a rich chocolate brown hue with contrasting yellow markers. Today, the new chronograph embodies some of the same design codes retreating back to the deep brown color of the sun-brushed dial with bold yellow hands while also giving a fresh perspective on the timepiece as the Tambour Twenty boasts a larger, sportier 41.5mm stainless steel case fitted with a luxurious leather strap.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Louis VuittonPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Inside the new timepiece lies the high-frequency LV277 movement based on the Zenith El Primero, the first automatic chronograph ever. Similar to the original Tambour, the anniversary timepiece also features “Louis Vuitton” across the numbers and indexes for a more subtle, minimalistic style compared to the previous dynamic Tambour iterations that have been designed throughout the years.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The new timepiece is limited to just 200 pieces, which is uniquely numbered on the caseback, and comes in a mini trunk in Monogram canvas, a Louis Vuitton signature, making this timepiece a true collector’s piece. “Watch enthusiasts will recognize all the features that made the Tambour’s design so unique. While this limited edition is a true concentrate of everything that made this watch stand out, it also boasts brand new features that will set it apart for collectors,” notes Jean Arnault, the Marketing and Development Director for Louis Vuitton watches. “To me, as well as celebrating our anniversary, this watch also paves the way for many future decades of fine watchmaking, staying true to Louis Vuitton’s values of creativity, craftsmanship, and excellence.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Over the last two decades, Louis Vuitton has released 21 complex versions of the Tambour watch, further proving the Maison’s devotion to high watchmaking and its unparalleled craft; thus, there’s no better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary than paying homage to the legendary timepiece that started it all.