Drumming up excitement for the Tambour’s 20th anniversary with a limited-edition chronograph presented in a mini Monogram trunk.
Luxury fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton knows how to celebrate a birthday in style. To commemorate the launch of the inaugural Tambour in 2002, the Maison recently released the Tambour Twenty, a chronograph timepiece with an exclusive run of only 200 pieces. The Tambour Twenty campaign also unveiled Louis Vuitton’s newly minted house ambassador: acclaimed actor-filmmaker, Bradley Cooper, who’s also known for his love of timepieces.
Paying homage to the first of its line, the Tambour Twenty retains its distinctive deep, flared case –which resembles a drum or “tambour” in French– and applied horns. Larger than the 2002 Tambour, this anniversary model measures 41.5mm in diameter and 13.2mm in height. All 12 letters that form the name “Louis Vuitton” are engraved on the sloping case sides and aligned with the hour markers of the dial. These, along with the LV monogram on the crown, are clearly visible in profile.
Watch enthusiasts will recognise 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.
– Jean Arnault, Marketing and Development Director for Louis Vuitton watches.
With bright yellow accents set against its brown sunburst dial, the Tambour Twenty’s colour scheme is a neat nod to Louis Vuitton’s leathercraft heritage and frequent use of contrast stitching. The differences between Tambour Twenty and its earliest predecessors (namely the 2002 and 2003 references) are subtle but pleasing. The simplified 12-hour counter and chapter ring around the dial’s circumference make for a cleaner aesthetic. Similarly, the date window, which now has a black background instead of white, sits more harmoniously with the other elements on the dial.
Like the first Tambour chronograph launched in 2003, the Tambour Twenty is powered by the LV277 automatic movement. This high-frequency calibre is based on the Zenith El Primero movement, which was the first automatic chronograph in history, and is exact to the tenth of a second. Boasting 50 hours of power reserve, the movement is dressed up with a 22-carat rose gold rotor in this commemorative edition. Each of the 200 pieces in this limited edition has its production number specially engraved on the caseback.
Since 2002, Louis Vuitton has released numerous iterations of the Tambour, with various complications and in sizes ranging from slim to oversized. The Twenty may not be the fanciest or techiest of the storied Tambour range, but it is a classy rendition that will stand the test of time. For collectors sitting on the fence, one extra detail might sweeten the deal: The Louis Vuitton Tambour Twenty is delivered in a custom-made miniature trunk in the brand’s iconic Monogram canvas, complete with shiny hardware as glossy as the timepiece’s polished stainless-steel case.
In 2002, Louis Vuitton’s Tambour made its debut – and the Maison opened its workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton, artwork by Curatedition.
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