Louis Vuitton Escale Worldtime
LVMH Watch Week: Louis Vuitton Shows Us How to Find Beauty in Complicated Layovers
Louis Vuitton is adding to its popular Escale collection with complicated timepieces in a variety of designs.
By Barbara Palumbo
Contributor
We have all experienced “escale.” At least, this is true for those of us who travel regularly, and especially those who travel internationally. Escale is the French word for “stopover”, or, in English, a term more commonly known as a “layover,” a time when one is bound for a destination but cannot get there on a single direct flight.
As a longtime resident of the city of Atlanta – the headquarters and international hub of Delta Airlines – I’ve been spoiled and don’t get to experience escale that frequently, but when I do, I try to find the beauty in it.
If it wasn’t for a long layover in November, I may not have been able to enjoy a day with my teenage son in London on our way to Dubai Watch Week. An extended layover in Amsterdam about three years ago allowed me to finally explore the city, one that I hadn’t visited before, aside from the occasional stop on my way to some other destination. A layover in 2024 in Seoul, South Korea, brought me much pleasure, many smiles, and a very full belly.
In fact, the wonderful and departed (far too soon) chef, author, and television personality Anthony Bourdain had a half-hour TV side project called “The Layover.” The show documented his experiences on the “escale” of his travels, and he would recommend restaurants to visit and things to do, even with short periods of time.
What does all of this have to do with watches, you may ask? Well, it doesn’t, necessarily, but it does have to do with time. And how we spend it, how we value it, how we use it, and, as watch enthusiasts… how we wear it.
Incorporating a Travel Legacy into Five New Watch Designs
The newest additions to the Escale watch collection draw inspiration from Louis Vuitton’s legendary trunk designs in more than one way. Subtle references to the trunks’ distinctive design elements are notable throughout. For those who are familiar with Louis Vuitton’s trunks, you’ll instantly recognize that the lugs on these timepieces pay homage to the brass brackets and corners, adding to the Maison’s architectural identity.
“This new chapter for Escale is aligned with the transformation we have been going through over the last four years,” states Jean Arnault, Director of Louis Vuitton Watches. However, aside from its aesthetic beauty – reminiscent of some of the brand’s most recognizable luxury items – these latest timepieces go one step further: they’re also beautiful on the inside.
The Next Chapter, By Way of Movements
For these latest releases in time for LVMH Watch Week in Milan, the Maison introduces four new in-house movements from La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Here, the Escale collection begins its next chapter and proves that it will likely continue to grow and become a staple for the brand. These latest calibres are proof that Louis Vuitton is taking its luxury watches to the next level with a rejuvenated and updated Worldtime watch, a Worldtime Tourbillon, a Twin Zone, and a Minute Repeater.
The updated Escale Worldtime is powered by the new calibre LFT VO 12.01, which is manufactured in-house at La Fabrique du Temps. Alternatively, the Worldtime Tourbillon model is powered by the in-house calibre LFT VO 05.01, a self-winding movement with its most prominent complication – a flying tourbillon – highlighted at the center of the dial.
Moving on, the Escale Twin Zone (a GMT to those unfamiliar) features two sets of hands mounted on a single axis. This includes the addition of an independently adjustable minute hand allowing precise to-the-minute adjustments across global time zones (including those with non-standard offsets).
While the Worldtime editions and the Twin Zone novelty embrace the wearer’s love of (or need to) travel through their distinct designs and functionality, the Escale Minute Repeater is a slightly different animal altogether in that it flaunts a little more of the Maison’s reputation for “savoir-faire.” This edition is equipped with the calibre LFT SO 13.01. This manually wound movement is the result of a collaboration between La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and Gérald Genta, developed by Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, both of whom worked with Gérald Genta in the 1990s.
Pricing and Availability
Each year, LVMH Watch Week always enlightens us with spectacular releases from some of the most notable watch brands in the industry. However, this is the first year in recent memory that I can say it’s Louis Vuitton who may just come out of this event being the most talked about, most written about, and most admired.
All the models covered here join the Maison’s catalog and are available today, with the two Worldtime models and the Twin Zone in platinum and diamonds being limited editions. Prices start at $57,500 for the standard Twin Zone, with the platinum and diamond version priced at $229,000. The standard Worldtime comes in at $94,500, and the Worldtime Flying Tourbillon runs you $239,000. The most expensive piece is the Minute Repeater at $350,000.
For more information, head over to the Louis Vuitton website.
