LVMH Watch Week: The Rise of Horological Objects

In the past few years, horology seems to be going back to its roots with an increasing number of “clocks” on the market. These are not your grandma’s “clocks.” The term horological object more accurately applies to the new wave of sculptural works of art that happen to tell time.

The industry acknowledged this resurgence of the “clock” in 2022, when the GPHG added the Mechanical Clock Prize to its roster. Since then, L’Epée has taken home two wins in the category, first in 2023 for the Time Fast II Chrome and again last year for the Albatross, designed in collaboration with MB&F.

While L’Epée has been a pillar of the Swiss industry for nearly 200 years, the 2023 win put the brand in the limelight, and a year later, in 2024, the Maison was scooped up by LVMH.

Of course, the luxury group is no stranger to horological objects, with Louis Vuitton itself making table clocks mimicking its iconic trunks. However, the acquisition of L’Epée certainly leveled up the game, and in short order, a collaboration debuted that made a huge splash: the Louis Vuitton x L’Epee Montgolfière Aéro, a hot-air-balloon-themed table clock.

For this year’s LVMH Watch Week, the group’s legacy of horological objects continues with new pieces from both Louis Vuitton and L’Epée. Simultaneously, Louis Vuitton quietly unveiled an exclusive time object with its own bespoke trunk during its men’s fall/winter 2026 fashion show that will be auctioned later this year, in support of the 10^th anniversary of its partnership with UNICEF. Let’s take a closer look.

Louis Vuitton has an infinite amount of iconography to draw from in its nearly two centuries of history. For its latest horological object, the Maison chose its legendary delivery truck, or Camionette, as its muse. In the early 20^th century, these historic vehicles served as the link between the Asnières workshops and Louis Vuitton’s clients and stores.
 

The Maison pays homage to the Camionette with this new clock. The vehicle is crafted from exceptionally lightweight, sturdy aluminum and features the House’s iconic colors of saffron and sibylline blue with the locations of the Asnières workshops, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva, and the Champs-Élysées stores on the side. Across the rest of the design, elements of the brand are accented throughout, from the hood with a monogram flower to the silver radiator with the flamed blue LV logo, rims decorated with monogram flowers, tires stamped with the LV signature, all the way down to the license plate “LV 1854,” the year of the brand’s founding.
 

The movement beats at the heart of the Camionette, with the time displayed by two rotating cylinders with pad-printed numerals installed under the delivery truck’s hood, where the engine would normally be. The piece de resistance is a miniature monogram trunk housed in the boot. Open the trunk, and a key is revealed for the winding and setting of the clock.

In 2023, L’Epée introduced La Regatta, a sleek vertical clock invoking the shape of the long, thin scull. Now, the Maison has reimagined the design in a series of three métiers d’art pieces. For these new additions, each hull is fully adorned with grand feu enamel, hand-applied by David Kakabadze Enamel, a world-renowned Georgian atelier celebrated for its rare craftsmanship.
 

Here, the specific artistic craft of enamel serves as a multifaceted metaphor. Like the repeated, fluid motion of an oar moving through water, enameling is a slow and careful process of successive firings that requires patience and perfect timing. Each layer of enamel adds depth and richness, creating a surface that softly catches the light, much like water rippling under the rhythm of the boat.
 

Each of the three horological objects explores a different enameling technique. The Regatta Umi is inspired by the waves depicted in Japanese master Hokusai’s paintings and is executed in cloisonné enamel, enhanced by the paillons technique, which consists of thin silver plates inlaid in the background.

The Regatta Prism achieves its mosaic, stained glass quality through plique-à-jour enameling, one of the most challenging techniques in haute horlogerie.
 

Lastly, the Regatta Blue Horizon takes the most minimalist approach with flinqué enameling, a rare métiers d’art technique that combines guilloché engraving with translucent enamel.

At the Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2026 men’s collection presentation in Paris, which was happening at the same time as LVMH Watch Week in Milan, the Maison unveiled another horological object inspired by the iconic Monogram Canvas LV Soccer Ball, a symbol of unity in sport.

Inside, you’ll find a manual-winding mechanical movement developed in collaboration with L’Epée, which brings two golden rotating cylinders and diamond-studded facets together to illuminate time. In typical Louis Vuitton fashion, the unique clock is presented in its own specially designed trunk that’s inspired by the iconic Trophy Trunk style.
 

This time object will head to the auction block in support of a worthy cause. Louis Vuitton first launched its global partnership with UNICEF in 2016, designing countless pieces over the years to raise funds for the nonprofit. The latest auction will celebrate the 10-year commitment between the two organizations.

The Louis Vuitton Camionnette is limited to just 15 pieces, and the three L’Epée La Regatta Métiers d’Art objects are one-of-one, with pricing for each available upon request. In addition, the Louis Vuitton Time Object for UNICEF will be put up for auction in the coming months.

For more information, you can visit either the Louis Vuitton website or the L’Epée website.