Celebrating Creativity: Louis Vuitton Announces The Finalists For The First-Ever LVMH Watch Prize for Independent Creatives

By Adrienne Faurote December 19, 2023

Watchmaking is an art that defies the conventional notion of time. It’s a delicate dance of craftsmanship and audacity, meticulous attention to the minutiae of a constantly moving mechanism. Watchmakers are not just artisans; they are fearless creators who construct and deconstruct timepieces, solving intricate puzzles with each tick of the clock. Beyond recognizing their skill, the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize celebrates these bold visions and independent thinkers, those who challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what timekeeping can be.

Fuelled by an unwavering passion for innovation in watchmaking and a commitment to daring design, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton has just announced the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, a prestigious award that is founded on the principle of nurturing creativity and innovation while paying homage to the artistry of watchmaking.

Through this initiative, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton seeks to honor the creative genius, craftsmanship, and audacity of the independent watchmaking industry. Ahead, we’re revealing the five finalists for the first-ever prize, which will be presented on February 6th, 2024 in Paris.

This watch exudes minimalism, featuring a manual winding movement, with typical functions, including hours, minutes, and seconds, with a unique “Regulator” style, emphasizing precise timekeeping. In terms of dimensions, the watch boasts a well-balanced size with a diameter of 38.5mm with a slim profile with a thickness of 10.2mm, which adds to its sleek and sophisticated appearance.

The watch’s case is crafted from high-quality stainless steel, a material that not only ensures longevity but also lends a touch of sophistication to the overall design. For Raúl Pagès, “I really wanted to pay tribute to the chronometers of the past and marine chronometry, the golden age of watchmaking invention.”

Chronomètre Artisans by Simon Brette

“What makes me most proud is to have brought together and coordinated the work of exceptional French and Swiss craftsmen,” notes Brette about the Chronomètre Artisans watch. This wristwatch is a masterful blend of classic design and precision craftsmanship. As a wristwatch, it boasts a manual winding movement, allowing for a hands-on connection with its inner workings. Its functionality includes central displays for hours and minutes, offering a straightforward and timeless method of timekeeping, while an offset small seconds sub-dial positioned at 09:15 adds a distinctive touch to its character. It has a 39mm diameter complemented by a slim 10.5mm thickness that ensures comfort and versatility on the wrist. The case is meticulously crafted from zirconium, a material renowned for its exceptional strength and unique, dark-gray appearance, providing both durability and a sophisticated aesthetic. This wristwatch represents the epitome of traditional horological artistry coupled with modern design sensibilities.

“The inspiration came from the present and the past. With mechanical solutions, we are able to create new needs,” explains Strehler. This remarkable time object stands as a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation in horology. As a masterfully crafted timepiece, it features a manual winding movement, evoking a sense of hands-on engagement with timekeeping. Its functions are a testament to its mechanical complexity, offering a perpetual table calendar with precise indications for year, month, date, and day of the week. As a pocket watch, it serves as the ultimate timekeeper, meticulously displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, while ingeniously conveying the transitions between day and night. Moreover, it boasts a mechanical memory status, capturing the essence of its historical significance. With dimensions measuring 24 cm in diameter, 10 cm in thickness, and a depth of 12 cm, this time object transcends mere timekeeping; it becomes a timeless work of art.

This watch also sports a manual winding movement, paying homage to traditional craftsmanship while embracing innovation. Its multifaceted functionality includes hours, minutes, and seconds, but it truly shines with its chronograph capability, counter minute instant feature, and a rattrapante mechanism, demonstrating a commitment to accuracy and intricate timing. Encased in platinum, this watch boasts a luxurious and durable construction, perfectly complementing its dimensions with a 38.7mm diameter and a 13.7mm thickness. It embodies the pinnacle of watchmaking, a harmonious blend of form and function, making it not just a timekeeper but a statement piece of artistry and engineering mastery. “We like harmony between components, so we looked for curves like those of pocket watches,” revealed Bédat.

This exquisite time object is a true masterpiece, defying conventional watch design with its enchanting ‘Poetic hours.’ “I wanted this creation to be an expression of the beauty, complexity, and fragility of living things,” explains Flaux. Driven by a manual winding movement, it captures the essence of artistry and precision. Its unique function, “Poetic hours,” transports you to a world where time is elegantly expressed through poetry. The watch’s dimensions, with the bee and the base, measure 13cm in diameter by 6.3cm in height, while the bee alone is 10cm by 5cm in height, creating a captivating presence. Encased in gold-plated silver, it radiates opulence and sophistication.