Introducing The New Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet Of Wonders Collection

The seamless integration of function with craftsmanship and artistry stands as one of the most defining characteristics of fine watchmaking. Louis Vuitton's recent strides in their watches department underscore their commitment to this ethos. With each release, the French luxury group unveils new facets, exemplifying their dedication to innovation and excellence. Daniel Routh's latest watch presentation at LVMH Watch Week exemplified this success.

But what the group is offering now is the result of changes and strategy that the company had begun years ago, the most recent of which were profound changes to management. Acquisitions made by the company. It has made it an important player in the industry. These events seem to have paved the way for the reintroduction of one of Louis Vuitton's high-end watches, after nearly a decade of absence. Louis Vuitton Escalade Cabini of Wonders collection, these watches that are considered pieces of art. Reintroduced, inspired by Gaston Louis Vuitton, grandson of the house's founder, whose leadership shaped its identity from 1907 to 1970. It is worth noting that Gaston was famous for his extensive collection of Japanese swords. And its handles, which served as a deep inspiration for these watches. The collection consists of three distinct timepieces, each decorated with carp, snake and dragon motifs that not only embody fine watchmaking but also celebrate various decorative arts.

All three watches share dimensions of 40 mm x 12.04 mm, with each Escale case adorned with a Japanese wave motif along its side. However, while the Koï’s Garden and Snake’s Jungle boast 18-carat white-gold cases, the Dragon’s Cloud gleams in 18-carat pink gold. Furthermore, all three cases are water-resistant to 50 meters.

The crowns of each model exhibit distinct characteristics. The Koï’s Garden features an onyx crown, the Snake’s Jungle showcases a nephrite jade crown, and the Dragon’s Cloud displays a cornelian (red gemstone) crown. Additionally, the Snake’s Jungle is embellished with a hand-engraved bezel. Each of these three watches boasts an open caseback, offering a view of the movement along with an engraving denoting its limited edition status as '1 of 20'.

The shared feature among the three dials is the monogram designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton for himself.

The three dials exhibit distinct characteristics, despite all being inspired by Japanese themes. In the Koï’s Garden edition, the dial features a white-gold base intricately hand-engraved by La Fabrique des Arts. Artisans from the manufacture evoke the appearance of pebbles using an array of precious and ornamental stones such as mother-of-pearl, rock crystal, smoky quartz, and diamonds. The koï fish motif is meticulously crafted through a combination of engraving and miniature painting. Additionally, the dial incorporates the Gaston-Louis Vuitton monogram in gold and onyx.

In contrast, the Snake’s Jungle dial is a collaborative effort involving multiple artisans. Rose Saneuil's marquetry technique forms the base, utilizing various materials including wood, straw, and parchment. Eddy Jarquet contributes the intricate white-gold snakes and leaves, while Vanessa Lecci's expertise in champlevé enamel adds intricate details. Once again, the Gaston-Louis Vuitton monogram is featured, this time in gold and nephrite jade.

Lastly, the dial of the Dragon’s Cloud is crafted by Fanny Queloz, who skillfully hand-hammers the metal base and employs yellow- and rose-gold wires for damascening. The dragon and cloud motifs are meticulously hand-engraved and enameled using traditional champlevé and paillonné techniques. The dragon’s eye is highlighted with a single ruby, and as with the other dials, this one also showcases the Gaston-Louis Vuitton monogram in gold and cornelian.

Despite their varying dials, the same movement powers all three Escale watches: the caliber LFT023. manufactured by Le Cercle des Horlogers, and finished and assembled at La Fabrique du Temps. The self-winding mechanical movement offers only hours and minutes, leaving space for the dial’s art to take central stage. Nevertheless, it’s a highly attractive movement, and the 22-carat micro-rotor is adorned with a Japanese wave motif. The LFT023 consists of 120 components, has a 50-hour power reserve, and beats at a frequency of 4 Hz.

Each watch is accompanied by its own unique strap. With the Koï’s Garden timepiece, you'll find a hand-braided blue calf leather strap, drawing inspiration from the handles of katanas, traditional Japanese swords. Its white-gold buckle features a Japanese wave motif. The Snake’s Jungle model also features a hand-braided green calf leather strap, utilizing the same buckle as its counterpart. As for the Dragon’s Cloud watch, it comes with a hand-braided brown calf leather strap, complemented by a rose-gold buckle featuring the Japanese wave motif.

Only 20 pieces of each special Escale model is available. Price USD 269,000 which is equivalent to 988,000 AED.

For more information, please visit Louis Vuiton official website.