
Louis Vuitton Unveils 10th Anniversary Escale Collection
- Text by Magnifissance Magazine
- Photos Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is known for its legendary collections, and the Escale Cabinet of Wonders is certainly among them.
Having started as a collection of three exquisitely crafted timepieces, the Louis Vuitton Escale was inspired by the collections of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson.
This year, in celebration of Escale‘s 10th anniversary, a new chapter opens in the collection’s history with the Escale Time-Only Automatic Cal. LFT023, a series of four time-only watch models.
For Spring 2024, new textures, an elevated case design, and sophisticated finishes will mark the landscape of the new Louis Vuitton Escale watches, all rooted in the brand’s heritage and savoir-faire and in the Swiss watchmaking tradition.
Two of the four new models are outfitted in rose gold, while the other two are presented in platinum.
Vuitton’s art of travel heritage and trunk-making expertise are at the cornerstone of every detail in the design. The dials of the rose gold models are textured using a special metal stamping technique to replicate the fine grain of the canvas on original Vuitton trunks.
Hand-applied gold markers and lugs recall the trunks’ brass brackets and corners, while the calf-leather strap is inspired by Vuitton’s Nomade leather, featuring fine yellow stitching and designed to develop a rich patina over time.
The platinum models highlight lapidary artisanship and Vuitton’s skill with precious gem-setting, showcasing dials in meteorite and onyx with diamond settings. A dome-shaped octagonal crown with the LV Monogram echoes the shape of the trunk rivets. Each watch also features an engraved serial number on a gold cartouche, alluding to Vuitton trunk identification plates.
The Escale Time-Only Automatic Cal. LFT023 is the first to be powered by the chronometer-certified Cal. LFT023—an ultra-precise proprietary automatic three-hand movement, designed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
To enhance energy efficiency, the seconds hand was crafted in titanium instead of gold, a process requiring special tools to compensate for titanium’s high elasticity. A transparent sapphire caseback shows off the mainspring barrel and 22-karat rose-gold micro-rotor, adorned with Vuitton motifs.