From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine
Louis Vuitton dresses its already impressive in-house flying tourbillon with stunning ‘stained glass’ artisanal enamel to create the new 41mm platinum and white gold Voyager Flying Tourbillon “Poinçon de Genève“ Plique-à-jour.
By pairing a modern flying tourbillon movement developed within the La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton workshop with a traditional enameling technique, Louis Vuitton draws attention to its wide-ranging mastery of artistic craftsmanship, which for this model focuses on plique-à-jour, a method pioneered by Byzantine artisans in the 4th and 5th centuries.
Essentially, the technique consists of depositing enamel into open cells and allowing it to color the space in a ‘capillary action fill.’
The artisan must apply the enamel in multiple layers and kiln-fire it each time to achieve the correct transparency, which, when completed, echoes a stained-glass window. More than 100 hours of artisanal work are required to complete each dial.
According to Louis Vuitton, the blue hue that dominates the new watch was particularly difficult to create. It adds that “many months of research were needed to obtain this blue gradient.
To achieve this, the Maison worked with several master enamelers within its atelier at La Fabrique des Arts.”
The transparent enamel panes are set within a white gold dial created with repeated interlocking Vs (for Vuitton).
This pattern pairs perfectly with the skeletonized LV 104 Caliber, a beautifully finished manual-wind movement developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
Note that the watch’s Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève) certification is visible both on the front and on the border of the case back.
Echoing the workmanship required to construct the enamel work here, the flying tourbillon movement also requires painstaking watchmaking and design techniques. Louis Vuitton explains that more than 120 hours of work are needed to assemble all 168 caliber parts, which boasts a strong 80-hour power reserve.
Price: Upon request.
Specifications: Louis Vuitton Voyager Flying Tourbillon “Poinçon de Genève” Plique-à-jour
Movement: LV 104 Calibre: mechanical movement with manual winding developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, “Poinçon de Genève” certification, visible on the face and back. Functions: Skeleton flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, V tourbillon cage fully rotating in one minute. Eighty hours of power reserve, 21,600 oscillations per hour.
Case: 41mm by 11.68mm platinum 950 and 18-karat white gold with polished and brushed finishes, anti-reflection sapphire crystal, transparent case back, and water resistance to 50 meters.
Dial: Handmade plique-à-jour enamel dial crafted within the in-house workshop of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
Strap: Navy blue calf strap with platinum buckle.
