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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
Going back to its horological origins in the 1980s, Louis Vuitton has reintroduced its first time-only wristwatch, the Monterey, limited to just 188 pieces.
Originally designed in 1988 by Gae Aulenti, the renowned Italian architect behind the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the new Monterey pays tribute to the first Louis Vuitton watches, the LV I and LV II. Their soft, pebble-like cases and minimalist dials reflected a design language ahead of its time. The affectionate nickname “Monterey” is inspired by the American pronunciation of montre (French for “watch”).
The new Monterey arrives in a 39 mm x 12.9 mm 18K yellow gold case, completely lug-free and smoothly rounded, crafted by the artisans at La Fabrique des Boîtiers Louis Vuitton. The crown at 12 o’clock gives a direct nod to vintage pocket watches and features a Clous de Paris engraving for texture and grip. On the closed caseback, a discreet “1 of 188” marking remains hidden behind the integrated black calfskin strap - an intimate detail known only to the owner.
At the heart of the design lies a white Grand Feu enamel dial that pays homage to the original’s geometric aesthetic. Each dial requires more than 20 hours of hand layering and firing at over 900°C, resulting in a flawless opaline finish. Blue and red enamel tracks encircle the dial, recalling the 1988 model’s colour scheme, complemented by red syringe-style hour and minute hands and a blued steel seconds hand.
The Monterey houses the in-house automatic calibre LFT MA01.02, developed and assembled entirely by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Beating at 4 Hz, it offers a 45-hour power reserve and represents a major step forward from the quartz movements that powered the original Monterey watches. The movement is decorated with sandblasted bridges, a circular-grained main plate, and an 18K pink gold rotor engraved with V-shaped notches inspired by the Louis Vuitton Monogram.
The Louis Vuitton Monterey is priced at USD 59,000 or approx. INR 51,80,000.
What we think - Keep an eye on Louis Vuitton’s watch division, they are gearing up for something huge in the coming years. Think Bvlgari on steroids, that is the level of watchmaking the fashion label is aiming for.
Going back to its horological origins in the 1980s, Louis Vuitton has reintroduced its first time-only wristwatch, the Monterey, limited to just 188 pieces.
Originally designed in 1988 by Gae Aulenti, the renowned Italian architect behind the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the new Monterey pays tribute to the first Louis Vuitton watches, the LV I and LV II. Their soft, pebble-like cases and minimalist dials reflected a design language ahead of its time. The affectionate nickname “Monterey” is inspired by the American pronunciation of montre (French for “watch”).
The new Monterey arrives in a 39 mm x 12.9 mm 18K yellow gold case, completely lug-free and smoothly rounded, crafted by the artisans at La Fabrique des Boîtiers Louis Vuitton. The crown at 12 o’clock gives a direct nod to vintage pocket watches and features a Clous de Paris engraving for texture and grip. On the closed caseback, a discreet “1 of 188” marking remains hidden behind the integrated black calfskin strap - an intimate detail known only to the owner.
At the heart of the design lies a white Grand Feu enamel dial that pays homage to the original’s geometric aesthetic. Each dial requires more than 20 hours of hand layering and firing at over 900°C, resulting in a flawless opaline finish. Blue and red enamel tracks encircle the dial, recalling the 1988 model’s colour scheme, complemented by red syringe-style hour and minute hands and a blued steel seconds hand.
The Monterey houses the in-house automatic calibre LFT MA01.02, developed and assembled entirely by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Beating at 4 Hz, it offers a 45-hour power reserve and represents a major step forward from the quartz movements that powered the original Monterey watches. The movement is decorated with sandblasted bridges, a circular-grained main plate, and an 18K pink gold rotor engraved with V-shaped notches inspired by the Louis Vuitton Monogram.
The Louis Vuitton Monterey is priced at USD 59,000 or approx. INR 51,80,000.
What we think - Keep an eye on Louis Vuitton’s watch division, they are gearing up for something huge in the coming years. Think Bvlgari on steroids, that is the level of watchmaking the fashion label is aiming for.
