The Return of the Louis Vuitton Monterey

Louis Vuitton isn’t mainly known for its watches, but ignoring their timepieces means missing a fascinating part of their history. While the saying goes that you shouldn’t buy watches from brands famous for making bags or clothes, Louis Vuitton has proven to be an exception. The brand has taken a creative path in watchmaking since the late 1980s, beginning with the Montre LV1 and LV2, which eventually led to the Tambour and now a lineup of high-quality watches with impressive movements. Those early LV1 and LV2 watches, nicknamed Monterey and designed by Italian architect Gae Aulenti, became cult favorites. It’s no surprise that Louis Vuitton has decided to bring them back with the new Louis Vuitton Monterey.

Louis Vuitton Monterey

The new model keeps much of the original design. The pebble-shaped 18k yellow gold case, fully polished, measures 39mm in width and 12.2mm in thickness, topped with a sapphire crystal. The crown, decorated with a clou de Paris pattern, sits at 12 o’clock, and the back features a case design that integrates the strap for a lug-free appearance. Despite its refined look, it surprisingly offers 50 meters of water resistance.

The dial has a white enamel base with two enamel railroad tracks, red on the outside and blue on the inside, both created using the grand feu technique. Between these tracks are 12 hour numerals. The hands, painted red, have a skeletonized syringe shape, sometimes called paperclip hands, while the seconds hand is heat-blued.

The biggest upgrade is inside. The original versions used quartz movements, but the new Monterey runs on an automatic movement developed by Louis Vuitton’s own watchmaking division, La Fabrique du Temps. It beats at 4Hz and offers a 45-hour power reserve. The watch is paired with a black leather strap and a gold pin buckle.

Limited to only 188 pieces, the new Louis Vuitton Monterey is priced at €56,000. It’s a steep price, which is unfortunate, because a lower one could have made a real impact in the market. More details are available on Louis Vuitton’s website.