ouis Vuitton’s unparalleled expertise in trunkmaking is the anchor point for the new Escale. As with previous models released over the past decade, the lugs pay homage to the Maison’s iconic trunks, echoing the angled form and riveted exterior of the brass brackets and corners that reinforce them.

These brass reinforcements are echoed on the dial, which has been completely redesigned to create stronger links between the Escale and Louis Vuitton’s most famous creations. Angled and riveted markers in polished gold are hand-applied at each quarter, seamlessly connecting the central dial and outer minutes track. The track itself is punctuated with gold studs, evoking the nails of the lozine that runs along a Louis Vuitton trunk’s exterior. A brushed finish and subtle concave camber are the final touches that give the minute track exceptional visual texture and enhanced readability.

Four new time-only models define the new Escale range, bringing an extra dimension to the collection’s earlier scope of complicated timepieces. Two are in rose gold with textured dials, offering a sophisticated yet discreet everyday companion. The other two are in platinum.

Accommodating such an intricately detailed and complex dial is no small feat. The tip of the seconds hand on all Escale models is shaped to follow the dial’s curve, minimising parallax error and allowing the seconds to be read with great precision.

This precision is supported by the chronometer-certified LFT023 calibre, whose 50-hour power reserve is ensured by energy-efficient solutions such as crafting the seconds hand in titanium rather than gold. Special tools were developed to overcome titanium’s high elasticity without marking its surface, resulting in a perfectly curved seconds hand. It is then treated with a PVD colour process to match the gold hour and minute hands.

Price: CHF 27,500

www.louisvuitton.com