Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time

This is the new “Spin Time” from Louis Vuitton.  Before you scoff at the “Louis Vuitton” label let me tell you that this watch has a cool way of telling time that deserves a look.   The Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time watches have no hour hands.  Instead they use a system of rotating cubes.  That is, at any given hour, 11 of the 12 cubes are “blank” and one cube shows you what hour it is.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time

44mm white gold case — price: $47,000

Upon seeing this watch I immediately thought of another watch with no hour hands — Frederic Jounvenot’s “Helios”.  Though not identical, the ideas behind these two watches are similar — both rely on a system of “rotating” hour markers.   I wrote about Jouvenot’s Helios back in March — you should click through and watch the 30-second video about the Helios and you will see what I mean by similar and see if you agree.  Urwerk and others also utilize the concept of a “rotating” hour or minute marker in some of their watches as well.

One drawback I see with this watch is its price — $47,000.  Ouch! There is also a  39.5mm white gold women’s version — with diamonds, of course — priced at $74,500.  Double Ouch!  I could buy a nice Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet for these prices. Even so,  it remains a given that the Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time is an interesting and unique way of keeping time, which is why I show it to you today!