Louis Vuitton showed a good creativity during the LVMH Watch Week of the start of the year by working in depth his drum models. If the watchmaking prowess is found in the Tambour Taiko collection with very pretty reinterpretations of the Spin Time, the watch which in my opinion is the important among the new features is the convergence drum. It concentrates 3 points which seem to me to be crucial:
- It is equipped with the brand new manufacture movement developed by the Time Factory
- Its 37mm pink gold case (or platinum for the set version) embodies a more refined approach
- and its time display invites an artistic interpretation
I would lie to you if I said that the convergence drum was my favorite novelty of Louis Vuitton. I was more sensitive to the animations of the displays of the Spin Time. However, the convergence drum is a watch that has a lot of potential and which can become very desirable if you have an idea behind your head as a customer … I explain myself. Louis Vuitton has set up a digital display based on two dragging discs for hours and minutes, the peripheral disc being that of the hours. This is of course a wink to the window watches. Given the shape of the display (wider in terms of hours than at the level of minutes), our gaze is immediately attracted by the indication of hours. In a sense, the convergence drum creates another relationship with passing time, a more peaceful time, as slow. The consequence of the display concentrated at the top of the watch is to leave an important free zone on the front (I do not use the term dial).
So there are two possibilities. Either we take the watch as it is and we consider that this surface in pink gold in mirror finish is sufficient in itself and that the capture of reflections offers an interesting spectacle. This can be the case and this reflections play provides a welcome animation to a relatively static display. For my part, I don’t necessarily like to see my head reflected on the watch. So this rendering disturbed me more than seduced. The solution comes from the second platinum model which was presented jointly with the pink gold model. The surface is decorated with diamonds in snow set. There are no more reflections, the decoration finding in the free surface a territory of expression. This is how the potential of the convergence drum appears: as it is, it appeared to me a little frustrating. But if we consider that it brings an ideal surface conducive to a decoration (such as a beautiful engraving), then this watch becomes irresistible. I therefore advise to approach the convergence drum with a very precise idea of a decorative theme. The art teams of Louis Vuitton and the Time Factory will then be able to carry out the desired projects.
The 37mm diameter of a diameter is in any case the ideal companion for this artistic approach. Its size is perfect because leaving room for such a project without the watch appearing too large. If the diameter had been more imposing, I would have had the impression of an imbalance. The display would have been visually too concentrated at the top of the front. The elements of the case were drawn with great care. I really like the very subtle horns with this small vintage touch as well as the slightly convex shape of the build. The alternations between the mirror and shortbread finishes give a lot of style and sophistication to the whole and without being what attracts the look first, the case strongly contributes to the success of the whole. The reflex that we can have is to think that the front face can rise like a bowl watch. But this is obviously not the case. The show would not necessarily be exciting with a view of the two discs.
On the other hand, the bottom of the case makes it possible to observe the movement which is much more interesting. This caliber, called LFT MA01.01, has strategic importance for Louis Vuitton. It is a manufacture movement, developed by the time factory. It is intended to become the brand’s “tractor” and has been developed to deliver a lot of couple. The walking reserve is not the goal: it is ultimately only 45 hours for a frequency of 4Hz. But the objective was to obtain this necessary energy in order to animate complications and also have the best stability of behavior throughout the power reserve. For example, it is used for the Spin Time which is more demanding (due to the rotation of the cubes) than the convergence drum and its two dragging discs. The movement is nicely decorated with a very beautiful oscillating mass in gold which creates a very pleasant contrast to observe with the sanded finish of the bridges. The pendulum seemed to me a little stuck, the architecture of the movement making it hardly visible what I regret. But the whole exudes quality and visual rendering is up to the technical content.
The size of the convergence drum seemed ideal to me given the aesthetics of the room:
I wondered given the effectiveness of the movement why Louis Vuitton had not left on a jumping system of jumping hours which makes reading the hours easier. And then I told myself that the shape of the “fan” display was better suited to a dragging disc than jumping. You have to be honest and see that reading the time is not instantaneous with the dragging display. But the objective is more to encourage contemplation than to obtain the accuracy of an instrument watch.
The convergence drum is thus the typical example of a watch with which you have to project yourself. I remember, I bought my Reverso with a very clear idea of engraving. Well, here, it’s the same thing. The convergence drum is an invitation to imagination. We can obviously find happiness with one of the two existing models. But it would be, in my opinion, a shame to deprive yourself of the potential of the watch. Before positioning yourself, you have to think of how to use this beautiful free surface. And if a beautiful project comes to your mind, then the convergence drum becomes extremely desirable because supported by a solid and qualitative achievement.
Decoration in snow set:
The convergence drum is available at a price of 37,000 euros including tax in pink gold and 67,000 euros including tax in platinum and diamonds.
The most:
+ a classic and original aesthetic approach
+ a subtle case with a relevant diameter
+ A new movement of Manufacture nicely decorated and adapted to animate complications
+ A certain decorative potential
The least:
– Reading the time is more complex with two dragging discs
– The architecture of the movement makes the pendulum not visible
– the power reserve is a bit short depending on the current standards
