tambour

Another new for 2011 Louis Vuitton watch is this new Voyagez Tambour Automatic Chronograph watch with a tachymeter (tachometer). Why they emphasize this latter function I don't know. Racing-themed watches have been featured them on bezels and flange rings for a long time, with next to no people actually using them. However, those extra numerals around the dial tend to always look cool!

Set in a 44mm wide Tambour style case, the Voyagez is in steel with a gray and red dial with black and white trim. This aggressive looks goes really well with the carbon fiber strap. Inside the watch is a Dubois-Depraz made LV172 automatic chronograph movement. The dial design uses three middle aligned subdials for the 30 minute chronograph and subsidiary seconds. This might be one of the most interesting looking chronograph layouts in a watch this year. I look forward to checking it out upon its debut in March. Look for this new Tambour Voyagez Chrono in June 11 at a price of 4,800 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Louis Vuitton is really getting serious about its watches being near water. First we see a new Tambour Diving watch collection, and now a new yacht racing piece. This is the utility focused Tambour Regate Navy, and is a true regatta watch. The point of it is to have a specially designed chronograph that is able to quickly and easily measure a 10 minute countdown. So, in a sense, this watch has a chronograph complication, as well as a timer complication.

Keen on working with other people's movements and adding something special on top of that, Louis Vuitton uses a new movement call the caliber LV 171 that is a base Dubois Depraz automatic. The movement has a few features include the date and a flyback chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes. The main dial is used for the chrono seconds, while there is a subsidiary seconds dial for the minutes. Adjacent to the sub chrono dial is a subdial for the time's seconds. The main dial has the time, as well as a hand that moves around the entire dial counting down from 10 minutes. The flange ring on the dial is used to measure the countdown period. Why 10 minutes? This is the essential period regatta boats must take into consideration when traveling toward the starting line.

The case itself is in steel and 44mm wide using a standard Tambour style case. Lovely too look at, the dial is "designer" in fashion using shades of blue, black, and hints of red. The result is something attractive, but almost industrial in feel. Louis Vuitton will not make very many of these watches as the Tambour Ragate Navy watch will be limited to only 250 pieces. Still impressive, and very much in alignment with what I have come to expect from the brand.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

I got fed up waiting for more information on this watch. Oh well, you can't blame an industry notorious for bad communication to communicate badly. The good news is that I was really excited to learn about Louis Vuitton's follow up piece to their original Tambour Diver (Diving). They simply call the watch the Tambour Diving II. It will again come in men's and women's models, with two dial styles.

The Tambour Diving II uses the case size case and movement as the original, but with a more sport, less "luxo-diver" look. While The original Louis Vuitton Tambour Diving watch played with colors like brown and complimented the watch with elements such as mother-of-pearl - the Diving II has a more sober look meant to emphasize activities like boat racing. The subsidiary seconds dial has turned in to a square, and looks more like a pennant flag. Hands have been skeletonized (with a different color for the hour and minute hand), while hour markers are mostly round and done with lots of lume.

For men, the case will be 44mm wide and the women's model will be 39.5mm wide. Aside from the steel models, an 18k red gold model will also be available for men. Like any good diver, the case will be water resistant to 300 meters. Inside the watch will be an ETA 2895 automatic movement. The dial colors will be either the pictured black or a metallic blue. My only problem with it is that the hands are too short. Overall a beautiful watch that is not so much a replacement for the original Tambour Diver as it is a more simple looking supplement.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com

Louis Vuitton applies it feminine touch to the otherwise manly Tambour Diver watch. The new Tambour Diver Lady is a charming line of watches that come in 35mm steel or pink gold cases (the latter having some diamond decoration). You can get the Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Lady watch with a Swiss quartz or automatic mechanical movement. The dial is available with the classic Louis Vuitton floral pattern or pink mother or pearl.

Look for the Tambour Diver Lady on a textured rubber strap in pink or white. The watch uses the same shape and has the internal rotating diver's bezel just like the handsome, larger men's version. The timepiece is a fully functional diver being water resistant to 300 meters, and having a thick sapphire crystal. With its good looks, durability, and desirable name brand, this Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Lady watch line could be the most notable women's diving watch to come along in a long while. You won't find the watches that easily as you'll have to look at special Louis Vuitton boutiques only. Price will likely be around 3,000 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Spotting a Louis Vuitton timepiece is a rare occurrence. The brand supplements its ubiquitous luggage and bag products with just a few watches to go around. While the LVMH brand group has watches in their DNA (owning such brands as Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith), the actual Louis Vuitton branded watches are very hard to come by.

A new collection of two-tone Louis Vuitton Tambour watches is available in a chronograph, GMT, and three-hand version with a subsidiary dial. Each are automatics, each contain high grade ETA mechanical movements, and each has the fashion-forward style that the tapered Tambour watch case is known for. In a similar fashion to the Baume & Mercier Riviera, the type of the two-tone pieces creates an alternative look that helps the colors blend in without distraction, but still allows for an attractive case. As such you will see steel and 18k gold playing together in a pleasing harmony.

The new Two-Tone Tambour watches come in a few varieties with men's and women's models. For the men there is a three hand version with a subsidiary seconds dial at 9 o'clock, a GMT model, and the pictured chronograph model. Each with the eye soothing deep yellow hands. I am impressed that Louis Vuitton actually chose yellow gold for the watches, as the "standard" color of gold is hard to find these days in relation to other types of gold such as rose or red gold. Look for these new two tone gold and steel Tambour watches at select Louis Vuitton stores around the world soon. Prices for these models is sure to be in excess of $4,000 - $5,000.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

In a world where wristwatches are increasingly an accessory versus a necessity this Louis Vuitton creation is a decorative dose of color and sparkles. This Swiss-made Tambour Forever timepiece features a diamond monogram flower set on a sun-ray effect charcoal gray face, diamond horns connecting the rich red alligator straps, logo-etched case sides, and a polished steel buckle. There are 122 brilliant cut white diamonds all together, or 0.56 carats total. Quartz movement, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and waterproof to 100m.

A beautiful, classic style updated with a dose of today's technology and bold color. $6,950

Louis Vuitton's popular Tambour watches have gone girly. The Tambour Bijou comes in three colors rouge, blanche and noir each with a monogram strap, sapphire crystal and the ETA 01 quartz movement. The white watch has a mother-of-pearl dial and  lacquered flowers on the case. The Noir watch has a gray anthracite dial with diamonds and the red has a white dial with diamonds and yellow gold details. They are a bit bland but certain to be a hit with the ladies who love Louis.