It seems this is what a seasoned hippie's watch looks like after growing up and earning a fortune.
For the past 5 years, Louis Vuitton has been actively developing its watch division. Standing apart in this direction are the complex watches with automata. The first such watch was the Carpe Diem model released in 2021, featuring a large skull on the dial that moved its lower jaw as if laughing at death. The new model in this series is no less impressive. The Tambour Taiko Arty Automata is a colorful spectacle celebrating the joy of life and love.
The watch features a 42 x 13.6 mm case made of white gold. The dial showcases 7 animated elements crafted with glossy enamel using the Grand Feu technique. Pressing the button located at the '8 o'clock' mark sets this kaleidoscope in motion. At the '9 o'clock' mark, four Louis Vuitton flowers, with diamonds in place of pistils, begin to whirl. Nearby, an eerie eye flutters its impressive lashes. Interestingly, the lashes are almost natural, made from miniature feathers.
To the right of the eye, a pink heart sways from side to side, clasped by vivid red lips. Directly beneath it is the word 'love', which undergoes an interesting transformation. The letter 'L' at the beginning of the word changes to 'M', instantly turning 'love' into 'move'.
At the '6 o'clock' mark, a flying tourbillon can be seen, rotating at the golden standard of one revolution per minute. The upper bridge of the tourbillon is shaped like a peace symbol, harmoniously fitting into the overall hippie-style picture. The time is displayed on a small dial at the '2 o'clock' mark, adorned with a psychedelic pattern reminiscent of the 1970s.
The composition of the dial consists of 20 miniature parts arranged on four different levels. A total of 23 shades of vitreous enamel are used here. Overall, it takes about 250 hours to make such a dial. Completing the picture is a chain of 5 rubies and 43 baguette-cut colored sapphires decorating the bezel of the model. The total weight of the stones on the bezel is approximately 2.64 carats.
Special attention is deserved by the design of the watch's back. From the rear cover, the mechanism with a white gold rotor is visible, which is hand-decorated with painting of clouds, sun, and stars. The model is powered by the caliber LFT AU05.01 - a movement with a balance frequency of 4 Hz, equipped with a 65-hour power reserve.
The watch is offered on a red calfskin strap with a folding clasp made of white gold. Although the release of the new model is not declared as limited, it is obvious that the production of these watches will be restricted. The approximate cost of the model is $485,000.