In its second major collaboration with a master watchmaker, Louis Vuitton has teamed up with Kari Voutilainen to create the LVKV-02 GMR 6 – a timepiece that fuses haute horlogerie with meticulous artistry. The watch is housed in a 40.5 mm tantalum case, enhanced by platinum elements including the bezel, crown, lugs, caseback, and buckle. The combination creates a quiet contrast that underscores the depth of manual finishing, from satin-brushed surfaces to mirror-polished details. The case design itself draws inspiration from Louis Vuitton’s legacy of trunkmaking, with lugs evoking reinforced brass brackets and engraving that reads “Louis cruises with Kari,” a nod to the spirit of travel behind the project.
The dial is a rich tapestry of color, pattern, and craftsmanship. Manufactured in four sections, its most striking feature is the multicolored hour ring, which recalls the aesthetic of ancient stained-glass windows. Each of the twelve Roman numerals is applied by hand onto this circle, which requires 28 colors, 32 hours of careful painting, and eight hours of firing. The miniature painting was completed by Maryna Bossy at La Fabrique des Arts, and she also decorated the mainspring barrel with a multicolor motif that mirrors the dial’s visual language. At the center, a finely detailed hand-guilloché pattern – produced using vintage lathes at Voutilainen’s workshop – references Louis Vuitton’s iconic Damier design. Further artisanal touches include hand engraving and enameling in the house’s recognizable saffron and blue tones, used for the sun and moon on the day-night indicator.
Powering the LVKV-02 GMR 6 is a manually wound movement built entirely at Voutilainen’s atelier. With 254 components, this three-quarter plate calibre features twin escapement wheels offering direct impulse, a large balance wheel, and a sophisticated hairspring system that includes a Phillips overcoil and Grossmann curve. The movement beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour and offers a 65-hour power reserve. A retrograde power reserve indicator sits at 12 o’clock, while the 24-hour GMT disc with a day-night display is integrated within the small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. For added practicality, the local time (displayed via the main hour hand) can be jump-set in one-hour increments by pressing the crown – a departure from previous Voutilainen GMT models where the push-button advanced the subdial instead.
Strap options include a grey fabric strap with a brown leather lining and a more formal anthracite alligator Exo strap with black lining, both tailored to suit different preferences without compromising on elegance or comfort. Only five pieces of the LVKV-02 GMR 6 will be produced. Each comes in a custom Louis Vuitton trunk crafted in the historic Asnières workshop, featuring a hand-painted version of the dial, the watch’s edition number, and signatures from both Voutilainen and Arnault. The latter’s presence raises eyebrows among some enthusiasts, as Arnault is not involved in the actual creation of the piece, but rather represents the brand’s commitment to high craftsmanship and exclusivity.
For collectors who admire the rare convergence of masterful technique and fashion house flair, this collaboration offers more than just another high-end timepiece. It embodies a meeting of worlds – a handcrafted, mechanical tribute to artistry, precision, and the ongoing narrative between traditional watchmaking and luxury fashion.
