02 May Louis Vuitton Tambour Bushido: Samurai-Inspired Luxury Watch
Tambour Bushido Automata: Louis Vuitton’s Samurai Epic in High Horology
“Bushido wasn’t merely a code—it was a choreography of honor. We gave it a heartbeat.” — Michel Navas, Master Watchmaker, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton
Prologue: A Samurai Saga on the Wrist
Louis Vuitton’s haute‑horlogerie odyssey ascends to a new zenith with the Tambour Bushido Automata—a kinetic masterpiece that fuses Samurai mythology with mechanical poetry. Crafted entirely at La Fabrique du Temps, the 46.8 mm pink‑gold Tambour case becomes a stage where Bushido’s ethos—discipline, loyalty, and unflinching courage—unfolds in a 16‑second theatrical flourish.
Lineage of Audacity
| Year | Creation | Theme | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tambour Carpe Diem | Vanitas skull & serpent | GPHG Audacity Prize |
| 2023 | Tambour Opera Automata | Sichuan Bian Lian mask | Virtuoso mask‑changing automaton |
| 2025 | Tambour Bushido Automata | Samurai & Bushido | Five‑part kinetic display + maison‑wide artisanal engraving |
Each chapter elevates the Maison’s automaton lore—Bushido is simply the most immersive yet.
Dial as Dojo: Artistry in Motion
Engraving
- 140 hours of bas‑relief mastery by Dick Steenman.
- Pink‑gold kabuto helmet: calamine‑fired then hand‑burnished for volcanic luster.
- White‑gold menpō mask: sculpted for stoic menace.
Enamelling
- 120 hours of cloisonné, paillonné & miniature painting.
- Mount Fuji in snow‑capped cloisonné; crimson sun doubles as 100‑hour power reserve.
- Blood‑red enamel over sculpted mask—an alchemical feat in the hardest hue.
Kinetic Tableau (Push‑Piece Activated)
- Yōkai guardian slides aside—jumping hour appears.
- Katana retrogrades across minutes arc.
- LV‑flower eye sharpens to a pointed glare.
- Jaw drops, revealing mother‑of‑pearl teeth framing “Bushido” in vermilion kanji.
- Mechanism resets—serene yet vigilant.
Case as Canvas: 200 Hours of Sculpted Storytelling
- 18‑ct pink‑gold Tambour shell, fully engraved & translucent‑red‑enamelled.
- Hammer‑textured recesses create a grain‑silk backdrop for Mount Fuji and a rising sun.
- Hand‑engraved bezel clouds subtly spell “Louis Vuitton.”
Water‑resistant to 30 m—enough for daily rituals, though far too precious for the onsen.
Finishing Touches: Strap & Ruby Accents
Completing the watch is a vibrant red calf‑leather strap, echoing the dial’s crimson enamel. It fastens with an 18‑carat pink‑gold double‑folding buckle, balancing security with suave comfort. Four cabochon‑cut rubies (~0.02 ct total) infuse discreet opulence: two animate the yōkai’s eyes on the dial, one crowns the winding stem, and two embellish the automaton push‑piece.
LV 525 Calibre: Patented Power
- 426 components, 2 patents, 3 Hz, 100‑hour reserve.
- Entirely assembled & adjusted in‑house (180 hours).
- Bridges finished with perlée and Côtes de Genève; sapphire back reveals a red‑lacquer yōkai guardian.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
| Component | Details |
| Case | 18 K pink gold, 46.8 mm × 14.4 mm, domed AR sapphire, water‑resistant 30 m; bezel & case fully hand‑engraved/enameled; push‑piece set with 2 rubies, crown with 1 ruby |
| Movement | LV 525 manual‑wind; jumping hours, retrograde minutes, 5‑part automaton, power‑reserve indicator; 426 parts, 50 jewels, 3 Hz, 100 h reserve |
| Dial | Paillonné, cloisonné & miniature enamels; hand‑engraved kabuto, menpō, katana, yōkai; dial set with 2 rubies |
| Strap | Red calf leather, 18 K pink‑gold double‑folding buckle |
| Reference | W1PG31 |
| Price | Upon Request (ultra‑limited; allocation by application only) |
Total artisanal hours: ~200 h case engraving/enamel · 140 h dial engraving · 120 h dial enamel · 180 h movement assembly.
Rarity & Ritual
The Tambour Bushido Automata resides at the summit of haute horlogerie—crafted in extremely limited numbers for a coterie of collectors attuned to Bushido’s disciplined grace. Delivery arrives in a bespoke kimono‑silk trunk; provenance is recorded within Louis Vuitton’s patrimony ledger.
Written and curated by Ozzie Small
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