Louis Vuitton has changed the metal of its guichet watch. The new Tambour Convergence Mirror Steel is a steel guichet watch that swaps the precious metals of earlier models for a hardened steel that is scratch-resistant and polished to a high gloss.
The watch is a new version of the Tambour Convergence, the first guichet watch made entirely at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. That workshop launched the original model in 2025. Matthieu Hegi, the artistic director of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, describes the new piece as having a “pure and distinctive aesthetic.”
A guichet, or window dial, shows the time through a small aperture. Here, hours and minutes appear in a small window, with discs that rotate behind it. The mechanism matches the predecessor.
The window’s shape carries a family story. Its scalloped edges echo the interior architecture of the Art Nouveau-style family home in Asnières, near Paris.
A new case material for the louis vuitton guichet watch
The change lies in the case. The first three Louis Vuitton guichet watches came in rose gold, in white diamond-set platinum, and in rose gold with guillochage, a decorative engine-turned engraving.
Precious metals have long defined fine jewellery, and gold still sets the standard for luxury pieces. Jacqueline Rabun’s Revitalized Cave Gold Jewelry Collection shows how 18ct gold looks in a contemporary setting.
For this model, the case makers at La Fabrique des Boîtiers in Meyrin, Switzerland, worked with a proprietary hardened steel. It is the same grade used in medicine, and it resists scratches.
The steel is mirror-polished to a high-gloss finish. That step takes time, as it does in all fine watchmaking. Finishing one Tambour Convergence Mirror Steel takes up to three times longer than finishing a rose gold model.
Keeping the mirror effect
Hegi says the team set out to preserve the cold, reflective look of the metal. “The objective with the Tambour Convergence Mirror Steel was to keep the ice-cold feel of the scratch-resistant mirror effect entirely intact,” he says.
Polished steel can rival precious metals for reflectivity, and the finish matters as much as the material. Max Enrich’s Polished Stainless Steel Escala Table shows how a mirror-like steel surface works in everyday design.
He describes the result as a blend of old and new. “It is very sophisticated, combining a vintage look with a touch of modernity in the treatment,” Hegi says.
Hegi credits the workshop for the process. He says the innovation came from La Fabrique des Boîtes at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. In his words, it demonstrates “a unique mastery in mirror polishing, while maintaining the strengthened aspect of steel.”
Source: wallpaper.com
Frequently asked questions
What material is the new Louis Vuitton guichet watch case made from?
The new Tambour Convergence Mirror Steel case is made from a proprietary hardened steel, the same grade used in medicine. The steel resists scratches and is mirror-polished to a high-gloss finish.
How much longer does the steel Tambour Convergence take to finish?
Finishing one Tambour Convergence Mirror Steel takes up to three times longer than finishing a rose gold model. The mirror polishing step is the reason for the extra time.
What metals were used in the earlier Louis Vuitton guichet watches?
The first three Louis Vuitton guichet watches came in rose gold, white diamond-set platinum, and rose gold with guillochage, a decorative engine-turned engraving.
What inspired the scalloped edges of the Tambour Convergence window?
The scalloped edges of the window echo the interior architecture of the Art Nouveau-style family home in Asnières, near Paris. The window’s shape carries this family story.
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