Louis Vuitton celebrates 20 years of Tambour with its new limited-edition watch

In 2002 Louis Vuitton unveiled the Tambour, a stylish timepiece inspired by the shape of a drum, and now, 20 years later the iconic French fashion house has released their anniversary edition.

“Watch enthusiasts will recognise all the features that made the Tambour’s design unique,” says Jean Arnault, marketing and development director for Louis Vuitton watches. “While this limited edition is a true concentration of everything that made this watch stand out, it also boasts brand new features that will set it apart for collectors,” says Arnault.

Assembled in-house by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, Twenty is a 41.5mm diameter, steel piece which is water resistant to 100 metres, emphasising the sporty approach of the modern chronograph watch. The automatic high-frequency movement is based on the 1969 iconic Zenith El Primero, the first automatic chronograph ever launched.

Throughout its many iterations over two decades, the Tambour has already carved its name in the watchmaking history books. Proving the success of its versatile design, Louis Vuitton took home two prizes at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021–the Tambour Carpe Diem received the Audacity Prize, while the Tambour Street won the Diver’s Watch Prize.

However, it is not the Tambour that kickstarted the journey of serious watchmaking, but rather the LV1 timepiece released in 1988. Drawn by Gae Aulenti and set in an 18-carat yellow gold case, the LV1 is fitted with a quartz movement exclusively developed by IWC. The model offers 10 features set around a single central axis such as retrograde date, moon phases, GMT, and 24-time zones–a bold and brave statement from Louis Vuitton.

The 2002 Tambour was also bold and innovative, and recognisable at a glance due to its distinctive case sculpted from a block of metal. The launch certainly opened the doors to the very exclusive world of horology for Louis Vuitton.

The updated Twenty is a true collector’s watch, limited to 200 pieces and a price tag of €14,500, it also features a brown sun-brushed dial, along with the chronograph’s long yellow hand glides as the two elegant sub-dials make a comeback. The signature brown and yellow colour scheme is already well-known, leaving little doubt about the maker of this special watch.

“To me, as well as celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Tambour watch," says Arnault, "this also paves the way for many future decades of fine watchmaking, staying true to Louis Vuitton’s values of creativity, craftsmanship and excellence.”