Introducing: The New Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection

Jump-hour watches are a fascinating branch within the world of horology. They often only show you the exact information you need when you look at your watch — the hours, the minutes, and sometimes the seconds. In 2009, Louis Vuitton, with the help of master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, introduced the Spin Time, an original take on the concept. Two numerals spin around each hour to hide the previous hour and reveal the current one. Over the years, the complication found a home in various Louis Vuitton watches. For LVMH Watch Week 2025, the brand introduces the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection in six limited editions.

Louis Vuitton’s Spin Time complication revolves around 12 satellite cubes floating around the dial’s center. In contrast to other jump-hour complications, the Spin Time concept doesn’t hide the information you don’t need. Rather, it highlights the information you do need. Let’s take a closer look at the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection.

The new Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection

I’ll start by clarifying where the Taiko name comes from. In Japanese, the word taiko (太鼓) refers to any kind of drum, just like tambour does in French. Both words, of course, refer to the watch’s drum-like case shape. There are six new references within the Tambour Taiko Collection. Actually, though, it consists of four types of watches.

First up, there is the Tambour Taiko Spin Time. This is a watch with a 39.5mm white gold case and a frame between the satellite cubes. You can get a hand-polished, laser-frosted, and brushed white gold case or a version on which the dial, bezel, and lugs are set with 80 baguette-cut diamonds.

Then, there’s the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air. Its white gold case measures 42.5mm wide, and the space between the satellite cubes is empty. This causes a magical effect, making you think that the cubes are truly floating between the bezel and the dial. You can opt for this model with or without 1,005 brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial, cubes, and case.

Third up is the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode. This model has the same 42.5mm white gold case but adds a world-time complication to the Spin Time movement. This variation is not available with diamonds.

Finally, there’s the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon. This version, with the same 42.5mm white gold case as the Antipode, has an impressive-looking flying tourbillon mechanism right at the heart of the dial. Now that we’ve seen an overview of the new collection, it’s time to go a bit deeper into each new variation.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time

The “regular” Tambour Taiko Spin Time is the cleanest and most modest one thanks to the frame between the cubes. The dial at the center and the frame have a dolphin-gray color, just like the background for the inactive numerals. The active hour has a light gray background color to stand out from the rest. The satellite cubes in all these new Spin Time models have slightly rounded flanks. That way, they appear a little easier on the eye.

The minute hand in the center hovers over the applied indexes, which are either 18K white gold or diamonds. The dial’s center features a sunburst or vertically brushed finish and a mirror-polished edge. This smaller version of the Tambour Taiko Spin Time is water resistant to 100 meters. That’s why it comes on an integrated rubber strap in the same dolphin-gray shade as the dial. Unlike the other four versions, the case back of these “basic” Spin Time models is all white gold.

The non-diamond-set version of the Spin Time costs €80,000 and is a limited edition of 150 pieces. The version with diamonds costs €160,000, and only 50 pieces will be made.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air

The next model is the 42.5mm Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air, which truly highlights the floating satellite cubes thanks to the open air around them. For this model, the numerals moved to the center of the dial. The cubes carry either the Louis Vuitton letters or diamonds, depending on the version. They highlight the hour with a contrasting light gray background or dark blue sapphires. The center of the dial features a sunburst finish or diamonds.

On the smaller diamond-set Spin Time, the bezel also features baguettes. However, on the Spin Time Air, the laser-frosted bezel with the Louis Vuitton name in relief is untouched. The two Tambour Taiko Spin Time Air models are water resistant to 50 meters. That’s why they don’t come on a rubber strap but, rather, on a beige calfskin one. Additionally, the Spin Time Air has a display case back to reinforce the airy nature of the watch.

The white gold version of the Spin Time Air costs €90,000 and is a limited edition of 150 pieces. The version with diamonds costs €160,000, and with only 30 pieces in existence, it’s the most limited of the six versions.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode

As mentioned, the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode adds a world-time complication to the already impressive infrastructure. A small yellow triangle next to the world map in the center of the dial indicates the home time along with the minute hand. The Antipode model name refers to the fact that the dial displays opposite time zones. The cubes, which each carry the names of two cities exactly 12 hours apart, tell the time in 24 time zones, also along with the minute hand. Two contrasting colors on the cubes indicate whether it’s day or night in that part of the world.

Like the other five models in the collection, the brushed and polished 42.5mm case has an updated lug design. The lugs, which are screwed to the Tambour case, have a mirror-polished finish on the outside. The flanks are hollowed out and feature a laser-frosted finish, just like the bezel. This impressive Antipode is water resistant to 50 meters and also includes an exhibition case back and a beige calfskin strap.

The Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode costs €110,000, and production is limited to 50 pieces.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon

The final model in the collection is the Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon. Its name already gives it away, but the tourbillon mechanism in the center of the dial is still a surprising and impressive feature. The hand-finished tourbillon cage has the shape of Louis Vuitton’s iconic flower monogram, and the minute hand comes out from underneath. Once again, the hour numerals moved back to the satellite cubes, resulting in a clean and practical look.

The Tambour Taiko Spin Time Flying Tourbillon costs €190,000 and is a limited edition of 70 pieces.

Powered by in-house-developed movements

In 2023, Louis Vuitton presented a new time-only Tambour with the in-house-developed caliber LFT023. Even though that movement has a micro-rotor, LV says the calibers inside the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time watches are based on it. What they all have in common is a solid 18K rose gold rotor and transparent jewels rather than standard ruby-colored ones. They also all feature a 45-hour power reserve and run at a 28,800vph frequency. Notably, you can set them both forward and backward, which is rather uncommon for a jump-hour movement.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time and Spin Time Air models are powered by the same caliber LFT ST13.01. The Tambour Taiko Spin Time Antipode’s movement is called LFT ST12.01, and the one in the Flying Tourbillon model is called LFT ST05.01. All of these movements have sandblasted bridges with polished edges and chamfers, which are visible through the case backs of the 42.5mm models.

Impressions of the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection

I think Louis Vuitton did a great job on the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection. Of course, the Spin Time complication is quite extravagant and impressive, but I like that the rest of the design is quite understated. The dolphin-gray color feels mature and keeps the rather busy architecture fairly calm. Plus, the finishing on these watches is top-notch. That applies to the cases, dials, and movements. The designers didn’t overlook any detail, for example, the slight curve on the sides of the cubes. I already find watches with a jump-hour complication very interesting and attractive, and this new Spin Time collection makes me even more of a fan.

Let me know what you think of Louis Vuitton’s new Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection in the comments below!