Louis Vuitton Partners With Voutilainen For GMT Watch

By Pune Media On Apr 20, 2025

The newest collaboration between Louis Vuitton and master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen marks the height of this artistic interaction and produces an amazing timepiece honouring travel legacy and great workmanship.

Aiming to support independent watchmaking with limited-edition partnerships, the LVKV-02 GMR 6 represents the second design in Louis Vuitton’s “Louis cruises with…” collection. Limited to just five individually numbered pieces, this remarkable travel-inspired watch highlights the technical prowess of Voutilainen together with the creative mastery of Louis Vuitton’s La Fabrique du Tempo factory.

A Serendipitous Cooperation Two Decades Still to be Made

By chance, both Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen started their horological paths in 2002: Louis Vuitton with the release of its innovative Tambour watch and Voutilainen with the founding of his autonomous workshop at Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland. Their partnership finds a poetic symmetry on this shared anniversary.

Collectors of rare timepieces have given Finnish-born Kari Voutilainen a great reputation for extraordinary workmanship. Every Voutilainen watch reflects many hours of painstaking handwork that produces mechanical masterpieces combining modern design sensibility with ancient methods.

Within the watchmaking fraternity, cooperation also has a great benefit. Voutilainen’s involvement as a member of the committee of experts for the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives guarantees that funds from this unique alliance will help to support independent watchmaking and the Prize initiative itself—the very cause that inspired the “Louis cruises with…” series.

The Escale Case: Proof of Travel Legacy

The Escale casing of Louis Vuitton houses the LVKV-02 GMR 6; this reasonable choice for a travel-oriented watch is With the bezel, back, lugs, crown, and strap clasp set in platinum, the 40.5mm case consists of 52 pure tantalum components based on the newest Escale design released in 2024.

With English meaning “stopover,” the term “Escale” captures Louis Vuitton’s long legacy in travel-related art. The lugs always refer to the Maison’s famous trunks, mimicking the angled forms and riveted outside of the brass brackets and corners supporting Louis Vuitton’s leather goods creations.

The careful handwork involved in its construction distinguishes this instance. Reflecting the greatest degree of workmanship that defines Louis Vuitton, the lug polishing and satin finishing processes are carried out totally by hand. Every lug takes around one hour to process so that every detail satisfies the best of standards.

The most difficult part of the case fabrication is maybe satin-finishing the Tantalum case side. Hand-only, this procedure takes over four hours of work per piece. This method accentuates the natural brightness of the tantalum, therefore producing an arresting contrast with the polished platinum components. Combining matte and highly polished finishes improves the timepiece’s elegant look even further.

The case back bears the etching “Louis cruises with Kari,” which lends a distinctive touch, requiring about 12 hours of painstaking labour. This small detail represents the two partners’ cooperative attitude and shared values of excellence, invention, and workmanship.

An Extraordinary Dial: a Canvas of Artistic Expression

The LVKV-02 GMR 6’s dial bears evidence of remarkable workmanship. Made in four sections from gold, each feature has been painstakingly created to showcase the particular legacy and knowledge of both houses.

Perfect hand guilloché, an engraving method in which material is removed to produce complex patterns of curved or straight lines, adorns the centre of the gold dial in Voutilainen’s workshop. Inspired by Louis Vuitton’s well-known “Damier” pattern, this procedure uses old technology from the 18th century—a particularly challenging art form needing great dexterity, accuracy, and natural aesthetic sensitivity.

Hand-decorated by Maryna Bossy, a talented La Fabrique des Arts—the Métiers d’Art atelier at La Temps Louis Vuitton, the diamond-polished hour circle is a masterwork of miniature painting. This complex work calls for eight hours of firing overall, as well as thirty-two hours of painstaking painting using 28 distinct hues.

Expert La Fabrique Des Arts Louis Vuitton has created a wonderful miniature artwork referencing the design of ancient stained-glass windows, adornment of the hour circle beneath the white gold Roman numerals.

The second of the interlaced initials also serves as the first letter of “Voutilainen,” and the main dial also contains a handset created by the Voutilainen workshop, deftly combining the renowned “LV” mark with the “Voutilainen” moniker.

A Movement of Very Excellent Accuracy

The Voutilainen workshop’s amazing sun and moon imagery, which acts as a day and night indicator on the second time zone subdial, is one of the most striking elements of the dial. Many hours were spent first hand-engraved and then painstakingly decorating the sun and moon-inspired day/night disc created in Louis Vuitton’s trademark saffron and blue tones.

The enamel section on the day/night disc presented a great difficulty since reaching the delicate gradient needed calls for an artist’s touch and relentless perfectionism. A close look shows hidden forms of Louis Vuitton’s famous Monogram flower.

Such an amazing timepiece requires simply incredible movement to equip it. Designed, manufactured, crafted, polished, and assembled in the Voutilainen workshop was the GMR 6 calibre. Comprising 254 components with the main plate and bridges constructed from German silver, the LVOUTILAINEN movement boasts a very big balance wheel built in-house that enables flawless control within tight tolerances.

The movement uses a strange and unusual spring-based balance system. While the internal curve makes use of the little-known Grossmann curve, hence improving accuracy, the spring’s outside has a normal Phillips overcoil.

The two escapement wheels of this movement directly impulse the balance through jewels, making it especially unique. Requiring less energy than the Swiss lever escapement, this creative architecture increases efficiency and provides clear advantages for daily use, including lifespan, stability, and a longer power reserve.
Using “GMR 6” in the watch’s name pays homage to the second time zone feature, therefore honouring Louis Vuitton’s past as a trunk maker for adventurous travellers.

The ‘R’ signifies the power reserve display, while the ‘6’ denotes the location of the second time zone subdial. The GMT disc rotates in 24 hours and is designed to be set to ‘home’ time, allowing the central hour hand to be easily adjusted to local time in the country being visited with a simple press of the crown—a thoughtful design that ensures the watch is a perfect companion for global exploration.

Each movement is further enhanced with traditional finishes such as artisanal “Côtes de Genève” and perlage, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship for which both Louis Vuitton and the Voutilainen workshop are celebrated.

Every movement is a unique work of art, adorned with a kaleidoscopic pattern of multi-colored miniature painting on the mainspring barrel cover, visible through the open case back. This intricate decoration was meticulously hand-applied at La Fabrique des Arts Louis Vuitton by Maryna Bossy.

The ratchet applique, crafted from white gold, exemplifies the exceptional artistry realised at La Fabrique des Arts Louis Vuitton. It took approximately 16 hours to meticulously paint the ratchet with 27 different colours, involving 27 distinct operations, including around five kiln sessions and eight hours of firing to achieve the stunning final result.

A Bespoke Trunk: The Ultimate Presentation

As befits such an exceptional timepiece, each LVKV-02 GMR 6 will be delivered in a bespoke Louis Vuitton travel trunk, meticulously crafted using traditional methods at the historic Louis Vuitton workshops in Asnières. It is here, in the enchanting setting of the trunk-making workshops, where expertise and craftsmanship are passed down through generations.

The creation of each trunk is a journey of craftsmanship and artistry. Once the structure is completed with the precision and expertise that defines Louis Vuitton, the trunk is handed over to a small team of artisans who hand-paint it with a design that mirrors the intricate decoration and architecture of the watch dial. The trunk also features the signature “Louis cruises with Kari,” reinforcing the uniqueness of this collaboration.

To further enhance its exclusivity, each trunk is adorned with the edition number corresponding to one of the five available LVKV-02 GMR 6 watches, making each set uniquely allocated. This exquisite trunk, a masterpiece in its own right, not only cradles the timepiece but also serves as a symbol of the timeless elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship that define both partners.

Technical Specifications

LVKV-02 GMR 6

WATP11 Limited edition of 5 pieces
Case: Escale case (52 components)
Diameter: 40.5 mm
Thickness: 12.54 mm
Between lugs: 20 mm
Water resistance: 3 ATM (30 metres) – splash-resistant but should not be immersed
Dial: Hand-guilloché gold dial with a diamond-hour circle in miniature painting
Second time zone disc in gold (24-hour format) with day/night indication engraved and enamelled by hand
Gold and blued-steel hands
Movement: Manual-winding mechanical movement (GMR 6 calibre) with two direct-impulse escapement wheels in blued steel
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indicator, second time zone at 6 o’clock with day/night indication
254 components with German silver main plate and bridges
Gold wheels and white gold barrel cover with miniature painting
32 jewels
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour, balance wheel equipped with rose gold adjustment weights
Balance spring with Phillips terminal curve and Grossmann inner curve
65h of power reserve
Straps: Two options—grey fabric with brown leather lining and anthracite alligator with black leather lining
Buckle: Platinum pin buckle
Trunk: High watchmaking trunk in Monogram Eclipse canvas, hand-painted with a design reflecting the watch dial

A Celebration of Heritage and Innovation

In this unique collaboration, Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen have redefined the art of horology. The LVKV-02 GMR 6 is not merely a watch; it is a symbol of unparalleled craftsmanship, innovation, and the timeless spirit of travel.

Each element, from the meticulously crafted dial to the bespoke travel trunk, tells a story of dedication, artistry, and a shared passion for excellence. This timepiece stands as a singular celebration of the rich heritage and exceptional artistry of both Louis Vuitton and Kari Voutilainen, designed for those who seek the extraordinary in every moment of their journey.

This exclusive creation marks a special moment in the history of both Maisons, embodying the pinnacle of watchmaking and the spirit of adventure that has defined Louis Vuitton since its founding in 1854.

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