Louis Vuitton’s Tambour watch case, whose name means “drum” in French was first released in 2002, and over the last 23 years, it has lent itself to numerous complications including minute repeaters and automata. But the most iconic complication is the Spin Time, which was first introduced in the Tambour in 2009. Designed by Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, the Spin Time is a unique and complex jump hour watch that relies on 12 revolving cubes placed around the circumference of the dial to show the current hour.

Louis Vuitton has now introduced the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time collection, featuring six variants: two time-only Spin Time models, two time-only Spin Time Air models, a Spin Time Flying Tourbillon, and the Spin Time Antipode, which has an ingenious world time complication. The watches are all in white gold and feature a redesigned Tambour case named after taiko, a traditional Japanese drum with a barrel-like shape often used in ceremonies, festivals, and traditional music.

While the original Tambour was characterised by a tall sloping flanks, the absence of a bezel and centre lugs, the new case comprises of three parts – case back, middle and bezel – along with individually soldered lugs. Whereas the case was entirely polished in the original, the case band has a satin finish which helps reduce the perceived thickness of the watch. The bezel also helps to break up the height of the case and like the 2023 Tambour, it features the brand name stamped in relief with polished letters against a frosted surface. The lugs are of a similar design to the Tambour Convergence launched simultaneously, where the top surfaces of the lugs are polished and their lateral surfaces are hollowed and micro-sandblasted. Further distinguishing it from all other Tambour cases, the case middle has an inflection point which introduces a slight curve before transitioning into the domed case back.

All the watches feature dolphin grey dials, complemented by the same indices, typography, and hand design introduced with the 2023 Tambour. The hands are skeletonized, with the void in their outer halves filled with luminous material for enhanced legibility. Notably, while the patented Spin Time module was previously paired with an ETA base movement, these watches now incorporate a newly developed in-house automatic base movement by La Fabrique du Temps, the same movement used in the new Tambour Convergence. At the same time, the Spin Time jump hour module has a more robust system that was granted a patent last year. Additionally, while the Spin Time previously utilised cubes with straight edges, the Tambour Taiko Spin Time employs cubes composed of four gently curved faces, giving each cube a cushion-shaped profile.

The time-only Spin Time model is presented in white gold, with or without diamonds, and represents the smallest model in the collection. It measures 39.5 mm diameter and 12.15 mm in height. The non-diamond version features a sunburst dial while the diamond-set version is distinguished by a dial made of hawk’s eye, a variety of quartz known for its shimmering chatoyancy and deep bluish-grey tone.

The movement is the self-winding LFT ST13.01 calibre which comprises of a jump hour module and a self-winding base movement that has frequency of 4Hz and a power reserve of 45 hours – both newly developed by La Fabrique du Temps. The mechanism once again operates on system of 12 Maltese cross gears – each connected to an hour cube..

While the original jump hour relies on an hour ring with 12 internal notches, the hour ring in the new module functions as a Maltese cross itself, featuring 12 internal branches along with two notches on its rim. The two notches are responsible for rotating the current cube from the active position to the “off” position and simultaneously rotates the next cube to the time-telling position.

The hour Maltese cross ring is driven by a compact assembly comprising a driving wheel with a rotating finger that periodically engages the radial grooves on the inner perimeter of the hour disc. This engagement causes the hour disc to rotate incrementally by 1/12 of a turn per hour. A locking mechanism, consisting of complementary locking portions on the hour disc and a locking element attached to the driving wheel, stabilises the hour disc between movements to prevent unintended shifts.

At the top of each hour, the controlled rotation of the hour disc precisely positions the grooves to engage the Maltese cross gears of the respective hour cube. This causes the current hour cube to rotate to the “off” position and the next cube to display its active face. The new design ensures smooth and robust operation, allowing the time display to be adjusted backwards and forwards while the compact arrangement optimises space within the watch case.

While the Spin Time has a solid dial, the Spin Time Air is characterized by a transparent periphery, giving the cubes the appearance of floating satellites, suspended between the movement and the case. To enhance this striking effect, the case is larger, measuring 42.5 mm in diameter and 12.45 mm in thickness. The movement remains identical to that of the Spin Time, but the cubes are mounted on longer shafts to support the levitating display. Once again, the watch comes in a regular version with a sunburst dial and a diamond-set variant with a hawk’s eye dial. The latter features over 1,000 diamonds arranged in a snow setting across the lugs, bezel, dial centre as well as cubes.

Undoubtedly, the most intriguing model in the collection is the Spin Time Air Antipode, a world time watch which ingeniously uses the Spin Time concept to display the time across 24 time zones at once, complete with a day-night indication. The simplicity and legibility of the display, and how naturally the mechanism lends itself to the complication, are astonishing.

Local time is indicated by a skeletonised minute hand and a yellow hour pointer printed on a rotating world map disc. World time is indicated by the 12 cubes of the Spin Time mechanism encircling the map. Each cube features the names of two cities, 12 hours apart such as Paris and Midway, with blue denoting night and silver representing day. At the same time, the 12-hour chapter ring rotates counter-clockwise and the hour numeral next to each cube represents the current time in both cities on that cube.

Finally, there is the Spin Time Air Flying Tourbillon, the most visually striking model, distinguished by a central flying tourbillon. While central tourbillons are not new to the Tambour Spin Time, this marks the first instance of combining it with a suspended jump hour cube display. The result is captivating, as the prominence of the one-minute flying tourbillon somewhat accentuates the visual disconnect between the crown and the movement.

Naturally, putting the tourbillon in the center of the dial means that the automatic base movement had to be heavily modified. The in-house calibre LFT ST05.01 was the result of extensive reconfiguration, including the barrel and going train, the keyless works for winding and setting, and the motion works for driving the minute indicator as it had to do away with a traditional hand.

The movement retains a frequency of 4Hz and a 45-hour power reserve like all the other models. The steel cage takes the shape of Louis Vuitton’s monogram flower which has been finished by hand, and surrounding the tourbillon at its base is a steel plate that has been mirror-polished, which further accentuates the effect that the tourbillon is disconnected from the rest of the movement.

Tech Specs: Spin Time (Ref. W9WG62 & Ref. W9WG52)

Movement: Self-winding LFT ST13.01 calibre; Power reserve of 45 hours; 4Hz (28,800vph)
Functions: Spin Time hour display and analog minutes
Case: 39.5 mm x 12.15 mm; 18K white gold (Ref. W9WG62) and 18K white gold set with 68 baguette-cut diamonds (Ref. W9WG52); water-resistant to 100m
Dial: Sunray dial (Ref. W9WG62) or Hawk’s eye with 12 baguette-cut diamonds (Ref. W9WG52)
Strap: Dolphin grey rubber strap
Availability: At Louis Vuitton boutiques
Price: EUR 67,000 (Ref. W9WG62) and EUR 133,000 (Ref. W9WG52)

Tech Specs: Spin Time Air (Ref. W9WG41 & Ref. W9WG31)

Movement: Self-winding LFT ST13.01 calibre; Power reserve of 45 hours; 4Hz (28,800vph)
Functions: Spin Time Air hour display and analog minutes
Case: 42.5 mm x 12.45 mm; 18K white gold (Ref. W9WG41) or 18K white gold set with 909 brilliant-cut diamonds (Ref. W9WG31); water-resistant to 50m
Dial: Sunray (Ref. W9WG41) or Hawk’s eye dial set with 118 brilliant-cut diamonds (Ref. W9WG31)
Strap: Beige calf leather
Availability: At Louis Vuitton boutiques
Price: EUR 75,000 (Ref. W9WG41) and EUR 133,000 (Ref. W9WG31)

Tech Specs: Spin Time Antipode (Ref. W9WG21)

Movement: Self-winding LFT ST12.01 calibre; Power reserve of 45 hours; 4Hz (28,800vph)
Functions: Worldtime with Spin Time Air day and night display; analog minutes
Case: 42.5 mm x 12.45 mm; 18K white gold; water-resistant to 50m
Strap: Beige calf leather
Availability: At Louis Vuitton boutiques
Price: EUR 92,000

Tech Specs: Spin Time Flying Tourbillon (Ref. W9WG11)

Movement: Self-winding LFT ST05.01 calibre; Power reserve of 45 hours; 4Hz (28,800vph)
Functions: Spin Time Air hour display and analog minutes; central tourbillon
Case: 42.5 mm x 12.45 mm; 18K white gold; water-resistant to 50m
Strap: Beige calf leather
Availability: At Louis Vuitton boutiques
Price: EUR 158,000