
Since its introduction in 2021, the Tambour Road Diver has develop into one of many cornerstones of Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking lineup due to its distinctive form and casually targeted, colorfully graphic strategy to dive watch design. As the gathering enters its third 12 months, Louis Vuitton provides a chronograph to the sequence to the design for the primary time, injecting new life and added performance into the already vibrant line. Out there in a pair of acquainted colorways, the brand new Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph delivers a strong and impressively balanced new aspect to one of many model’s most distinctive watch sequence.
At 46mm-wide and 14mm-thick, the stainless-steel circumstances of the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph ought to put on notably bigger than their three-hand counterparts, however smaller than the numbers would possibly counsel due to a lot of design elements. Chief amongst these is the unorthodox connected lug construction. These lugs stand out instantly from the principle case physique in photographs due to their brightly polished ending, whereas the darker matte navy blue or matte black PVD coating on the central case ought to have a visually slimming impact on the wrist. Different Tambour sequence hallmarks such because the inwardly-sloping “drum” case kind and the Louis Vuitton engraving alongside the aspect of the slim mounted bezel return right here, together with the sequence’ refined tapering crown design. Each variants decide for easy polished oval chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, drawing consideration to the brand new complication organically with out deviating from the clear, softly rounded geometry of the general design. These new additions do pressure the Tambour Road Diver line’s hallmark second crown (used for adjusting the interior rotating dive bezel) to the ten:30 place, calling to thoughts different dual-crown divers just like the traditional Omega Seamaster Skilled in photographs.
From right here, the 2 Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph variants diverge visually. The Skyline Blue mannequin gives the brighter, extra upscale look of the pair, with a mirror-polished outer bezel, a wealthy matte navy blue most important case, and 10:30 crown, and an identical navy blue fill for the engraved Louis Vuitton signature across the fringe of the bezel. In contrast, the Neon Black mannequin is markedly sportier and extra aggressive. Louis Vuitton tops the matte black PVD most important case with a bezel in shiny polished black, and provides this refined distinction a extra vibrant punch with an electrical yellow fill for the engraved bezel lettering. Each variants provide a smoked sapphire show caseback to focus on their ETA-based automated chronograph actions, and supply an honest (if underwhelming) 100 meters of water resistance.
Louis Vuitton opts for a light-weight contact on the subject of revising the dial of the Tambour Road Diver Chronograph. Practically all of the design parts are carried over from the unique three-hander, and with its two-register format, the chronograph arguably has a extra balanced and cleaner look than its predecessor. Just like the three-hand Tambour Road Diver, the Tambour Road Diver Chronograph’s dial is dominated by its broad, gently sloping inside bezel. With a clear, ethereal scale punctuated by a coloration block section for the primary quarter-hour, it is a trendy, graphic riff on the traditional dive bezel idea and one which introduces a hearty dose of vibrancy to the format. The model echoes this beneficiant use of accent coloration via the arrow-tipped minute hand, the utilized diver indices, and the 9 o’clock chronograph minutes subdial. The brand new central chronograph seconds hand additionally picks up this accent coloration, whereas its open diamond-shaped counterweight offers this component some much-needed visible presence amid the chunkier parts of the general format. Louis Vuitton retains the dial textual content and markings to a minimal general, restraining the Tambour Road Diver Chronograph to a light-weight outer minutes scale, a easy printed signature at 12 o’clock, and a single line of “Automatique” textual content at 6 o’clock (together with the compulsory “Swiss Made” mark embedded within the minutes scale). As with the circumstances, each variants convey a novel power to the design via their use of coloration. The Skyline Blue mannequin provides power to the refined mix of radially brushed navy blue surfaces and polished {hardware} with accents in energetic sky blue, whereas the matte black dial floor of the Neon Black mannequin takes a up to date sporting flip due to highlights in brilliant sign yellow.
Contained in the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph beats the ETA 2894-2 modular automated chronograph motion. Though many opponents provide in-house actions on this worth vary, the 2894-2 could be very a lot a identified amount within the watch trade, and its simplicity and commonality ought to make for simple servicing sooner or later. Likewise, the 2894-2’s ending is on the less complicated aspect in photographs, with primary Côtes de Genève throughout the signed rotor above bridges in uniform perlage. Efficiency is kind of according to different purposes of this motion, with a considerably underwhelming 42-hour energy reserve at a 28,800 bph beat price. Louis Vuitton finishes each variations of the Tambour Road Diver Chronograph with case-matching rubber straps, that includes an outsized contrasting “Louis Vuitton” signature operating down the raised central part of every strap.
With its minimally invasive strategy to including problems and its vibrant, modern coloration palettes, the brand new Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph line maintains the glossy, modern attraction of its three-hand counterpart whereas including helpful performance. The Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph is offered now via licensed sellers. MSRP for each variants of the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Chronograph stands at a substantial $11,105 USD as of press time. For extra data, please go to the model’s web site.