Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has revealed the names of the five exceptional finalists for its inaugural Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives. Alongside this announcement, the brand also introduced the esteemed members of the jury who will play a crucial role in determining the winner.
The five finalists, each showcasing extraordinary talent and innovation in the realm of watchmaking, will present their distinctive timepiece projects at the Fondation Louis Vuitton on February 6, 2024. The winner of this prestigious award will be declared during an evening celebration.
The finalists include Petermann Bédat, a collaborative effort by Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat, independent watchmakers since 2017. Simon Brette, an indie watchmaker, has crafted the Chronometre Artisans watch, seamlessly blending neo-classicism with art nouveau elements and an in-house caliber. John-Mikaël Flaux, another independent watchmaker, brings a touch of surrealism with his L’Abeille Mécanique, a unique figurative mechanism housed in silver and gold.
Andreas Strehler and Enrico Santoni, independent watchmakers since 1995, present the “time object” Tischkalender Sympathique—a mechanical perpetual desk calendar adorned with gilded brass and lapis lazuli. Raúl Pagès, with the RP1 – Régulateur à détente, introduces a manual-winding wristwatch in stainless steel featuring an in-house caliber and a new Brutalist aesthetic.
Jean Arnault, Director of Watches at Louis Vuitton, expressed his congratulations to the finalists, stating, “In your hands, the horizon for Independent Watchmaking is looking very bright indeed.” The Louis Vuitton Watch Prize attracted close to 1,000 submissions, with 20 semi-finalists shortlisted and evaluated by a Committee of Experts based on criteria such as Design, Creativity, Innovation, Craftsmanship, and Technical Complexity.
The esteemed jury members overseeing the final selection are Carole Forestier-Kasapi (Movements director at Tag Heuer), Auro Montanari (watch collector and expert), Rexhep Rexhepi (founder of Atelier Akrivia), Jiaxian Su (freelance journalist specializing in watches), and Michael Tay (President of the jury and group managing director of The Hour Glass).
The eventual winner of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize will receive a year-long mentorship at La Fabrique du Temps, Vuitton’s watch manufacturing plant in Meyrin, Switzerland, in addition to a financial prize.
