For its newest pocket watch, Louis Vuitton evidently looked to its home for inspiration. Returning to its roots, the house unveils the Escale au Pont-Neuf, the second creation in its Escales Autour du Monde pocket watch collection.
A tribute to the Maison’s Parisian heritage and horological artistry, this singular timepiece encapsulates the grandeur of haute horlogerie through mechanical complexity and decorative excellence.
Scenes Of Paris
Following the debut model inspired by the Amazon, Escale au Pont-Neuf celebrates Louis Vuitton’s headquarters on the right bank of Pont-Neuf — Paris’s oldest bridge — overlooking the Seine and the iconic Samaritaine. The pocket watch captures this historic setting in a dynamic automaton tableau, featuring 13 moving elements animated by a manual winding calibre, the LFT AU14.03.
At the heart of this mechanical spectacle is a scene portraying a crisp autumn day in Paris. A barge floats along the Seine carrying miniature LV trunks, while sparrows perch amidst amber foliage. A rotating golden compass is seen beneath a sky adorned with subtle LV monograms.
The stunning movement sees a fluttering French flag and distant Louis Vuitton banner, which adds a dose of patriotic flourish. These poetic animations are activated via a slide at six o’clock, showcasing seven animations in motion.
Horological Excellence
The calibre itself represents Louis Vuitton’s most intricate movement to date. Crafted entirely in-house at La Fabrique du Temps in Geneva, the LFT AU14.03 features a minute repeater and automaton module, comprising 561 components and more than 630 bevelled angles.
Notably, time is read from the reverse side, ensuring the dial remains a stage for this horological performance. Each movement is assembled and hand-finished by a single watchmaker over 500 hours, incorporating techniques such as mirror polishing, hand engraving, and traditional Côtes de Genève decoration.
The Métiers d’Art techniques used on the dial are no less extraordinary. Bas-relief engraving, champlevé enamelling, and miniature painting bring to life every detail—from the sculpted mascarons of the Pont-Neuf to the smallest monogrammed trunks. A palette of 30 enamel colours, applied over 30 firings, lends the scene its breathtaking depth and realism. In all, the enamelling work alone demanded over 300 hours.
Meticulous Detailing
Encased in white gold and framed by 60 baguette-cut stones totalling 3.85 carats, the case features Parisian arabesques engraved in the Art Nouveau style, echoing the Samaritaine’s ornate interior. The ensemble is completed by a handcrafted trunk and doctor’s-style leather bag — both exclusive creations from the historic Louis Vuitton workshop in Asnières.
With over 1,000 hours of cumulative craftsmanship spanning two and a half years, Escale au Pont-Neuf is a triumphant expression of Louis Vuitton’s dual mastery in horology and decorative arts — a collector’s piece that elevates the art of timekeeping to a new poetic pinnacle.
