Dubai Watch Week 2025: Louis Vuitton Escale Gets An Ornamental Stone Treatment In Malachite And Turquoise
3 min read
The original Louis Vuitton Escale timepiece with its world time complication was deeply associated with the Maison’s spirit of the art of travel. Last year, the brand introduced a time-only Escale dress watch to mark the collection’s 10th anniversary. This classic, round, and compact watch is revisited this year at the Dubai Watch Week 2025 and introduced in two limited editions with stone dials in malachite and turquoise.
Not only the dial, even the case middle is a band of matching stone and occurs as a monolithic ring in either malachite or turquoise. The new Escale models are released as limited editions with 30 pieces of each stone variant available.
Building on the house’s tradition of elevating travel and craftsmanship, these limited editions blend the artistry of ornamental stones with technical innovation to spectacular effect.
A Rare Stone-Set Statement
The new Escale releases are distinguished not just by vibrant malachite or turquoise dials, but also by monolithic rings of matching stone integrated into the case, a true rarity in high horology. Only 1mm wider than previous Escale models, the 40mm cases rely on meticulous stone selection: turquoise was chosen for its luminous blue hues and striking veins, while only the richest greens made the cut for malachite. The transformation of these relatively brittle stones into precisely machined watch cases and dials demanded fresh technical solutions from La Fabrique des Boîtiers, Louis Vuitton’s elite case atelier.
LV’s Classic Trunk Motifs Reinvented
To reinforce the ornamental stone elements, Louis Vuitton looked to the trunk-making design codes that are woven into the brand’s DNA. Polished, riveted lugs, inspired by the brass brackets on historic LV luggage add extra protection to the stone case band, as do the substantial platinum bezel and caseback. The distinctive LV-engraved octagonal crown and minute track with applied studs create a frame of luxury around the dial. On the wrist, the watches strike a dramatic balance, bold color and delicate natural patterns, armored by platinum’s reassuring weight and polish.
Artisanal Dial Details
Each dial is circled by a brushed minute ring with white gold studs and marked at each hour by platinum-finished bracket indices. The hands follow suit as dauphine hour and minute hands in white gold glide above the dial, while a subtly arched titanium central seconds hand traverses the stone’s natural curves. Every detail, from finishing to hand shape, enhances both the Escale’s luxurious presence and legibility.
Contemporary Mechanics And Exquisite Finishing
Inside beats the LFT023 automatic micro-rotor caliber, seen previously in the new Tambour but now adapted for a central seconds complication. Designed, produced, and housed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and manufactured by Le Cercle des Horlogers, this 4Hz movement delivers a robust 50-hour power reserve and is certified as a chronometer by COSC. The 22k engraved micro-rotor, monogram flower-shaped barrel, and diamond-polished bridges are all visible through the sapphire caseback serving a delight for collectors of mechanical art.
Bespoke Straps, Ultimate Exclusivity
Complementing each timepiece is a premium Saffiano leather strap, “Rainforest” green for the malachite and “Arroyo” gray for the turquoise, each fastened by a platinum buckle. With just 30 examples of each model produced, these Escale editions are set to become among the most desirable collector’s pieces of the year.
A New Chapter In Louis Vuitton Watchmaking
The Escale Malachite and Escale Turquoise are far more than bold jewelry watches, they represent the spirit of innovation and design that drives contemporary haute horlogerie. For those seeking something genuinely different, sculpted from the earth and protected by precious metal, this pair reflects both the mastery of stone and the artistry of time.
