[New for 2022] Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time Air Quantum: A new jumping hour watch that lights up on demand

Louis Vuitton's Spin Time, released in 2009, attracted attention by rethinking the traditional jumping hour complication and elevating the conventional way of displaying time into a three-dimensional dance.

The new Tambour Spin Time Air Quantum retains the three-dimensional movement of the Spin Time, but has evolved and transformed it further. The hour cubes light up on demand, adding a fourth dimension. This mysterious light, which appears to be emanating from within the cubes, demonstrates Louis Vuitton's originality, which is not found in specialized watchmakers.

　At the heart of the watch is the Caliber LV 68, developed exclusively by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, a Geneva watchmaking atelier specializing in complex movements. Appearing to float within the watch case, the Caliber LV 68 is a mechanical movement, just like the movements in the previous Spin Time Air models, and performs the exact same functions. Pressing the pusher integrated into the crown illuminates the hour cubes. This is made possible by a small LED placed directly inside the flange on the top of each cube. The LED casts a small but powerful beam of light within each cube, creating the illusion of the cubes being illuminated from within.

Characteristics

The Tambour Spin Time Air Quantum's cutting-edge nature is reflected in its bold aesthetic, which sets it apart from mechanical Spin Time watches. The watch features a matte black case with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating, contrasting with the vibrant green and yellow of Super-LumiNova, the distinctive colors of the luminescent paint. The watch also features a unique metallized Louis Vuitton emblem resembling a circuit board on the sapphire case back, creating a unified look from any angle.

　The illumination can be bright and continuous. The cube will stay lit as long as you hold down the push button. The illumination will also stay on for 3 seconds after you release the push button.

　While the cubes in the traditional Tambour Spin Time Air are made from rolled aluminum, the Tambour Spin Time Air Quantum uses fused silica, a glass made from almost pure silicon dioxide. Eliminating impurities and additives requires processing at extremely high temperatures, making the manufacturing process more laborious and time-consuming. However, it is precisely this exceptional transparency that makes fused silica the material of choice for precision applications such as optical lenses, semiconductors, and the Hour Cube, which transmits LED light.

　The LEDs are powered by two batteries secured by special rings hidden under the flange, allowing them to be changed without damaging the movement's electronics or mechanical components, while a subtle illuminated ring at the base of the crown acts as a battery level indicator, flashing when the battery finally needs replacing.

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