Louis Vuitton announces the new “Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives”
November 29, 2022
Louis Vuitton announces its new initiative, the biennial "Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives."
Watchmaking
Watchmaking means daring to play with the concept of time. Watchmaking is a manifest of craft and audacity, of paying attention to every little detail of a moving construction. Watchmakers are creatives who dare to build and deconstruct puzzles time and again. More than an award for watchmakers, the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize recognizes bold visions and independent thinking. It honors those who challenge the present and defy the boundaries of time.
Organized by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva, Switzerland, the prize
is founded on values inherent in the watchmaker’s passion for innovation and constant quest for excellence. Through this initiative, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton intends to celebrate the creative talent, savoir-faire, and audacity of the independent watchmaking industry, support and encourage artisans and entrepreneurs, and accompany future generations.
Watchmaking is not a dormant industry; it is not inaccessible. Young generations of watch enthusiasts are passionate and want to see new innovations on the market. That is why we want to create this initiative at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
This is a philanthropic and independent initiative to encourage watchmaking innovation and reward the best ideas in terms of technical innovation and avant-garde but also the traditional savoir-faire.
La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton preserves a unique approach to watchmaking
and continues to operate like an independent manufacturer. Built on a taste for innovation, audacity, and savoir-faire, it is led by a team of master watchmakers who bring exceptional timepieces to life one by one, from beginning to end. It is in this ambition that La Fabrique du Temps has created Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creative. The Prize is open to all: watchmakers, designers, entrepreneurs, recent graduates, and creatives from around the world.
The Committee
Louis Vuitton has convened a committee of 50 industry experts who share a passion for watchmaking innovation and creativity to evaluate their submissions. The committee includes specialized journalists and experts, artisans, artists and collectors. Candidates may register online on the dedicated Louis Vuitton Watch Prize website and submit their creative projects from the beginning of 2023 through the end of May 2023.
In September 2023, Louis Vuitton organizers and a commission of international and independent watch experts will establish a shortlist of twenty semi-finalists, who will be revealed online.
Timeline
In December 2023, the expert committee will select five finalists based on the following criteria: Design, Creativity, Innovation, Craftmanship, and Technical complexity. They will also designate a five-member jury to perform the final round of judging.
In January 2024, all five finalists for the Louis Vuitton Prize for Independent Creatives will be auditioned by the Jury in Paris. The winner will be announced at their honor's special reception hosted by Louis Vuitton.
Winner of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives is offered
a grant as well as a one-year mentorship by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, tailored to the needs of their creative project. A dedicated team will support the winner in multiple aspects, including communication, copyright, and corporate legal aspects, as well as marketing, industrial strategy, and the financial management of a brand.
For further details, please visit louisvuittonwatchprize.com.
About La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton
Maison Louis Vuitton began making watches in 2002 with the Tambour and has since pursued a constant quest for excellence in an area that resonates powerfully with the House’s passion for travel. In October 2014, the Maison inaugurated its new watch manufacturer, a state-of-the-art facility on the cusp of creativity and technology for innovative timepieces, in Meyrin, Switzerland. La Fabrique du Temps – literally “the time factory” – is home to all the specialized skills required to make Louis Vuitton watches. Creative independence and groundbreaking innovation define the La Fabrique du Temps, 4,000 square meters of luminous open space equipped with traditional artisanal tools and the latest digital technologies. The master watchmakers, engineers, and designers who craft Louis Vuitton watches enjoy an exceptional setting that consolidates their prestigious “Swiss Made” label.
