Louis Vuitton Brings Back the Monterey

Louis Vuitton's Monterey pays tribute to the original LV I and LV II watches, designed in 1988 by Italian architect Gae Aulenti, whose visionary touch also shaped Paris’s Musée d’Orsay. Her avant-garde pebble-shaped designs captured the brand's unique spirit, establishing an unmistakable design in watchmaking. The nickname “Monterey,” derived from the American pronunciation of montre (French for “watch”), has since become synonymous with these rare and sought-after creations.

Nearly four decades later, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton breathes new life into the design, preserving the bold simplicity of the case and distinctive form. The new Monterey is housed in an 18K yellow gold, lug-free case measuring 39mm in diameter and 12.9mm, with a crown positioned at 12 o’clock in homage to pocket watches. Limited to just 188 pieces, it is both a celebration of Louis Vuitton’s horological past and a testament to its modern craftsmanship.

At the heart of the Monterey’s refined minimalism lies a white Grand Feu enamel dial, a nod to the original’s graphic design but elevated through meticulous artistry. Achieving this level of perfection requires over 20 hours of precise layering and firing at temperatures reaching 900°C. The resulting surface radiates a unique opaline glow, a depth and warmth only possible through traditional enamelwork. Echoing the colors and geometry of the 1988 design, blue and red enamel accents mark the tracks, while the red syringe-style hour and minute hands are paired with a blued steel seconds hand. 

The Monterey’s case is fully crafted and polished in-house at La Fabrique des Boîtiers Louis Vuitton. The enlarged crown, engraved with a Clous de Paris texture, enhances both tactility and comfort, while Aulenti’s signature lug-free design remains intact. A discreet engraving of “1 of 188” appears on the case back, hidden beneath the black calfskin strap and known only to the wearer.

Unlike the quartz calibers of its predecessors, the new Monterey is powered by the in-house automatic caliber LFT MA01.02, developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 45-hour power reserve. Its finely finished components—sandblasted bridges, circular-grained main plate, and an 18K pink gold rotor adorned with V-notches recalling the Louis Vuitton Monogram—reflect love for to detail, even behind a closed case back.

Pricing is marked at $59,000.

To learn more, visit Louis Vuitton, here.