Louis Vuitton elevates the rare art of ornamental stonework to unprecedented heights with two new limited-edition Escale timepieces, each produced in just 30 pieces worldwide. Showcasing dials and monolithic mid-cases fashioned from turquoise and malachite, the collection stands as a tribute not only to the Maison’s richly layered legacy but also to the timeless beauty found in nature’s most captivating treasures.

From its inception, the Escale has embodied the Maison’s legendary “Art of Travel.” The sculptural case, inspired by Louis Vuitton’s historic trunks, invites discovery—echoing voyages that trace distant landscapes, shifting light, and the textures of the natural world.

In this new chapter, that philosophy meets mineral poetry.

Turquoise, with its meandering dark veins reminiscent of ancient river tributaries, and malachite, defined by its hypnotic bands of deep green, are more than materials—they are geological narratives captured in time.

Artistic Director Matthieu Hegi of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton turned to the dress watches of the late 20th century for inspiration—an era in which ornamental stone dials became icons of horological artistry. “Each stone is unique,” he explains. “The reflections, the veining, the internal architecture—it is nature’s own creation. What we do is bring that beauty into focus.”

Transforming fragile minerals into three-dimensional, wearable architecture demands profound savoir-faire. Before even the first prototype could be envisioned, artisans at La Fabrique des Boîtiers were challenged to reimagine the entire Escale case construction.

Stone’s non-homogeneous structure means every fragment behaves differently. Cutting, milling, shaping, and polishing require an artisan’s real-time intuition—responding instantaneously to inclusions, natural fissures, and minute variations inherited from millennia underground.

The caseback reveals the chronometer-certified LFT023—a study of modern precision and decorative restraint. Its 22K rose-gold micro-rotor, sand-blasted surfaces, polished chamfers, and transparent jewels reinforce the theme of contrasts and tactile sophistication.

A saffron-toned sapphire on the reverse—a nod to Louis Vuitton tradition—quietly signifies the use of platinum.