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For 2021, Louis Vuitton introduces a 3rd technology to its line of Tambour Diver watches with the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver assortment. Right now, I am going hands-on with the black and yellow Tambour Road Diver Neon Black reference QA122 (debuted on aBlogtoWatch right here). It’s a fairly great-looking watch that continues a legacy of a few of the most pretty and quirky dive watches, from one of many world’s hottest luxurious manufacturers.
Although LVMH (which Louis Vuitton is a part of) owns quite a lot of watchmakers, together with Hublot, BVLGARI, Zenith, and TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton additionally makes watches and has been since 2002. Many of those watches are within the under-$10,000 vary, however now and again, Louis Vuitton creates some actually spectacular stuff that may be priced into the tons of of hundreds of {dollars}. Nearer to earth is the brand new Tambour Road Diver assortment, which isn’t low cost however comes with loads of fashion and refinement (you realize, rather a lot like different Louis Vuitton gear).
The Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver started life again in 2005 when Louis Vuitton first launched that glorious product (such because the reference Q1031 mannequin that I’ve owned and admired for quite a few years). Louis Vuitton later got here out with a second-generation Tambour Diver (such because the reference Q113A) that made quite a few modifications to the case and dial. My favourite a part of that second-generation Diver was how the subsidiary seconds hand was designed to appear to be a diving flag. Now, the third technology Tambour Diver is right here, and it’s extra meant for on-land use given its identify, the “Tambour Road Diver.” The gathering launches with three fashions for males containing computerized actions, and a smaller white-colored mannequin for ladies that incorporates a quartz motion.
The long-lasting Tambour case (modeled after the look of a musical drum) has not visually diversified a lot from technology to technology, however throughout the varied Diver generations, Louis Vuitton has made quite a few modifications. In reality, solely the primary technology Tambour Diver was a real diver’s watch with 300 meters of water resistance. Right now — and ever because the second-generation product — the Tambour Diver case is waterproof to 100 meters. All that appears to have modified are the crowns and caseback design. Whereas 100 meters is greater than ample for many swimming and even some diving exercise, I do want the product was waterproof to a full 300 meters.
The 2021 Tambour Road Diver has a really related dial format as the unique Diver, albeit with out the date window. We see a return to the second case crown, which is used to rotate the interior diver’s timing bezel. This stays one in all my favourite watches with an inner rotating bezel. The interior bezel crown is coated in black rubber with a small yellow diver motif on it, and, in keeping with Louis Vuitton, it’s coloured black in order to visually differentiate it from the crown for the time. The 2 crowns appear to be miniature variations of the Tambour case – which is charming, and the design of the crowns is new for this technology Tambour Diver product. The case continues to be the identical 44mm-wide dimension in metal, which, for this Tambour Road Diver Neon Black, is usually in matte PVD-coated black.
Components just like the lug construction and buckle (together with the first crown) are in polished metal, making for a pleasant two-tone look. I actually just like the neon yellow-colored Louis Vuitton lettering across the periphery of the case, which is a theme that started with the unique Tambour Diver.
The Tambour Road Diver now incorporates a show caseback with a semi-smoked sapphire crystal that makes the motion view a bit extra “moody.” The motion contained in the watch is a Swiss Made ETA 2895 computerized, which has been used for all of the mechanical Tambour watches on account of its having a subsidiary seconds dial. The motion operates at 4Hz with about two days of energy reserve. As I stated earlier than, the Tambour Road Diver opts for a extra symmetrical dial format and thus removes the presence of the date window that on previous-generation fashions was positioned at 3 o’clock.
The dial of the Tambour Road Diver may be very youthful and classy but additionally enjoyable and legible. It has a classicism to it given the deal with readability with out additional ornamental design parts. The primary-generation mannequin was the identical however had touches like using darkish mother-of-pearl for the subsidiary seconds dial materials. The Tambour Road Diver borrows a glance from the middle-generation Tambour with a diagonal line chopping by it — solely in black-on-black colours. This was initially impressed by the enduring pink and white diver’s flag, however for the Road Diver, is only a small visually attention-grabbing factor that provides character to the face while you look intently sufficient at it.
The hour and minute fingers are polished, with the minute hand having a broad “yellow V” arrow finish to it. One other Louis Vuitton “V” is positioned within the design of the 60-minute marker on the interior rotating bezel. The polish of the fingers doesn’t actually harm legibility in any respect, and it does assist them match the polished metal elements of the case a bit higher. The dial is painted with a good quantity of Tremendous-LumiNova luminant materials and over the dial is a flat, AR-coated sapphire crystal.
Connected to the case is a customized black rubber strap that has a neon yellow “Louis” on one finish and “Vuitton” on the opposite. A reverse colour strap can also be obtainable (yellow rubber with black textual content) On the wrist, the Tambour Road Diver is extraordinarily comfy — one thing which has remained true all through the complete Tambour watch assortment. Additionally new are the quick-release straps, which make it straightforward to range up the fashionability of the Tambour Road diver Neon Black with ease. After all, you’ll must do it with straps acquired from Louis Vuitton immediately.
Whereas the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver is extra of a luxurious way of life watch than a instrument timepiece, it does have the center of a sports activities watch in each fashion and poise. It’s neat-looking, youthful, cozy, and attention-grabbing. Additionally take a look at the Skyline Blue mannequin, in addition to the Black Blaze model with 18k rose gold. Worth for the Louis Vuitton Tambour Road Diver Neon Black is $7,505 USD. Study extra on the Louis Vuitton web site right here.
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