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Watches

7 timepiece highlights from May and June 2024: Louis Vuitton’s Escale editions, Richemont’s movements, Jay-Z’s Wristcheck investment … and Bugatti reversing the trend of watches inspired by hypercars

STORYJosiah Ng
Watch-ful moments (from left): Louis Vuitton’s new edition of the Escale; NBA Champion Jayson Tatum sporting a Richard Mille during the Boston Celtic’s championship parade in June; Nicolas Bos is named Richemont CEO. Photos: Handout, USA Today
Watch-ful moments (from left): Louis Vuitton’s new edition of the Escale; NBA Champion Jayson Tatum sporting a Richard Mille during the Boston Celtic’s championship parade in June; Nicolas Bos is named Richemont CEO. Photos: Handout, USA Today
Timepieces

  • LVMH bought Swiza and, with Chanel and Hermès, was appointed to the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation board, joining Rolex and Patek Philippe
  • Rapper and billionaire Jay-Z bought into luxury watch vendor Wristcheck, while Sylvester Stallone raised US$6.7 million auctioning his treasured timepieces at Sotheby’s

The year is half over – and the world of high horology has been keeping pace. Key players have made their moves: LVMH acquired a clock maker and joined the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation Board, Richemont shuffled its management, and Jay-Z bought into luxury watch marketplace, Wristcheck.
Luxury timepieces were spotted on famous wrists at the NBA champions parade, Champions League final, Wimbledon, Paris Fashion Week and more, while some of Sylvester Stallone’s pieces hit the auction block. Many brands – established and aspiring alike – released watches that couldn’t be ignored as summer got under way!

Here are Style’s favourite watch moments from May and June:

1. LVMH – new buy, new models

L’Epée 1839 Time Fast II Chrome – the renowned clock maker was acquired by LVMH. Photos: Handout
L’Epée 1839 Time Fast II Chrome – the renowned clock maker was acquired by LVMH. Photos: Handout
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Luxury conglomerate LVMH had its fingerprints all over the last few months – especially in high horology, from marquee releases to corporate moves. News broke in June that LVMH had entered the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation board along with Chanel and Hermès, joining current members Rolex, Richemont Group and Patek Philippe. LVMH also announced on June 25 that it had acquired Swiza, the owner of independent high-end clock manufacturer L’Epée 1839.

L’Epée 1839 CEO Arnaud Nicolas with the Mechanical Clock prize at GPHG
L’Epée 1839 CEO Arnaud Nicolas with the Mechanical Clock prize at GPHG
The latter move expands the conglomerate’s potential wealth of horological offerings. Founded in 1839, L’Epée 1839 designs stunning high-end clocks. Last November, the maison and its CEO Arnaud Nicolas took home the Mechanical Clock prize at 2023’s edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève’s (GPHG) for its Time Fast II Chrome.
Louis Vuitton released new editions of the Escale
Louis Vuitton released new editions of the Escale

For watch enthusiasts, arguably the most exciting headline came from LVMH’s Louis Vuitton. The luxury leather goods maison released new, sleek and elegant time-only editions of the Escale. While the pieces feature the in-house LFT023 movement, also seen in the brand’s watershed Tambour last year, what is most notable about the new Escale editions are the intricate dial and case design details. The 39mm watch has lugs that specifically evoke the metalwork and finish of the maison’s trunk-making heritage, and the dials range from blue or silver stamped textured dials to onyx and meteorite.

Louis Vuitton’s Escale features lugs that recall the metalwork and finish of the maison’s trunk-making heritage
Louis Vuitton’s Escale features lugs that recall the metalwork and finish of the maison’s trunk-making heritage

2. Richemont’s movements