Before there was a jet set, there was Louis Vuitton. The luxury luggage house invented the concept of touring in style when it introduced its flat-bottomed, Trianon canvas-covered steamer trunks back in 1858, and it continues to introduce innovative bags, accessories, and leather goods designed for the global citizen.
While the days of leisurely first-class sightseeing may seem hopelessly romantic in our fast-paced world, Vuitton has always kept up with the travel times, most notably when it launched its first timepiece, the Tambour, in 2002. With its deep drum-shaped case and sloping sides, the Tambour’s look was, at the time, considered audacious and was an instant hit with both haute horology connoisseurs and fashion fiends.
Wanted on Voyage
Vuitton’s latest gift to the traveler is the Tambour Horizon, a luxury smart watch. The Horizon is a pioneering piece of wearable technology housed in the brand’s unmistakable Tambour case. On top of offering standard applications such as call, text, and email notifications, an alarm, and a step counter, it also offers a reliable way to stay connected from the time you check your laptop and tablet to the moment you return from your adventure.
Louis Vuitton worked closely with Google and Qualcomm Technologies to develop the Horizon’s smart watch technology. This partnership also means that the wearer can keep connected any place in the world (including China) with a Wi-Fi signal. The Tambour Horizon offers a battery life (under normal conditions) of 22 hours and is waterproof to 30m.
Using the most up-to-date Android Wear 2.0 technology, the Horizon also features exclusive functions such as “My Flight,” which alerts departing travelers of their flight times and terminal and gate information, and “City Guide,” an app for finding the best nearby restaurants, hotels, historical landmarks, and tourist attractions in real-time. The wearer can also personalize the digital dial with a multitude of watch faces (for example, a GMT, a chronograph, an Escale dial).
Travel Rewards
The Horizon also innovates with its more tangible properties. Buyers have the option to choose from three case finishes — graphite, monogram, or black — and between 60 easily swappable straps. Having a watch that’s adaptable to any occasion is a plus for travelers who like to pack light.
Priced between $4,000 (for a small steel version) to $123,000 for a white-gold-and-diamond, panther-spotted version; available now on louisvuitton.com.
