The Louis Vuitton Escale universe reaches a new emotional register with the introduction of the Escale Minute Repeater, a timepiece that translates the passage of time into a crystalline chime. While its siblings focus on the visual geography of the world, this creation celebrates the auditory heritage of high watchmaking through a rare combination of a minute repeater and jumping hours. Developed by master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, the manually wound LFT SO 13.01 calibre is a tribute to their shared history with the legendary Gérald Genta.

The aesthetic of the watch is one of engine turned elegance, featuring a dial that requires up to 60 hours of meticulous hand guilloché work on a traditional rose engine. A flammé pattern radiates from the center, drawing the eye toward a retrograde minute hand that glides back to zero with a dampened, graceful motion at the top of every hour. To ensure the jumping hour is always visible, the aperture is thoughtfully positioned at six o'clock, featuring a polished bassiné effect that enhances legibility.

True sophistication lies in the ability of the Louis Vuitton Escale to conceal its most profound complexities until the exact moment of their reveal. In a departure from the predictable tropes of conventional horology, the slide that awakens the chime is integrated seamlessly into the lugs, preserving the pristine silhouette of the 18k rose gold case. Inside, hammers of midnight-black polish strike gongs tuned by ear to achieve a crystalline vibration of remarkable volume.

From the traditional Côtes de Genève finishing to the nearly silent centrifugal governor, every one of the 432 components is a testament to an uncompromising standard where the spirit of travel and the soul of sound move as one.