Upcoming LVMH Watch Prize for Independent Creators

[TimeTexas]

https://www.lvmh.com/news-documents/news/louis-vuitton-announces-jury-and-finalists-for-first-louis-vuitton-watch-prize-for-independent-creatives/

The finalists are:

• Petermann Bédat, Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat, independent watchmakers since 2017 
  • Chronographe Rattrapante

• Simon Brette, Simon Brette, independent watchmaker since 2022.
  • Chronométre Artisans

• John-Mikaël Flaux, John-Mikaël Flaux, independent watchmaker since 2018. 
  • L’Abeille Mécanique

• Andreas Strehler, Andreas Strehler and Enrico Santoni, independent watchmakers since 1995. 
  • Tischkalender Sympathique

• Pagès, Raúl Pagès, independent watchmaker since 2012. 
  • RP1- Régulateur à détente

This is a hell of a list of finalists. You can read more about each of the entries here:

https://www.louisvuittonwatchprize.com/finalists

The winner will be announced Tuesday, February 6th.

 

[TimeTexas]

Raúl Pagès wins

https://monochrome-watches.com/raul-pages-wins-the-2024-louis-vuitton-watch-prize-for-independent-creatives/

About the watch

https://monochrome-watches.com/raul-pages-regulateur-a-detente-rp1-and-detent-escapement-explained-review-price/

 

[TimeTexas]

Good article from Ariel Adams of ABTW on the winner.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/raul-pages-selected-as-winner-of-the-first-louis-vuitton-watch-prize-as-industry-celebrates-jean-arnault/

Quote

Louis Vuitton is really the big winner here. Part of its larger focus has been to get more people interested in and excited about the brand’s high-watchmaking programs and products. The company is moving away from lower-priced luxury timepieces with the plan of emphasizing higher-end, more artisanal timepieces. To be successful, it needs not only industry support but also expanded awareness among those people who purchase such products. Louis Vuitton, like sister brand Bulgari, has a bit of an uphill battle. Given Louis Vuitton’s primary focus on fashion and women’s goods, there is still a sentiment among many male watch enthusiasts that the company does not make products intended for them. This is false if you look at the timepiece products Louis Vuitton produces, but there is still a perception hurdle to continue overcoming. By getting opinion leaders from across the watch media industry to rally around Louis Vuitton and connect to its world of timepiece enthusiasm, the brand has moved considerably in the direction of gaining more approval from disparate parts of the timepiece industry. For its part, aBlogtoWatch has been covering Louis Vuitton’s watches with high levels of approval for years. Now others are taking fresh notice, in a process of “watch lover acceptance” that was quite similar to what Bulgari experienced starting about seven or eight years ago.

 

Bulgari has obviously been very successful at transitioning from "fashion" to high-end watchmaking. Although a different approach, there is no doubt LVMH is increasing awareness of high-end watchmaking from watchmakers that have only previously been known by true enthusiasts. I think the major hurdle will be ensuring the collaboration over the next year with Raul Pagés is successful in benefitting both LVMH, but more importantly, providing a platform for Pagés to not only increase awareness of his watches, but to also provide resources to create even more exceptional timepieces.

And while it appears that LVMH leaned heavily on the watch industry for this initial award, I imagine they will continue to use their massive presence in the fashion world to continue to build interest in independent watchmaking.