Louis Vuitton Escale “Snake’s Jungle”: A Lunar New Year Exclusive
January 7, 2025 – Luxury Watches, Louis Vuitton Escale “Snake’s Jungle”
Louis Vuitton’s Escale Cabinet of Wonders trilogy introduces a timepiece that is as much a work of art as a technical marvel. The Escale “Snake’s Jungle”, was created to mark the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Wood Snake. Limited to just 20 pieces, this exquisite watch captures the Maison’s rich heritage while showcasing unparalleled artistry and modern ingenuity.
The Snake’s Jungle draws inspiration from Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s passion for Japan, specifically his personal collection of tsuba, the ornate handguards of traditional Japanese swords. This influence is apparent in every intricate detail, from the marquetry dial to the braided strap.
The dial is a breathtaking composition brought to life by Rose Saneuil, who meticulously crafted a bamboo forest from 367 individual pieces. Using wood, straw, and parchment, she seamlessly assembled the materials to create 14 shades of green through marquetry techniques. The result is a lush, textured backdrop for the watch’s centerpiece—a serpent.
The snake, symbolizing power and vitality, is a masterwork of combined techniques. Sculpted in white gold by Eddy Jaquet, its coiled body adheres to the rules of perspective, giving it depth and motion. The scales feature V-strokes and Monogram flowers, engraved with precision to enhance their three-dimensional appearance.
Champlevé enamel, meticulously applied by Vanessa Lecci, brings the serpent’s scales to life with rich colors and intricate details. Its gaze is fixed on a gold and nephrite jade orb, which forms the monogram of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, anchoring the serpent within its verdant environment.
The vitality of the bamboo forest isn’t confined to the dial. Leaves spill onto the 18-carat white gold case, breaking through the traditional boundaries of watch design. The case is further adorned with Seigaiha waves, a Japanese motif symbolizing the ocean, good fortune, and well-being.
Even the movement, the LFT023, carries the same attention to detail. Its bridges are decorated with Seigaiha waves, visible through the open caseback. The chronometer-standard self-winding mechanism delivers 50 hours of power reserve and ensures precision at 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The Japanese theme continues on the watch’s strap, crafted from calf leather in a deep green hue. Hand-braided to mimic the hilts of traditional katanas, the strap harmonizes with the earthy palette of the dial. This innovative technique was developed exclusively for the Escale collection, representing another layer of craftsmanship to this extraordinary timepiece.
The Snake’s Jungle represents the pinnacle of Louis Vuitton’s La Fabrique du Temps workshop in Geneva. By blending the Maison’s internal expertise with external artisans like Rose Saneuil, Eddy Jaquet, and Vanessa Lecci, this watch achieves unprecedented creative and technical mastery.
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