The relatively young fashion brand, which is especially popular among wealthy customers from China and other parts of the region, will soon start selling its new Louis Vuitton Tambour Regate Navy (ref. Q102D0) limited-edition automatic flyback chronograph.
Overall Impression
There is a consensus among designers that a regatta-themed timekeeper should look as colorful as it is practically possible. Perhaps, it has something to do with direct associations that a sports event of this kind wakes in our minds. Those bright nautical flags and mottled boats with logos of their sponsors all over their carbon-fiber hulls and huge sails. That well-advertised euphoria that only a sailboat can incur in a person, too, must have played its role.
Well, the dial is colorful, but, as you can see, colorful in a good way. There seem to be just enough red and different shades of blue here to make the Tambour Regate Navy visually attractive without bloating things over. The fact that its dial is easily readable gives it an extra point in this brief review.
The Mechanism
The watch is equipped with the same LV Caliber 171 automatic flyback chronograph movement. It is based on the inexpensive ETA 2892-A2 blank caliber with an additional Dubois Depraz “yachting timer” module and has a good potential of being a relatively reliable and trouble-free piece of equipment (at least, when compared to other gadgets that feature similar “three-hander movement + add-on module” combination: true chronographs that were designed from scratch will be inherently more reliable, but that’s sort of obvious.)
In this respect, the new model looks like a direct descendant of their current Tambour LV Cup collection.
I am not sure whether the fashion house decided to cut some costs on decorating the caliber or simply wanted the watch to feature a solid case back (it is, by the way, engraved with LV’s signature pattern,) but the mechanism is hidden from our eyes by a thick metal wall.
The Dial
Of course, the dial here is different, although there are, too, easily recognizable traces of the same family DNA.
The timekeeper’s face looks like a study in legibility, even though, using the yacht timer complication will require some getting used to (you will at least need to read the manual before operating the timekeeper), but otherwise, the dial is well-designed.
In fact, given the timekeeper’s functionality, I could even say that, when it comes to legibility, the gadget will blow most of the competing “yacht-timers” straight out of the water.
The three white Arabic numerals are bold and large and look especially in contrast to the blue background of the dial.
The hour markers are also prominent and distinctive, while the minute track leaves just enough space for the regatta timer to be perfectly functional.
The Case
The Tambour Regate Navy is offered in a fairly sized 44 mm stainless steel case with peculiarly shaped lugs and is worn on a black rubber strap that has become a de-facto standard for all kinds of watches related to water in any way.
As usual in this sizing department, the timepiece will take all available space on a normal wrist and the fact that is equipped with long lugs won’t help much if you order one without trying it first and suddenly find yourself with a piece that doesn’t fit and already costs at least 20 percent less than it was before your web-shop of choice packed and sent it (and given its price tag of €3000, this is a hefty pile of cash that you may lose due to being impatient). So, make sure that you try this device on your wrist before ordering one of these beauties.
The case is water-resistant to 100 meters, so it will possibly survive unexpected bathing if you will have to save a young lady suddenly going overboard.
Only 250 pieces will be made. Offered at USD 4500, they are a lot more expensive than an ETA 2892-powered chronograph should be. On the other hand, goods sold under Louis Vuitton have always been costly.
See also: Ralph Lauren Sporting
WWR Verdict
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Overall Legibility: 4.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 5/5
Value for money: 3/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Photos: Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Tambour Regate Navy Flyback Chronograph Q102D0 specification
Price: €3400 / $4500 (Retail)
Movement: Automatic, LV Caliber 171 (base ETA 2892-A2 with Dubois Depraz module), Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Dial: Black and blue
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black rubber
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid, engraved