Organised by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton – the Maison’s modern ‘time factory’ – the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives will be awarded on a biennial basis.
The initiative aims to celebrate the creative talent and savoir-faire of the independent watchmaking industry, to support and encourage artisans and entrepreneurs, and accompany future generations.
“Watchmaking is not a dormant industry; it is not inaccessible. Young generations of watch enthusiasts are passionate and want to see new innovations on the market. That is why we want to create this initiative at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton,” said prize founder Jean Arnault, Director of Watches at Louis Vuitton.
“This is a philanthropic and independent initiative to encourage watchmaking innovation and reward the best ideas in term of technical innovation and avant-garde but also the traditional savoir-faire.”
The prize is open to all: watchmakers, designers, entrepreneurs, recent graduates, creatives from all around the world.
To evaluate their submissions, Louis Vuitton has convened a committee of 50 industry experts who share a passion for watchmaking innovation and creativity, comprising journalists, artisans, artists and collectors.
Candidates may register online on the dedicated Louis Vuitton Watch Prize website and submit their creative projects from the beginning of 2023 through the end of May 2023.
In September 2023, Louis Vuitton organisers and a commission of international and independent watch experts will establish a shortlist of twenty semi-finalists, who will be revealed online.
In December 2023, the expert committee will select five finalists based on the following criteria: Design, Creativity, Innovation, Craftsmanship and Technical complexity. They will also designate a five-member Jury among themselves to perform the final round of judging.
In January 2024, all five finalists for the Louis Vuitton Prize for Independent Creatives will be auditioned by the Jury in Paris. The winner will be announced at a special reception hosted by Louis Vuitton in their honour.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives is offered a grant as well as a one-year mentorship by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, tailored to the needs of their creative project.
A dedicated team will support the winner in multiple aspects, including communication, copyright and corporate legal aspects, as well as marketing, industrial strategy and the financial management of a brand.
For further details, please visit www.louisvuittonwatchprize.com.
