Once upon a time, box-bodied vehicles bearing the livery of Louis Vuitton plied the streets of Paris. Their cargo? Bespoke hand-stitched leather trunks of all shapes and sizes, to be delivered to grand hotels and private residences in anticipation of travel. They were called camionnette, which now means “van” in French. Part delivery truck, part mobile advertisement, they soon became synonymous with Louis Vuitton and its vaunted trunks.

Throughout the 1900s, certainly till modern logistic networks changed the course of the world, the Louis Vuitton Camionnette was instrumental in conveying the maison’s iconic trunks on their first journeys. Then in 2017, Louis Vuitton brought its saffron-colored Camionnette on a world tour, to Seoul, Tokyo and other international cities, as part of its “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” exhibition, and thus began the legend of the Louis Vuitton Camionnette.

Louis Vuitton Camionnette

This year, Louis Vuitton is immortalizing the famed camionnette as a fun, nostalgic timekeeping objet d’art for its whimsical Objects of Time collection. The collection, which began a few years ago, previously included the whimsical Montgolfière Aéro, a miniature hot air ballon reimagined as a clock table clock.

“We wanted to honor the original appearance of this legendary vehicle, which tells the story of the earliest days of the House,” explains Matthieu Hegi, Artistic Director of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. “The travel symbolism is omnipresent. This piece fires the imagination, taking us back into the boundless, magical world of childhood fantasy.”

The miniature Camionnette is proudly clad in Louis Vuitton livery, from its iconic saffron color to the flame-blued LV logo on the silver radiator and the distinctive Monogram flower gracing the hood. Even the tyre rims are decorated with tiny etched Monogram flowers. As for the license plate, it is a very symbolic LV1854, a gentle reminder of the year Louis Vuitton was founded.

The flame-blued LV logo on the silver radiator and the distinctive Monogram flower gracing the hood

A symbolic license plate LV1854, a gentle reminder of the year Louis Vuitton was founded

Very aptly, the movement designed and manufactured for La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton by L’Epée 1839 is tucked in the cabin of the vehicle. Time is told via two rotating cylinders on the hood, perched just in front of the cabin. To wind the clock, you’ll need to uncover the secret key that’s held — you guessed it — in the true-to-life, scaled-down miniature Monogram trunk in the boot. Use it like the hand-crank of yore to set and wind the movement.

Time is telling via two rotating cylinders on the hood, perched just in front of the cabin

The self-winding L’Epée 1839 MV.7417/101 caliber

The scaled-down miniature Monogram trunk in the boot

Uncover the secret key from the trunk to wind the clock

For those who prefer to mark time at its most luminous, Louis Vuitton is also releasing a limited edition of just 15 glittering pieces. Each comes with a gold-plated body encrusted with snow-set diamonds on the radiator grill, more diamonds on the hood, rims and headlights, and baguette-cut sapphires on the taillights. A hand-guilloché Damier pattern on the side of the body adds the final exquisite touch.

Limited editions of 15 glittering pieces

More diamonds on the hood

A hand-guilloché Damier pattern on the side of the body adds the final exquisite touch

Tech Specs: Louis Vuitton Camionnette

Movement Self-winding L’Epée 1839 MV.7417/101 caliber; 8-day power reserve
Functions Hours and minutes
Price CHF 57,500 for the regular edition; price on request for the limited edition