Louis Vuitton Monterey LV2

LOUIS VUITTON MONTEREY II QUARTZ ALARM GREEN CERAMIC

Designed by renowned Italian architect Gae Aulenti and produced by IWC for Louis Vuitton, the Monterey II was launched in 1988 as one of the world’s first ceramic watches. Featuring a rather unique design, the Monterey II boasts a unique construction with a domed ceramic circular case sandwiched on top of a gold-plated caseback, with a gold-plated winding crown at 12 o’clock that controls a trio of syringe hands which operate the alarm function and its normal time-telling in conjunction with a crescent-topped pointer date hand. Boasting a white dial with Arabic numerals and a busy design with its railroad track, the Monterey II has grown from a place of relative obscurity to becoming one of watchmaking’s hottest vintage watches after it exploded onto the scene in 2023. Today, the Monterey II exists as a true neo-vintage obscurity, with its so-called ‘unicorn’ ceramic design – named after its crown at 12 o’clock – and unique strap system whereby a single length strap passes through the case, that has come to define Louis Vuitton’s early days in horology. Brand : Louis Vuitton Dimensions : 34mm Model : Monterey II Movement : Quartz IWC movement Reference : Alarm Bracelet : Leather strap Year : Circa 1990s Condition : Excellent Material : Ceramic Included : Watch, Spare Straps, and Booklet Dial Color : White THE DIAL Boasting a white dial with a railroad minute track, Arabic numerals, a pointer-date complication along its periphery and a second hour hand for its alarm function, the Monterey II's display is a little on the busy side, but still abundantly clear and legible. THE CONSTRUCTION Perfectly symmetrical thanks to its crown being positioned at 12 o'clock, the Monterey II's green ceramic construction has become a cult classic, with its heavily domed circular case's lug-free form fitting wonderfully on the wrist. THE STRAP SYSTEM Fitted with a gold-plated caseback that allows a single leather strap to pass through the entire watch, the Monterey II's strap system is certainly one of the more unique that we see on the market, with the watch floating freely along its strap until it is worn on the wrist.