Louis Vuitton Monterey II

This piece is part of our First Look collection—your early access window into upcoming arrivals before they officially launch on the site. If you’d like more details or wish to reserve this watch ahead of the public release, simply click the Inquire for Priority Access button at the top of the page, complete the short form, and a member of our team will reach out shortly. Long before Louis Vuitton became a serious force in contemporary watchmaking, before the Tambour, before La Fabrique du Temps, and before the revival of names like Daniel Roth, there was the Monterey II. Introduced in 1988, the Monterey II remains one of the most unusual watches ever to carry the Louis Vuitton name. Created in collaboration with IWC Schaffhausen and legendary Italian architect Gae Aulenti, the watch arrived at a time when luxury fashion brands were still feeling their way through watchmaking. Rather than producing a conventional dress watch, Vuitton delivered something genuinely experimental. Aulenti's influence extended beyond the dial. She eliminated traditional lugs entirely, opting instead for a strap that passes directly through the caseback. The result is a remarkably clean silhouette that feels more like industrial design than traditional watchmaking. The dial for its own right is extremely unique. ‘Arabic’ hour numerals occupy the center of the dial, a ‘railroad’-style minute track surrounds them, and oversized red date numerals circle the outer perimeter. Most memorable of all is the crown positioned at 12 o'clock, protruding from the top of the case and giving the watch its enduring nickname: ‘The Unicorn.’  The blend of dial and case design present here produce something truly unique in the world of watches. It's a real rarity to come with something truly one of a kind in a market with so many brands vying to be "different" and eccentric. This piece just feels right. Today, the Monterey II occupies a fascinating corner of collecting culture. Produced in relatively small numbers and seldom seen in the wild, it has become a cult favorite among design-minded collectors and could be yours!