Breaking News Calling All Watch Lovers: Louis Vuitton Is Establishing The ‘Watch Prize for Independent Creatives’

The prize, which will be awarded biennially (that's every other year), is organized by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton in Geneva, Switzerland – and spearheaded by the 24-year-old Arnault. The brand states in its press release that the award celebrates "the creative talent, savoir-faire, and audacity of the independent watchmaking industry, to support and encourage artisans and entrepreneurs, and accompany future generations."

The idea is to promote creativity and entrepreneurship in the independent watch space as the hobby continues to grow. But how will it work, exactly? Well, it begins with submissions which are open to basically anyone who wishes to apply. The release singles out the following categories (but makes it clear that essentially anyone is eligible): Watchmakers, designers, entrepreneurs, recent graduates, and creatives from all around the world.

Next, there's a jury to evaluate the submissions comprised of industry professionals, journalists, artists, artisans, and collectors. Hodinkee founder Ben Clymer and CEO Jeff Fowler are members of this jury.

According to LV, here's how the process will play out:

• 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 organizers and a commission of international and independent watch experts will establish a shortlist of 20 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 honor.

The winner of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives will be offered a grant and a one-year mentorship by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, tailored specifically to their creative endeavor. The winner will have the support of a dedicated team assisting in such areas as communication, copyright, and corporate legal aspects, as well as marketing, industrial strategy, and the financial management of a brand.

This initiative is really interesting because it's not a self-serving enterprise for Louis Vuitton but rather something geared towards the proliferation of the entrepreneurial spirit in the independent watch space. We have seen steady growth in the "indie" space over the last decade or so. It would appear that this is only the beginning and that Arnault and the LV team are keenly aware of that fact. More than that, the prize is not set up specifically for watchmakers, but "creatives in the space." It's exciting to think what that might mean on a case-by-case basis. It will surely take years to see the fruits of this undertaking, but it's neat to see it beginning to take shape.

Those interested can find more details here.