On Oct. 30, 2023, in Paris, Lionel Messi was awarded his eighth Ballon d’Or, shattering every record possible and imaginable: no player has ever won the coveted award that accrues to the best soccer player of the year so many times.
At 36 years old, Messi then captured the trophy by edging out-not without some controversy-Manchester City star Erling Haaland and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Lionel dedicated the award to his legend and compatriot, the late Diego Armando Maradona, on the latter’s birthday.
The 10 of the Albiceleste and Inter Miami, the U.S. club to which he moved this summer, was also a 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina.
And it was the president of his own club, David Beckham, who honored Messi on stage in Paris by presenting him with the Ballon d’Or. Incidentally, Beckham wore, for the occasion, a Tudor Black Bay 54.
The Louis Vuitton Tambour
Of course, we at IWS could not fail to notice Lionel Messi’s watch for the evening: the Louis Vuitton Tambour in yellow gold.
The choice of Messi, who, like any self-respecting soccer star, is a collector of great timepieces, is certainly peculiar. In fact, Leo has opted for a model that is elegant and precious but at the same time sporty, far from the usual rutilant clichés of soccer players.
Tambour means drum in French, and the name derives precisely from the shape of the case, which, in the original model dating back to 2002, is reminiscent of the musical instrument.
To receive the Ballon d’Or, Messi’s wrist sported this new version of the Tambour, which, in revisiting LV’s iconic timepiece, differs significantly, presenting an entirely new line that is decidedly slimmer and more modern.
This model features a non-removable gold bracelet, a thinner case (which loses, indeed, the famous “drum” shape), and an exclusive new mechanical movement.
The version chosen by Messi is made of yellow gold, with contrasting trim and the signature “Louis Vuitton Paris, Fab. En Suisse.” The sophisticated model, both elegant and sporty, is versatile and unisex, with a charm that combines Swiss craftsmanship and the Maison’s Parisian flair.
This is an automatic watch, with a 40 mm case in 18K yellow gold. The name of the Maison is engraved in raised, polished letters on the bezel.
The dial is white, with the seconds counter positioned at 06:00. The hands and hour markers are yellow gold and luminescent.
The integrated bracelet is a first for Louis Vuitton and combines strength and fluidity, with fine, curved links that provide a comfortable fit, creating a perfect harmony with the case.
The watch houses a self-winding mechanical movement, caliber LFT023, the first three-hand automatic movement designed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, expressing the codes of the Maison. The movement, with a 50-hour power reserve, is visible through the transparent case back.
The list price is Euro 55,000.00.
In short, congratulations to Messi who adds this latest and eighth trophy and, to his (far more numerous) collection of timepieces, the Louis Vuitton Tambour…
Final thoughts
Let’s start with a certainty: was it right to award the Golden Ball to the flea? Yes. Once this is clarified, we can return to us and draw conclusions about the watch worn. Louis Vuitton’s Tambour is a very elegant watch if with a sporty soul.
The maison, in an increasingly obvious attempt to establish itself in the watch industry, has produced a blockbuster worthy of its competitors. Of course, for many collectors, the importance of the name and the connection with a fashion that is now too much “streetwear” remain obstacles to overcome. Nevertheless, we cannot remain impassive before a work so decently carried out, keeping with the best traditions of our industry. And to a result that, regardless of taste, shows respect for the tradition of Louis Vuitton by bringing the right amount of innovation, combined with an aesthetically very beautiful movement.
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