Finalists and jury revealed for Louis Vuitton’s Watch Prize for Independent Creatives
Louis Vuitton has unveiled the five finalists and jury members for the second edition of its Watch Prize for Independent Creatives. This year attracted a significant number of entries from independent watchmakers globally, highlighting the increasing interest in both the prize and independent horology. After thorough evaluation by a committee of 65 industry professionals, 20 semi-finalists were chosen based on criteria such as design, creativity, innovation, craftsmanship, and technical complexity. The jury is chaired by Carole Forestier-Kasapi from TAG Heuer, alongside notable members including watchmaker Kari Voutilainen and journalist Frank Geelen. The finalists, who will present their projects on March 24, 2026, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, showcase diverse contemporary watchmaking approaches. Japan's Daizoh Makihara Watchcraft is recognized for its Beauties of Nature watch, while Fam Al Hut presents a compact manual-wind timepiece called Möbius. Hazemann & Monnin's School Watch features an in-house calibre, and veteran Bernhard Lederer competes with the CIC 39 Racing Green. Finally, Quiet Club, led by Norifumi Seki, is noted for the Fading Hours, which boasts a unique alarm mechanism. The winner will receive a €150,000 grant and a year-long mentorship with La Fabrique du Temps and Louis Vuitton experts.
