The world, figuratively speaking, is getting smaller. The planet’s inhabitants are more immediately and intimately connected than at any time in history. In truth, human beings have less need to travel than ever before—but wanderlust is a powerful thing. Most of us don’t travel out of need, but out of desire, whether it be the wonder of overlooking Machu Picchu or the thrill of shopping on Fifth Avenue.

For the truly global traveller, Louis Vuitton eschews technology to create the Escale Worldtime. Which is not to suggest the timepiece isn’t innovative: the ‘look ma, no hands’ approach to horology is a first, developed by the master watchmakers of the La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.

The 24 standard international time zones are accessible at a glance of the 41mm dial—provided one doesn’t get lost in that face, painted by hand in 30 oil colours. Each dial passes through 50 hours of craftsmanship, longer than it takes to fly return from Sydney to London.

The three separate discs moving in sync to represent the city, hours and minutes, the external expression of a new mechanical take on world time. Fittingly, the detailing of the satin-finish, white gold casing is evocative of the hinges on the steamer trunk that first started the Vuitton travel story so long ago.

Visit Louis Vuitton Australia Website.

-Image Courtesy Louis Vuitton