When a beat-up watch appeared at an Italian auction house, it led to a detective story spanning Swiss smugglers, anarchist editors, and Gianni Agnelli's legendary collection. Could this obscure 1960s MonVis have inspired Gae Aulenti's design for the Louis Vuitton Monterey? Ryan Goddu investigates.
Not much is new or truly original . The converted pocket watches Agnelli is seen in all looked similar to the LV Monterey. And the MontVis would’ve been a clear inspiration in the Italian designer elite. A bonus; the MontVis company was no longer a threat to complain about the Monterey when it was released. But LV wants no association with any dead brand, let alone a lower status one than they perceive themselves to be. So even with definitive proof I think there’d be a flat denial that the LV design is anything other than a singularly unique divine inspiration - justifying its divine price.
The thing is, this isn’t even about LV - it’s about the lady who designed the watch… so it’s not for them to deny it or refute the claim because really, it’s about one person’s intent - and she’s not here to confirm or deny, so it will forever be a mystery 😂
Great narrative, perhaps LV should hire u to do its marketing campaign… issue is LV branding that creates impenetrable moat for many collectors… Chanel has similar problems with its high horology watches…
This was an accidental story, but I’d say LV wouldn’t see the value in this type of “what if” storytelling… which is perhaps part of their problems, but I do not disagree that these luxury maisons have a hard time penetrating the horology world with the parent brand name on the dial.
Thank you for the research and dedication to telling this story and possible connection. I can see a very strong case and probability that Agnelli influenced the watch design through time spent together. We are all impressionable and we may not always know how and when we are influenced. As an architect Aulenti would have always been observing fashion, art, nature and other designers for inspiration in her work. I think it’s then plausible the variety of watches worn over the cuff by Agnelli would have left an impression that made its way into the LV1
So interesting 🤩
Not much is new or truly original . The converted pocket watches Agnelli is seen in all looked similar to the LV Monterey. And the MontVis would’ve been a clear inspiration in the Italian designer elite. A bonus; the MontVis company was no longer a threat to complain about the Monterey when it was released. But LV wants no association with any dead brand, let alone a lower status one than they perceive themselves to be. So even with definitive proof I think there’d be a flat denial that the LV design is anything other than a singularly unique divine inspiration - justifying its divine price.
The thing is, this isn’t even about LV - it’s about the lady who designed the watch… so it’s not for them to deny it or refute the claim because really, it’s about one person’s intent - and she’s not here to confirm or deny, so it will forever be a mystery 😂
This is wild! Love it!
Great narrative, perhaps LV should hire u to do its marketing campaign… issue is LV branding that creates impenetrable moat for many collectors… Chanel has similar problems with its high horology watches…
This was an accidental story, but I’d say LV wouldn’t see the value in this type of “what if” storytelling… which is perhaps part of their problems, but I do not disagree that these luxury maisons have a hard time penetrating the horology world with the parent brand name on the dial.
Thank you for the research and dedication to telling this story and possible connection. I can see a very strong case and probability that Agnelli influenced the watch design through time spent together. We are all impressionable and we may not always know how and when we are influenced. As an architect Aulenti would have always been observing fashion, art, nature and other designers for inspiration in her work. I think it’s then plausible the variety of watches worn over the cuff by Agnelli would have left an impression that made its way into the LV1
Yeah, I’d like to believe that! He did a great job digging… I agree. :)