Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Enamel and marquetry automatic wristwatch

Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders 'Snake's Jungle' Ref. W3WG21

Partially verified

The Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders 'Snake's Jungle', reference W3WG21, is a limited edition 18k white gold wristwatch from a series of 20 pieces. Source text dates the lot to circa 2016 in the title while identifying it as part of the 2024 Cabinet of Wonders trilogy in footnotes. Powered by the automatic calibre LFT023 movement, it features an artistic dial composed of champlevé enamel and wood marquetry depicting a green and blue serpent beside a bamboo jungle scene, facing Gaston-Louis Vuitton's personal monogram set with jade. The white gold case features engraved leaf motifs on the bezel and is paired with a braided green strap.

Front view of the Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders 'Snake's Jungle' wristwatch Ref. W3WG21 on braided leather strap
Front view of the Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders 'Snake's Jungle' wristwatch Ref. W3WG21 on braided leather strap — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Wristwatch · Enamel and marquetry automatic wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Louis Vuitton
Reference
W3WG21
Catalogue / lot identifier
898
Source-reported date
Circa 2016
Country
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
A15163

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial Composition and Métiers d'Art

The dial features an artistic composition depicting a serpent set within foliage towards an emblem at the upper right. Direct visual observation reveals a blue and green serpent executed in champlevé enamel against a multi-toned green backdrop evocative of bamboo stems, with centrally mounted tapered white hands.

According to cataloguer footnotes, the serpent is hand-sculpted and engraved in white gold, posed facing the GLV monogram (reported as Gaston-Louis Vuitton's personal emblem) set with jade. The catalog describes the background as a 367-piece marquetry mosaic composed of wood, parchment, and straw, requiring an estimated 150 hours of artisanal work across engraving, miniature sculpting, marquetry, and enamelling.

Evidence for this section
  • “A coiled blue and green serpent rendered in champlevé enamel wraps across the lower dial towards an emblem at upper right.”
  • “The surrounding lush bamboo jungle is a masterful 367-piece marquetry mosaic of wood, parchment, and straw”
  • “poised to strike the GLV monogram (Gaston-Louis Vuitton's personal emblem) set with vibrant jade.”

Case Architecture and Mounting

The watch features an 18k white gold case adorned with engraved leaf motifs encircling the polished bezel and trunk-inspired lugs. The mounting consists of a dark green leather strap with an overlapping braided cord-like texture, fitted with an 18k white gold buckle.

The auction entry contains conflicting case dimensions. The tabular specification records the case as 41mm, whereas the accompanying narrative footnote describes it as a 40mm case measuring 12.04mm in thickness. Total watch weight is stated by the source to be approximately 123 grams.

Evidence for this section
  • “Engraved leaf motifs encircle the polished white gold bezel.”
  • “Case: 41mm, 18k white gold, transparent case back, signed”
  • “Housed in a refined 40mm 18K white gold Escale case (12.04mm thick) with riveted trunk-inspired lugs and hand-engraved bamboo leaves on the bezel”

Reported Movement and Dating Ambiguities

The movement is not directly visible in the primary front photograph, but the catalog records an automatic, signed calibre LFT023 movement behind a transparent case back. Descriptive footnotes state the calibre features Japanese wave motifs on a micro-rotor, drawing design inspiration from Gaston-Louis Vuitton's collection of Japanese tsuba sword guards.

A date contradiction exists in the source text: the lot title and bilingual summary heading date the piece to 'CIRCA 2016', while the descriptive narrative attributes it to the '2024 Cabinet of Wonders trilogy' alongside models named Koi's Garden and Dragon's Cloud. The case bears number A15163 and belongs to a reported limitation of 20 pieces.

Evidence for this section
  • “Calibre: LFT023, automatic, signed”
  • “Limited to just 20 individually numbered pieces worldwide as part of the 2024 Cabinet of Wonders trilogy”
  • “LOUIS VUITTON | ESCALE CABINET OF WONDERS "SNAKE'S JUNGLE", REF.W3WG21, A LIMITED EDITION WHITE GOLD WRISTWATCH WITH CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL DIAL, CIRCA 2016”

Open research questions

  • What is the source of the conflict between the auction listing title date ('Circa 2016') and the descriptive text attributing the model to the '2024 Cabinet of Wonders trilogy'?
  • Does the physical 18k white gold case measure 40mm or 41mm in diameter?
  • What specific limitation number out of 20 is stamped or engraved on case number A15163?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders 'Snake's Jungle' Ref. W3WG21
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
ReferenceW3WG21“REF.W3WG21”
Case NumberA15163“Case No: A15163”
Edition LimitationLimited to 20“Limited to 20”
CalibreLFT023“Calibre: LFT023, automatic, signed”
Case Material18k white gold“18k white gold, transparent case back, signed”
Case Thickness12.04mm“(12.04mm thick)”
Total WeightApproximately 123 grams“Total watch weight approximately 123 grams.”
AccompanimentsMaker's presentation box with key, certificate, instruction manual, and booklet“Accompaniments: Maker's presentation box with key, certificate, instruction manual and booklet”

Visible details

  • Engraved leaf motifs encircle the polished white gold bezel.
  • A coiled blue and green serpent rendered in champlevé enamel wraps across the lower dial towards an emblem at upper right.
  • The dial backdrop is rendered in multi-tone green wood marquetry resembling bamboo stems.
  • Dark green leather strap features an overlapping braided cord-like texture.
  • Tapered white hands are centrally mounted.

Research qualifications

  • The auction listing title dates the watch to 'Circa 2016', but the accompanying footnote text describes it as part of the '2024 Cabinet of Wonders trilogy'.
  • The case diameter is given as 41mm in the specification summary but stated as 40mm in the narrative footnote.
  • The movement and transparent case back are not visible in the provided image.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Bonhams : LOUIS VUITTON | ESCALE CABINET OF WONDERS "SNAKE'S JUNGLE", REF.W3WG21, A LIMITED EDITION WHITE GOLD WRISTWATCH WITH CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL DIAL, CIRCA 2016

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 46b9631402

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.