Jeremy Allen White Wears Louis Vuitton Monterey Watch in Paris

Actor Jeremy Allen White stepped onto the red carpet at the Paris premiere of The Social Reckoning wearing the Louis Vuitton Monterey watch, immediately thrusting an obscure 1980s timepiece back into the international luxury spotlight. Originally introduced in 1988 as the luxury house’s inaugural foray into watchmaking, the Monterey has evolved from a forgotten archival footnote into a permanent fixture of Louis Vuitton’s contemporary catalog.

From Gae Aulenti Architecture to TikTok Sensation

Designed by Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti, the original Monterey lineup featured the LV I and LV II models, distinguished by pebble-shaped cases and a crown positioned uniquely at the 12 o’clock mark. While the initial 1988 run was short-lived, the design experienced a sudden resurgence on social media in 2023.

Dealer Mike Nouveau shared a viral TikTok video capturing collector Phil Toledano attempting to buy the watch off a stranger’s wrist. That single encounter sparked surging demand across the vintage market and quickly caught the attention of cultural figures like Tyler, the Creator.

The 2025 Yellow-Gold Re-Edition

That renewed cultural relevance culminated in 2025 when Louis Vuitton released an official modern re-edition in yellow gold, limited to 188 pieces, which was seen on White’s wrist at the Paris premiere. Nouveau even recreated his viral video format alongside Jean Arnault, director of Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division, to mark the modern release.

Louis Vuitton Adds Ceramic Monterey Models to Permanent Collection

Building on the yellow-gold limited release, Louis Vuitton has integrated the Monterey into its permanent collection with two new ceramic models. The latest iterations draw design cues from the more accessible Monterey II of 1988, which originally utilized clean ceramic housing.

The new releases maintain the compact 37mm proportions of the original design alongside the signature steel crown adorned with the Clous de Paris motif at 12 o’clock. The green edition pairs a polished ceramic case with a matte green lacquered dial, a white minute track, and bright yellow lacquered hands that reference the brand’s leather goods stitching. Meanwhile, the black model pairs a glossy black ceramic case with a matte white dial, accented by red hands and markers, a blue sweeping second hand, and black grained calfskin leather straps with red contrast stitching.

Zirconium Oxide Cases House in-House Automatic Calibre

To achieve the signature smooth, reflective pebble shape, Louis Vuitton fabricates the ceramic cases using zirconium oxide and pigments. The material undergoes machining, baking at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius, and meticulous hand-grinding and polishing.

Beneath the solid steel caseback, the Monterey Ceramic models replace the original quartz movements with Louis Vuitton’s in-house LFT MA01.02 automatic calibre. The 174-piece movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a 45-hour power reserve, featuring circular graining, sandblasted bridges, colorless sapphire bearings, and a rose gold 750/1000 oscillating weight engraved with the LV Monogram.