The boutique is located within "Riemerschmid-Block" – an impressive 19^th-century building designed by the renowned architect Georg Friedrich Christian Bürklein and now listed under special protection as an historic monument. An innovative design concept fuses tradition and modernity, translating the spirit of La Grande Maison into a welcoming environment that brings the Manufacture closer to its guests. The emphasis on organic materials and natural colours evokes the serenity and beauty of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux.

On entering the boutique, guests encounter a display area presenting Jaeger-LeCoultre’s current collections, including the Atmos clock. Enthusiasts can discover more of La Grande Maison’s extraordinary heritage as the creator of more than 1,400 calibres, exploring the intricacies of watch mechanisms through an interactive calibre wall that takes them on a virtual three-dimensional dive into several of the Manufacture’s most emblematic calibres.

Guests are then drawn into an area dedicated to Reverso, where a display of limited editions and high-complication models is complemented by the almost infinite possibilities for personalising the case back. The personalisation story continues in the next area, where an interactive Strap Wall invites clients to discover their own perfect pairing of watch case with strap material, colour and stitching.

The ground floor is enriched by a “Cabinet de Curiosités”, which invites the guests to explore the strong watchmaking expertise of the Maison through a variety of noteworthy inventions. In the middle of the installation, the “Manufacture Wall” reinforces the storytelling by highlighting the hundreds of craftsmen, representing 180 different watchmaking skills gathered under the same roof at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. An intimate VIP lounge on the first floor will extend the journey by offering exclusive brand moments and personalized client treatment.

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique is located at Maximilianstraße 24, 80539 München and will be open to guests Monday through Friday from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm and on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Born in Seoul, the actor enjoys tremendous popularity throughout Asia, having established a captivating presence in acclaimed television series and box-office hit movies in a variety of genres, from romantic comedy to drama and action films. Along with his passion for acting, he has been a Jaeger-LeCoultre ambassador since the beginning of 2021.

“We are honoured that Kim Woo-Bin made time in his demanding schedule to come and visit us at the Manufacture, our home in the Vallée de Joux”, says Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre. “As someone with great intellectual curiosity, he was fascinated to learn about our Maison’s history, and the direct insight he gained into the intricacies of watchmaking and his hands-on experience of the Atelier d’Antoine clearly left a deep impression.”

A short film, Behind the walls, traces Kim Woo-Bin’s day at the Manufacture, during which he explored the production workshops, discovered the Maison’s Heritage Gallery, and learnt about the skills mastered by the artisans of the Atelier des Métiers Rares, where he saw beautiful examples of how the blank case-back of a Reverso provides an ideal canvas for them to express their creativity. The actor completed his visit with a Reverso Discovery Workshop in the Atelier d’Antoine – learning the story of the remarkable swivelling watch since its birth in 1931 and, tutored by an expert from the Manufacture, assembling a Reverso case.

“Since first discovering mechanical watches I have been intrigued by their intricate mechanisms and curious to know how they are made – but this visit to the Manufacture was beyond anything I expected,” says Kim Woo-Bin. “Discovering so many different skills under one roof, the pleasure that the watchmakers took in explaining their work, their incredible precision, the expertise in decorative crafts that is handed down from one generation to the next – it was an amazing experience and has made me feel an even stronger attachment to the watches that I wear.”

The actor’s visit culminated with the presentation of a gift from the Manufacture of a Reverso watch, personalised with a special message engraved on the case-back that makes the watch uniquely his: “To Kim Woo-Bin – a memory to cherish forever – Jaeger-LeCoultre”.

“This watch is special to me in a way that no other timepiece can be,” says Kim Woo-Bin. “Every time I wear it, the words will remind me of a day that was truly exceptional, not only in terms of what I learnt but also for the spirit and passion of everyone I met in the Manufacture, who welcomed me with such warmth and kindness.”  

Covering the 50-year ‘golden age’ of 20^th-century watchmaking (1920s-1970s), The Collectibles encapsulates the way that watchmaking evolved through five decades of momentous social and technological change, and the role played in that evolution by the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. Under The Collectibles programme, a continually evolving selection of historically significant timepieces is released as a series of capsule collections presented in different cities around the world, and available for purchase.

To complement these meticulously curated collections, Jaeger-LeCoultre has published The Collectibles book – the definitive reference to 17 historically significant models that represent high-water marks not only for Jaeger-LeCoultre but also for the development of watchmaking in the 20^th century. Written by the experts within La Grande Maison and covering each model in encyclopaedic detail, supplemented by copies of historical documents from the Maison’s archives, the beautifully illustrated coffee-table book also offers fascinating insights into the cultural and social milieu in which the watches were developed. All watches offered under The Collectibles programme will be drawn from among the 17 models represented in the book.

The second capsule collection, comprising 11 watches, includes a 1920s Duoplan, an early Reverso and two great innovations from the beginning of the 1950s: Futurematic and Memovox.

The Futurematic was the world’s first fully automatic watch without a conventional crown and winding mechanism and was claimed to be the world’s most accurate wristwatch of its day. Thanks to the ground-breaking Calibre 497, the watch stops before it is fully unwound – effectively ‘going to sleep’ while retaining enough energy to restart with utmost accuracy, even after a long period of immobility. With the time set by a disc on the case-back, the absence of a winding crown accentuates the purity and symmetry of the Futurematic’s design.

In 1957, seven years after creating the first Memovox, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers combined two major technical advances – an alarm function and automatic winding – for the first time to create Calibre 815. Among the five Memovox pieces offered in this second capsule collection are two Memovox Automatic Calendar pieces; equipped with Calibre 825, they have the added benefit of a date display at 3 o’clock.

Every Collectibles timepiece is presented with an extract from the Jaeger-LeCoultre archives and a complimentary copy of The Collectibles coffee-table book, as well as a new calf leather strap chosen to complement the style of each watch. In addition, when available, the original box and papers, and original strap or bracelet will be included.

Every piece is thoroughly vetted by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s historical experts and fully serviced and restored by the specialised watchmakers of the Manufacture’s restoration workshop. Currently numbering 10 experts, the restoration team can go through the Manufacture’s archives and find the blueprint of every piece ever made, and in some cases also find original spare components. If there is no component to hand, there is a stock of some 6,000 swages or stamps that they can use to make an identical component from scratch. Because the Manufacture is fully integrated, the entire process can be carried out in-house. While the mechanical restoration may, in some cases, be significant, the intervention on the case and dial must be kept to a minimum, since too much work would alter the historical nature of the piece for collectors; therefore, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s acquisitions team seeks watches that are as close as possible to their original condition.

The second capsule collection will be unveiled in Los Angeles for collectors and Jaeger-LeCoultre enthusiasts to view at the Maison’s boutique on Rodeo Drive from 16 June until 21 June. Along with the newly restored watches offered for sale, visitors to the boutique will discover a display of pieces from the Manufacture’s archives that represent each of the 17 chapters in The Collectibles book, shining the spotlight on the pioneering spirit that has always driven La Grande Maison. They will also enjoy live demonstrations of the painstaking craft of polishing screws and the fascinating art of heat-blueing hands. These two crafts are among the dozens of skills employed in the Manufacture’s restoration workshop, breathing new life into decades-old pieces and enabling these timeless objects to be passed from one generation to the next.

The second capsule collection of The Collectibles programme will be available online through jaeger-lecoultre.com, as well as during the Los Angeles presentation.

The Fellowship is designed for duos of master artisans and young talents to facilitate the transmission of skills and enable the first steps towards a profession in the craft sector

•  A unique programme to assist with professional integration of talented graduates into the craft sector
• The long-term partnership is the result of a shared vision for the future of craftsmanship
• Jaeger-LeCoultre’s participation reflects their ethos of social responsibility anchored in education and the transmission of savoir-faire
• The Fellowship encompasses practical skills transmission, entrepreneurial learning and professional mentoring
• 20 duos will be selected to participate in the first edition from September 2023 – March 2024
• The programme is taking place in several European countries in partnership with local members of the international network of the Foundation

Why Homo Faber Fellowship?

The scholarship programme seeks to make crafts culturally, economically and socially relevant for students of applied arts and crafts.

The initiative is the result of an in-depth research of the craft sector. It identified the barriers experienced by young craftspeople on their quest to build a career in craft and the economic restraints faced by master artisans to train younger generations. In France, 94% of master artisans do not train an apprentice, showing the scope for positive change, especially given that the actual number of students trained in manual work and craftsmanship is not sufficient to cover demand. In Italy, Altagamma estimates that within 5 years the member maisons will need to hire 346,000 new artisans and technicians.  According to a study by Comité Colbert in France, 20,000 manual positions are currently vacant amongst their 93 member maisons.

Given that it takes on average 10 years of continuous training to master a craft, the need to expand training opportunities in the craft sector is visible. Without transmission to younger generations, many artisan workshops face the danger of closing down and key skills being lost. Based on a recent survey we carried out on our community of 3,000 Homo Faber artisans, more than 85% work alone in a mono-structure. The hope is to create thriving artisan businesses that continue to evolve with market demands to the extent that they can welcome trainees and secure the future of their workshops. This requires intergenerational exchanges, life-long learning and entrepreneurial skills.

How does the Fellowship align with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ethos?

The Homo Faber Fellowship programme aligns perfectly with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s values which are rooted in a long history of facilitating the sharing of knowledge between master and trainee.

The partnership builds on the Maison’s existing in-house apprenticeship programmes. For more than 30 years, the Maison has run dedicated programmes for apprentices to welcome them into the workshops.

In 2021, a new Training Centre was inaugurated, dedicated to training young talents not only in watchmaking but in related occupations such as micro-engineering, quality control, sales and customer service. By extending its support to the wider crafts community, the Maison’s aim is to help young artisans from many different craft backgrounds to access a better life through a profession in the craft sector.

Driven by the value of work, the Maison’s mission is to safeguard its traditional savoir-faire and ensure it is handed down to younger generations. Investing in education is a priority, and its corporate education programme is dedicated to supporting the next generation by partnering with schools and universities worldwide. 

How does the Fellowship respond to a changing creative job market?

The programme addresses these key concerns by sponsoring master artisans to train talented young graduates, transmitting to them both their knowledge and skills through hands-on exchange. The goal is to create a model that stimulates change and growth in the craft sector and responds to job openings. The Fellowship develops the employability of applied arts and craft graduates by equipping them with the practical and business skills they require to pursue a sustainable career in the craft sector.

Who is the Fellowship for and what does it offer its participants?

Education has been a key focus of the Michelangelo Foundation since its inception. Its previous programmes have paved the way for the Fellowship, a wider-reaching initiative thanks to key studies and the pivotal partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre, as well as with local partners and sponsors.

The Fellowship is open to applied arts and crafts graduates who are looking for the next step on their path to becoming a professional artisan. Fellows must show talent, passion and creativity, while participating master artisans should demonstrate a willingness to train an aspiring artisan and a need to protect their skills. The Fellowship will favour master artisans whose craft has a strong connection to the local area, in an attempt to support cultural heritage.

For the first edition this life-changing opportunity will benefit 20 master artisan and fellow duos based in Europe, with the ambition of reaching other corners of the world in the future. The seven-month Fellowship incorporates a month-long entrepreneurial masterclass developed and certified by ESSEC Business School at Joana Vasconcelos’ studio, in addition to a six-month placement for practical skills acquisition in the workshop of a master artisan. Different experts in their fields, from designers to communication specialists, will provide mentoring advice to the duos during the course of the Fellowship.

Applicants, master artisan and fellow duos, can discover the programme and apply between April and June 2023 on michelangelofoundation.org.

A NEW VIDEO SERIES GOES BEHIND THE SCENES TO REVEAL THE SKILLS AND PASSION OF THE MANUFACTURE’S ARTISANS AS NEVER BEFORE

Paying tribute to the 180 different watchmaking crafts that are gathered under one roof at its Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, Jaeger-LeCoultre launches a new series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes as never before, revealing the passion that has driven the Maison since 1833 and paying homage to its timeless values of creativity and precision.

With each video focusing on a single craft, including rarely seen stages of the watchmaking process, In the Making is an intimate and elegiac tribute to the artisans who practise each of those crafts. Taking the artisans’ own words to explain their processes, each film conveys the passion and dedication that drive them to imagine, produce, assemble and decorate fine timepieces that will last for generations. The sense of intimacy is amplified by evocative lighting, over-the-shoulder camera angles, and close-ups of the precise gestures that have been perfected through countless years of practice.

Lending equal weight to all of the crafts housed within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s fully integrated Manufacture, In the Making is arranged in several chapters, corresponding to the sequence of steps required to create a fine timepiece: Design, Produce, Finish and Ornament.

DESIGN

As well as determining the aesthetics of a watch – the shape, size, style and composition of the dial, and case – design embraces all technical considerations, ranging from the development of new complications and movements to the shape of components required to perform particular functions, the overall architecture of a movement, the technical requirements of the case that must contain a given movement, and all ergonomic considerations.

Designers sketch out ideas with pencil and paper in a process that draws on the past, present and future, and working in intense collaboration with technical designers and movement constructors; a beautiful looking design is of no use in watchmaking unless allied to engineering and technical design of the highest precision.

PRODUCE

With a deep exploration of what are often considered the more “industrial” stages of production – the skills rarely seen and little-understood by the public – In the Making reveals how the specialists who master each of these steps share the same devotion to precision and artistry, and the same passion for their craft as their colleagues in every other area of the Manufacture. At Jaeger-LeCoultre,  the production process begins with raw metal, which is cut, stamped or treated in myriad other ways, to eventually take on the forms of different components. It ends – after countless different  assembly steps – with final casing up and polishing, which brings the metal to life in a magical way.

Beyond the production of new timepieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house restoration workshop undertakes many of the same production steps to breathe new life into watches that may be 40, 60, 90 years old or more. The restoration specialists use original spare parts when available or make identical components from scratch, using original blueprints and swages (metal-stamping templates).

FINISH

With the responsibility for bringing light and reflection to the visible part of our timepieces such as the case, bezel, lugs and crown, the polisher has the power to bring a timepiece to life in a magical way with every gesture.

In accordance with its belief that a fine watch should be beautiful not only on the outside but also in parts that are not immediately visible, Jaeger-LeCoultre attaches great importance to the fine finishing and hand decoration of watch movements.

High complication watches require particular expertise, in keeping with their rarity and value. These finishing techniques range from the traditional, such as perlage, Côtes de Genève, blueing of screws, chamfering and skeletonisation, to modern finishes, such as micro-blasting.

Enhancing the beauty of components by making the edges shine and creating a play of luminous reflections, bevelling (or anglage) is a meticulous decorative technique that involves multiple skills, from hand-cutting internal angles to multiple variations of hand-polishing with a variety of metal and wooden tools. Finishing requires impeccable mastery of every skill and gesture in order to achieve consistent angles and reflections.

ORNAMENT

Bringing together centuries-old decorative crafts such as guillochage, engraving, gem-setting and a variety of different enamelling techniques, Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the very few watchmaking Manufactures to have a dedicated Rare Handcrafts (Métiers Rares®) atelier under its own roof.

Complex and meticulous, grand feu enamel is a cross between illustration and chemistry – as much alchemy as art; engravers use a variety of techniques and different gestures to fashion subtle plays of light and shadows on metal surfaces to produce an almost endless variety of patterns; the gem-setter’s task is to secure precious stones to metal in a way that flatters the beauty of the gem, and watches bring the additional challenge of having already been decorated with other crafts, requiring extreme precision and delicacy on the gem-setter’s part. By working side-by-side in a dedicated atelier, these specialised artisans are better able exchange ideas and share their creative energy, while maintaining and perpetuating ancestral know-how within the Manufacture.

The Story Continues

Beginning with eight films, covering eight of the watchmaking crafts, In the Making will grow over time into a fully comprehensive library as more videos are completed. The first films are Design: aesthetics and style; Research & Development; Polishing; Restoration; Bevelling; Enamelling, Engraving; and Gem-setting.

The Collectibles presents a meticulously curated collection of rare and sought-after timepieces that represent high-water marks for both Jaeger-LeCoultre and 20th-century watchmaking.

“With Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most emblematic timepieces being increasingly sought-after by collectors, we are delighted to introduce The Collectibles,” says Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre. “Together with a new master reference book for our Maison’s most emblematic models of the 20th century, this new programme presents a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of the Manufacture’s history.”

Over time, a continually evolving selection of timepieces will be available to purchase through The Collectibles on jaeger-lecoultre.com and in the form of capsule collections that will travel around the world. 

Among the first to be offered are fine examples of a Geophysic, a Memovox Parking, a Master Mariner Deep Sea and a Shark Deep Sea. Every Collectibles timepiece is presented with an extract from the Jaeger-LeCoultre archives, a new watch strap and a complimentary copy of The Collectibles coffee-table book. In addition, when available, the original box and papers, and original strap or bracelet will be included.

Every piece offered through The Collectibles is thoroughly vetted by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s historical experts and fully serviced and restored by the specialised watchmakers of the Manufacture’s restoration workshop.

Currently numbering 10 experts, the restoration team can go through the Manufacture’s archives and find the blueprint of every piece ever made, and in some cases also find a stock of original spare components. If there is no component to hand, there is a stock of some 6,000 swages or stamps that they can use to make an identical component from scratch. Because the Manufacture is fully integrated, the entire process can be carried out in-house. While the mechanical restoration may, in some cases, be significant, the intervention on the case and dial must be kept to a minimum, since too much work would alter the historical nature of the piece for collectors; therefore, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Heritage team seeks watches that are as close as possible to their original condition.

“Being able to restore these remarkable timepieces and offer them once again is a nice tribute to our current environment, in which sustainability and second lives have come to the fore,” says Catherine Rénier. “It is fantastic to see 50- or 80-year-old pieces given a new life. For me, that symbolises the beauty of our world – of timeless and durable objects to be passed from one generation to the next.”

The Collectibles coffee-table book covers the period from 1925 to 1974, surveying 17 of the most significant models produced by the Manufacture during this ‘golden age’ of 20th-century watchmaking. Shining the spotlight on the pioneering spirit that has always driven La Grande Maison, the roll-call of ground-breaking innovations includes timepieces such as the Reverso, Memovox, Futurematic and Geophysic. A full chapter is devoted to each of the 17 models, providing an encyclopaedic history and including essential data for collectors supplemented by detailed and informative photography, and copies of historic documents from the Manufacture’s archives.

While Jaeger-LeCoultre collectors and enthusiasts have always been able to glean information from a variety of different resources online and in print, this is the first time such detailed information on these key 20th-century models has been brought together in a single volume, written by the experts within La Grande Maison.

Besides providing indispensable data for collectors, The Collectibles book offers history aficionados a broader understanding of the evolution of the modern mechanical watch over the course of half a century. With background stories that place the watches in the historical and cultural context in which they were born, the book brings a fresh perspective to the way that watchmaking responded to the momentous social changes that occurred during the 20th century and the role played in that evolution by the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. With the increasing freedom of women in the 1920s, wrist-worn watches, along with radically new styles of dress, liberated them from the stiffness and constraints of old society; in the 1930s, the Reverso – with its distinctive style, coloured dials and unisex appeal – epitomised the lifestyle of the newly fashionable ‘sporting gentleman’; as the 1950s brought an emphasis on technology and the emergence of the international businessman, Jaeger-LeCoultre responded with automatic movements and numerous useful functions – as seen in the Futurematic, Memovox and Geophysic. More than a collection of watches, The Collectibles provides a snapshot of a remarkable period in world history.

Exploring the wonders that we can observe in our night sky, The Stellar Odyssey reveals the awe-inspiring phenomena that the watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre express through their celestial complications, displaying mankind’s link to the cosmos directly on the wrist in a literal, philosophical and uniquely captivating way.

Following the inauguration of The Stellar Odyssey at Watches and Wonders in 2022, Dubai has been chosen as the first stop on a tour of major world cities. The exhibition will be staged in a spectacular pavilion ‘floating’ on the waters of the Dubai Fountain, with Burj Khalifa as its backdrop.

“It is an important part of our mission at Jaeger-LeCoultre to share the secrets behind the art and craft of watchmaking with the wider world by bringing our Manufacture from the Vallée de Joux to the public around the globe,” says Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre. “The ancient cultures of the Middle East played a seminal role in the origins of time measurement, and we are therefore delighted that Dubai is where the world tour of The Stellar Odyssey makes its debut. It is a special opportunity to trace the unbroken line through several millennia to the exceptional legacy of innovation that has driven our Maison for 190 years and the work that we do today.”

Showcasing a careful curated selection of the Manufacture’s most remarkable historic timepieces as well as its most recent celestially-inspired timepieces – including the extraordinary Atmos clock and the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 – the exhibition features multi-media installations that will take visitors on a virtual journey to the cosmos. It translates the wonders of the celestial world into art installations and multi-sensory experiences, while the Atelier d’Antoine, named after the Maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre, shares watchmaking know-how through hands-on educational workshops based on the Stellar Odyssey theme.

Revealing the Mysteries of Astronomical Timekeeping in Eight Chapters

Within the main exhibition pavilion, The Stellar Odyssey explores the creative and cultural universe of astronomically-inspired watchmaking in eight chapters. Visitors begin by discovering the very origins of time, the impact of celestial phenomena on the way we measure it, and the origins of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise in developing astronomical complications. Each of the five following chapters leads visitors through a different cosmic phenomenon, displaying rare historic watches as well as timepieces from the most recent collections to illustrate how the Manufacture has continually reinterpreted the movements of the stars and planets in the form of intricate complications that represent, measure and even predict celestial events directly on the wrist.

Enriching the Stellar Experience

In the heart of the main pavilion beneath a geodesic dome, an immersive digital show takes visitors on a virtual journey through space and time, transporting them through infinite space and 13.7 billion years of time to reveal the mysteries of the cosmos in five episodes – from the origins of our known universe to the present day.

“Through a variety of immersive experiences, The Stellar Odyssey presents different interpretations of the cosmos and its relation to timekeeping, inviting visitors to understand it more deeply,” says Catherine Rénier. “As well as transmitting the savoir-faire of watchmaking through the Atelier d’Antoine workshops, these experiences include two special collaborations under our Made of Makers programme.”

Established for the purpose of enriching the dialogue that has long existed between horology, artisanship and art, Made of Makers is a programme of collaborations with artists and artisans from various disciplines outside watchmaking. It focuses on world-class creators who share Jaeger-LeCoultre’s values of creativity, expertise and precision and whose work explores new forms of expression through different and often unexpected materials and media. For The Stellar Odyssey, Jaeger-LeCoultre has commissioned projects by French multi-media artist Guillaume Marmin and world-renowned mixologist Matthias Giroud.

For his installation, Passengers: Through Time, Guillaume Marmin employs light, sound and movement in complex relationships that redefine traditional ideas of sculpture, space and time. As visitors walk through the work, infinite reflections and dizzying perspectives take them on a stellar excursion in which they are the protagonists, inviting reflection on the fundamental question of what time really is. For the Stellar Atelier, Matthias Giroud has created a menu of highly original soft cocktails inspired by the cosmos, taking his inspiration from the colours, temperatures and forms of the stars and planets, and blending familiar ingredients with intriguing scents and flavours from the Vallée de Joux.

In the Atelier d’Antoine, visitors can complete their journey of astral discovery by joining a hands-on Discovery Workshop that focuses on the wonder of astronomical complications and the celestial origins of time-keeping – a rare opportunity to gain deep insight and practical experience of this magical world.

The Stellar Odyssey will be presented from Saturday 4^th to Thursday 23^rd February 2023 at the Dubai Fountain, Downtown Dubai, open daily from 2:00pm to 12.00 am. Tickets may be booked  online at https://online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com/domaine/theme12

Third edition of Discovery Workshops offered by Jaeger-LeCoultre, this year’s programme at the Atelier d’Antoine is devoted to the Stellar Odyssey theme. A Discovery Workshop created for Fine Watchmaking enthusiasts or beginners – and anyone else curious about the origin of time and how we continue to measure it.

L'Atelier d'Antoine is a rare chance to explore this universe through a hands-on approach that is both theoretical and practical, engaging many senses; you will see rare and ancient artefacts, touch with your heart the reflections of the greatest astronomers, listen to the passage of time and feel with your own hands the mysterious workings of watch mechanisms.

Each workshop is limited to a maximum of eight participants and supervised by a specialist teacher and an expert from the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge by complementing their Discovery Workshop with a guided tour of the Manufacture focusing on the same theme – an exceptional opportunity to see in detail a fully integrated watch Manufacture. Named in honour of Antoine LeCoultre, founder of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Atelier d'Antoine is in the heart of the Manufacture, in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland.

Welcome to the Cosmos!

The cosmos, where it all began more than 13 billion years ago with a massive explosion that created the fundamental stars, such as the sun: the heart of our solar system.

Humans have always read the time in the sky, day, and night, and it is thanks to the observation of the stars that mankind has been able to create tools capable of measuring time and understanding cycles.

This three-hour Discovery Workshop is an invitation to a celestial journey and, at the end of it, participants will understand the movements of the heavenly bodies, their anomalies, and the challenges that watchmakers must face to make mechanical these notions drawn from the stars.

Participating in this Discovery Workshop will be an unforgettable experience for anyone wishing to learn more about the fascinating origins of time and the manufacture of an exceptional timepiece.

Jaeger-LeCoultre has created an online booking platform – https://online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com/– where visitors can discover more about Atelier d’Antoine and the opportunities it offers, and can book all experiences directly. 

In keeping with the innovative design concept that made its debut in the new Shanghai flagship in January, the new boutique translates the spirit of La Grande Maison into a welcoming environment that brings the Manufacture closer to its visitors. The façade has been inspired by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s celebrated Reverso, featuring sweeping lines that evoke the Art Deco design and swivelling movement of its case, while the interior emphasises organic materials and natural colours, fusing tradition and modernity to evoke the serenity and beauty of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux. The space has designed to lead visitors on a journey of exploration into the fascinating story of watchmaking, as well as the Maison’s own story.

On entering the boutique, visitors encounter a display area presenting Jaeger-LeCoultre’s current collections, including the Atmos clock. Enthusiasts can explore the intricacies of watch mechanisms – and in the process discover more of La Grande Maison’s extraordinary heritage as the creator of more than 1,270 calibres – with an interactive calibre wall that takes them on a virtual three-dimensional dive into several of the Manufacture’s most emblematic calibres.

Visitors then are drawn into an area dedicated to Reverso, where a display of limited editions and high-complication models is complemented by an inspiring presentation of the collection’s heritage, and the almost infinite possibilities for personalising the case back. The personalisation story continues in the next area, where an interactive Strap Wall invites clients to handle the many options and discover their own perfect pairing of watch case with strap material, color and stitching.

Before reaching the intimate VIP lounge, visitors will encounter an area that celebrates the 181 different skills assembled under one roof at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. A watchmaker offers visitors the opportunity to discover the extraordinary technical skills embodied in every watch movement, while an exquisite display of the Métiers Rares® celebrates La Grande Maison’s artistic creativity and mastery of the decorative crafts.

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique is located at 430 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California and will be open to guests Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm and on Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

The Stellar Odyssey highlights the fundamental link between astronomical phenomena, and the history of time-measurement and watchmaking, and celebrates Jaeger-LeCoultre’s uniquely broad expertise in translating celestial phenomena into intricate timepieces. Throughout 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre takes The Stellar Odyssey Around the World with a touring exhibition and a series of themed events that will embrace inspirational collaborations with a world-renowned mixologist Matthias Giroud and a visual artist, alongside a presentation of its latest celestially-themed timepieces. Throughout the year, as part of its commitment to transmitting watchmaking knowledge to a wider public, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier d’Antoine will host a programme of hands-on Discovery Workshops focusing on the celestial theme.

“This year, the Stellar Odyssey will continue the Manufacture’s journey around the world, sharing not only our creations that are inspired by the celestial theme, but also translating the wonders of the celestial world into art installations and immersive experiences.”

Catherine Rénier, Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO 

Awarded a Nobel Prize for Physics in 2019 for his game-changing work in astronomy, Didier Queloz is a Professor of Natural Philosophy at Cambridge University (UK) and Professor of Physics at ETH-Zürich (Switzerland). One of the originators of the “exoplanet revolution” in astrophysics, in 1995, he and his PhD supervisor announced the first discovery of a giant planet orbiting another star, outside the solar system – a seminal discovery that spawned a revolution in astronomy and kick-started the field of exoplanet research. He has developed astronomical equipment, new observational approaches and detection algorithms that have led to the discovery of hundreds of previously unknown planets.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Stellar Odyssey of 2022 is an invitation to watch lovers and the general public alike, to discover how the mysteries of the cosmos are translated into micro-mechanical wonders for the wrist.

Since the dawn of history, the movements of the planets and constellations have been used to measure the passing of time, literally defining the origins of horology. And from the very beginnings of La Grande Maison, its watchmakers have continually reinterpreted these astronomical phenomena in the form of intricate complications that represent or even predict celestial events directly on the wrist. Speaking to the heart as well as the mind, these mechanisms go above and beyond their practical function of time-telling, displaying our link to the cosmos directly on the dial in a literal and uniquely captivating way that is enhanced by an exceptional mastery of rare decorative crafts. Honouring this noble legacy and expressing the expertise of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre in fresh and exciting ways, a splendid array of new celestial watches takes the spotlight in 2022.

“This year, the Stellar Odyssey will continue the Manufacture’s journey around the world, sharing not only our creations that are inspired by the celestial theme, but also translating the wonders of the celestial world into art installations and immersive experiences. The Atelier d’Antoine will bring a new aspect to the transmission of watchmaking know-how with the introduction of a new educational workshop based on the Stellar Odyssey theme.” Catherine Rénier, Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO

A Stellar Odyssey

Jaeger-LeCoultre will host a series of thematic exhibitions events around the globe – an invitation for clients and the general public alike to discover how the mysteries of the cosmos are translated into micro-mechanical wonders that tell the time by capturing the universe in miniature. The Stellar Odyssey exhibition will make its debut at Watches & Wonders in Geneva before embarking on a world tour. Tracing the eternally fascinating story of time and unveiling Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest celestially-inspired timepieces, the exhibition also features an immersive multi-media installations that will take visitors on a virtual journey to the cosmos.

To complete the stellar experience, the world-renowned mixologist Matthias Giroud has created an exclusive menu of celestially-inspired soft cocktails that Jaeger-LeCoultre will offer to its guests throughout the year. For these eight visually captivating creations, Matthias has taken inspiration from the stars and planets, blending familiar ingredients with intriguing scents and flavours from the Vallée de Joux, and adding decorative flourishes inspired by the Métiers Rares® atelier of the Manufacture.

Throughout the year, the programme of hands-on Discovery Workshops at the Atelier d’Antoine will focus on the wonder of astronomical complications and the celestial origins of time-keeping – a rare opportunity to gain deep insight into this magical world.

Connecting, Tradition, Technology and Artistry

Since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre has forged an unparalleled reputation for inventiveness, with more than 430 patents and 1,300 different calibres to its name. Believing that exceptional mechanisms merit outstanding artistic treatment, the Manufacture has also developed great mastery in the decorative crafts, bringing together an array of time-honoured skills in its Métiers Rares® atelier. For the 2022 celestial timepieces, it has harnessed this tremendous breadth and depth of expertise, synthesising art and mechanics to embark on a journey of discovery through the cosmos and its various cycles.

The magnificence of the constellations and the fascination of sidereal time have been reproduced on the wrist with two new artistic interpretations of the extraordinary Calibre 945. Earth’s rotation on its axis is depicted in a sumptuous new interpretation of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Universal Time calibre: the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948. With its fascinating technical intricacy and everyday practicality, a new perpetual calendar enriches the sporty-elegant Polaris collection. The Manufacture’s watchmakers translate the infinity of the universe through the Atmos clock, reproducing the Earth and Moon’s cycles around the Sun in the breathtaking Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590 And they have harnessed their eternal fascination with the night sky to capture the rarity and enchantment of shooting stars in an entirely new complication for the feminine Rendez-Vous collection.

These new celestial timepieces – each of them a small masterpiece of technical and artistic savoir-faire – perfectly embody the unique identity and spirit of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is pleased to announce the opening of a new flagship boutique at Shanghai’s (neighborhood) in K11 art mall. The boutique represents a new chapter for La Grande Maison, translating its spirit into a warm and inviting environment that brings the Manufacture to the other side of the world, taking visitors on a journey into its heart.

In homage to watchmaking, the layout space was conceived as a series of interconnected circles and curves, reminiscent of the components of a watch movement. The linked spaces create different layers of interaction for visitors as they intuitively follow the path through the store, gaining a deeper understanding of the Maison as they move further into it. With an emphasis on organic materials and natural colours, the décor fuses tradition and modernity, evoking the serenity and beauty of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux.

Facing Shanghai’s South Huangpi Road, the boutique’s façade is a new expression of the Maison, made of glass shingles inspired by the tavaillon (wooden tile) cladding used on traditional Vallée de Joux buildings to provide protection from the harsh winter climate. Fusing tradition and technology, the glass shingles are back-lit to create a constantly changing play of colour and sense of movement. This fascinating display evokes the glass-fronted northern façade of the Manufacture, which reflects its surroundings, changing appearance according to the weather and time of day.

On entering the boutique, the visitor encounters display cases containing the highlights of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s current collections. Alongside the vitrines a fascinating, interactive calibre wall elevates the space beyond the classic retail environment, immediately drawing the visitor to discover some of the most emblematic calibres that underline the Maison’s authority as “the watchmakers’ watchmaker”. After discovering the physical calibres, then exploring them in depth through the digital showcases, visitors can continue the learning experience on WeChat, with more calibres presented in augmented reality.

Drawn naturally into the second area of the boutique, visitors can explore the power of personalisation. A history of the Reverso shows why, more than any other watch, it represents the special pleasure of owning a timepiece that holds a secret, personalised emblem and thus truly belongs to its wearer. Alongside the Reverso display, an interactive Strap Bar offers more options for personalisation, inviting visitors to handle and play with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s complete strap collection for all models.

The visitor’s path then leads to a deeper exploration of the Manufacture, and the tremendous range of métiers and watchmaking gathered under its roof. A series of evocative and educational videos introduces them to the beautiful world of the Vallée de Joux and initiates them into the secrets of enamelling, engraving and anglage (champfering/edging), as well as design and the research & development process that continually gives birth to innovations.

Deep in the heart of the store, visitors arrive at the Atelier d’Antoine, where they are invited to discover the most refined expression of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s know-how, not only through fascinating displays but also through Discovery Workshops that offer direct hands-on experience of watchmaking.

An exact replica of its counterpart within the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, this is the first permanent installation of an Atelier d’Antoine outside Switzerland. The discovery Workshops provide an opportunity to explore the world of Swiss fine watchmaking in a new way. Hosted by a watchmaking expert, the workshops blend academic education and hands-on experience in a dynamic format that encourages interaction. Participants will dive deep into the heart of watch movements to understand how they work; they will discover the myriad technical and creative skills required to produce fine watches, the many different stages involved in their fabrication, and the artistic crafts employed in haute horlogerie. They will also learn about the past, present and future of watchmaking at Jaeger-LeCoultre and in the Vallée de Joux and will be invited to use larger-scale models to try to replicate the work of the Maison’s highly skilled watchmakers.

The first programme offered at Atelier d’Antoine in the Maison Flagship store will be the Reverso Discovery Workshop, during which participants will dive deep into the Reverso archives and go hands-on with a variety of models. Later, the Sound Maker Discovery Workshop and Masterclasses will also be offered.

One wall of the Atelier d’Antoine space is dedicated to a Cabinet of Curiosities, which showcases three pillars of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise: Celestial complications, The Soundmaker and Precision. Alongside this, a display dedicated to the Métiers Rares reveals in more depth how a Reverso can be transformed into a personalised work of art through enamelling and engraving, showcasing the many steps of these processes.

More than just a boutique, the new Global Flagship boutique invites visitors to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of watchmaking and the remarkable story of Jaeger-LeCoultre, taking a deep dive into the Maison’s heritage, its watchmaking expertise and its spirit of innovation and creativity.

Atelier d’Antoine Workshops may be booked online here.  

Born at the height of the Art Deco period, the Reverso perfectly epitomised the spirit of its time – a dazzling and exuberant modernity that changed everything from music and art to architecture, fashion and sport, and introduced a radically new aesthetic language.

In a world where silvered dials prevailed, the original Reverso models featured a black dial with contrasting indexes. The black dial was described as having incredible legibility and was referred to as “the dial of the future”. Almost immediately, aesthetic variations began to appear with notable-coloured dials. Introduced at a time when coloured dials were rare in watchmaking, made to order dials in bright red, chocolate brown, burgundy or blue lacquer made the Reverso appear even more modern and distinctive. From the beginning, different case metals and re-sized models for women were offered to be worn on a cordonnet bracelet or transformed into pendants or handbag clips.

However, there was never any compromise on the core design elements – the horizontal gadroons that emphasise the rectilinear geometry of the case; the triangular lugs that appear to be a seamless extension of the case sides; and the case that fits so perfectly into its carrier that, at first glance, there is no evidence that it can be flipped over. The proportions of the original rectangular case were crucial to the success of the design. The ratio of its length to width was based on the golden mean – a unique mathematical relationship defined by the ancient Greeks, which humans instinctively find to be the most aesthetically pleasing proportion.

While the modern Reverso has incorporated high complications, the enduring success of the model is fundamentally not about the mechanical complexity of the watchmaking; its value lies in the ingenious conception and perfect execution – a deft synthesis of form and function that responded so well to a particular need that it was able to transcend that utilitarian purpose and take on a life of its own. This is not to diminish the intricacy of the flip mechanism itself and the ingenuity of its engineering, which combine to produce the tactile pleasure of the case gliding in its carrier and the satisfying click as it locks into place. But that, too, is entirely a matter of the Reverso fulfilling its original intention – with the greatest possible elegance.

Atelier d’Antoine offers watch enthusiasts – connoisseurs and novices alike – an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of fine watchmaking. The Discovery Workshops provide a rare chance to explore this world through a blend of academic education and hands-on experience, focused on a particular theme. With classes limited to a maximum of eight participants, each Workshop is led by an instructor and a technical expert from the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. Participants have the option of deepening their knowledge by combining a Discovery Workshop with a guided Manufacture Visit focused on the same theme – a rare opportunity to explore the heart of a fully integrated watchmaking Manufacture. Named after Antoine LeCoultre, the founder of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Atelier d’Antoine is based in the heart of the Manufacture, in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux.

Exploring the inside story of the Reverso

The newly created Reverso Discovery Workshop will explore how the Art Deco style of the watch, as well as the technical ingenuity of its unique swivelling case, were born naturally from the social and cultural milieu of 1930, when the idea was first conceived. The workshop will trace the evolution of the Reverso through the decades, not only as a canvas for personalisation and artistic expression, but also as a home to high-watchmaking complications and further technical innovations. Participants will dive deep into the Reverso archives, viewing the original patent document, design sketches, and other rarely seen materials. The workshop concludes with a unique opportunity, as each participant takes on the challenge of assembling a Reverso case – a task normally entrusted exclusively to the artisans of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre. Guided by an expert from the Manufacture and bringing together no fewer than 50 components to create a finished case, it will be a fascinating test of participants’ dexterity and patience.

During the Reverso Manufacture Visit, participants will observe, at close quarters, the different stages involved in the fabrication of a Reverso and the specific technical and creative skills required to produce it. From the first moment of transforming raw metal into movement blanks and case parts, participants will follow the process through the decorative finishing of the technical components to the assembly of the entire movement, case and dial, and the final casing up of the watch. They will also discover several high complication movements that have been specially created for the Reverso, and visit the Atelier des Métiers Rares® (Artistic Crafts Workshop), where enamellers, engravers and gem-setters transform classical Reverso cases into miniature works of art.

The new Atelier d’Antoine programme will be an unforgettable experience for those wishing to learn more about what goes into creating a modern Reverso watch, as well as the fascinating story of how its singular design and unique characteristics have led to its recognition as a watchmaking icon.

Jaeger-LeCoultre has created an online booking platform – https://online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com/– where visitors can discover more about Atelier d’Antoine and the opportunities it offers, and can book all experiences directly. Online booking will be available for the Atelier d’Antoine Reverso programme from September.

The design of the Reverso had unexpected benefit. While its blank metal flip side had begun as a purely functional solution to avoid damage to the dial, it was an ideal surface for personalisation with monograms, emblems or personal messages using lacquer, engraving or enamel. The owner can keep this decoration as a personal, hidden treasure or flip the case over so that its back becomes the front.

Among the examples from the 1930s in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s museum collection is a Reverso decorated with the emblem of the British Racing Drivers Club, a piece with the Eton College coat of arms, and a 1935 Reverso that commemorates the record-setting flight from Mexico City to New York by the aviator, Amelia Earhart. In India, the Maharajah of Karputala commissioned 50 Reverso watches, with a miniature-painted portrait of his wife reproduced on the caseback in enamel. Although these pieces are all believed lost, Jaeger-LeCoultre has a similar Reverso in its collection, dating from 1936, with a portrait of another Indian beauty, thought to be Kanchan Prabha Devi, Maharani of Tripura State.

From the mid-20th century onwards, as changing tastes rejected ornamentation in all areas of design, the traditional artistic crafts such as enamelling, miniature painting and guillochage began to disappear – the skills dying out along with the older generation of artisans. Fortunately, the revival of mechanical watchmaking in the 1990s, sparked a renewed interest in these crafts before they were lost forever.

In 1996, the Maison released its first timepieces to be decorated with grand feu enamel in modern times. Crafted by Miklos Merczel, a former watchmaker at Jaeger-leCoultre who established the Manufacture’s in-house enamelling studio, the set of four Reverso watches each bore a perfectly reproduced miniature of a work by the Art Nouveau master, Alphonse Mucha. Enamelling became a signature of the Reverso collection and, to this day, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of the very few Manufactures to have its own in-house enamelling atelier.

The Manufacture’s enamellers were joined by engravers, gem-setters and guillochage masters – all of them eventually brought together in one vast studio in 2016, with the establishment of the Atelier des Métiers Rares®. As the full potential of the Reverso as a canvas for artistic expression became apparent, these artists created increasingly elaborate and spectacular embellishments. High Jewellery models have featured invisibly set baguette diamonds over the entire case; the cordonnet bracelet has been reinterpreted entirely in diamonds; and casebacks have been transformed into glittering expanses of snow-set diamonds. As the most recent releases of artistic Reverso models suggest, the creative possibilities have almost no limits.

As the launch of the Reverso Soixantième in 1991 coincided with the rebirth of mechanical watchmaking that followed the quartz crisis, the Reverso embraced its potential to be much more than a time-only watch. It became the vehicle through which the Manufacture would redevelop its expertise in high complications, despite the added challenge that rectangular movements dictate an entirely different architecture from that of the round movements that had traditionally been used for complications.

Calibre 824, developed especially for the Reverso Soixantième, incorporated a date indicated by a central hand and a power reserve indicator. This was followed in 1993 by the Reverso Tourbillon – the Manufacture’s first wristwatch tourbillon. Then came the Reverso Répétition Minutes in 1994, the first time Jaeger-LeCoultre had miniaturised a minute repeater for a wristwatch, Calibre 943 was the world’s first rectangular minute repeater movement. In 1996, La Grande Maison introduced the Reverso Chronographe Rétrograde, with an intricate display on the reverse side that solved the problem of how to arrange the chronograph counters within a rectangular frame. This was followed two years later by the Reverso Géographique and, coinciding with the Millennium, the Reverso Quantième Perpétuel. Naturally, these pink-gold limited-edition pieces are highly sought-after by collectors.

In the years since the Millennium, innovation has continued. Developed for the Reverso Septantième and released in 2002, Calibre 879 provided an 8-day power reserve – very rare at the time. Five years later, the Reverso Grande Complication à Triptyque introduced Calibre 175: a single movement incorporating 18 different functions, including civil time, sidereal time and a perpetual calendar, displayed on three dials – the third dial being set into the carrier plate of the watch. The Reverso has also housed Jaeger-LeCoultre’s unique bi-axial flying tourbillon, first in the Reverso Gyrotourbillon of 2008 and again in the 2016 Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon. And in 2012, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the Reverso Répétition Minutes à Rideau, in which the chiming mechanism is activated by the movement of a pair of theatre-style curtains as they reveal and conceal the dial.

From its genesis, through 90 years of evolution and countless variations, the Reverso has continually reinvented itself without ever compromising its identity. Versatile and ageless, a chameleon that changes yet remains unchanged, it has become one of the world’s most recognisable wristwatches.

But it is more than simply a watch. The Reverso has rightly become recognised as an icon of 20th-century design, in the true meaning of the term.

The online booking platform offers a choice of English and French language programmes, outlining the content of the Discovery Workshops, as well as dates, timings and other practical details in an intuitive and user-friendly format.

To honour Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 150 years of expertise in chiming watches, the first series of Discovery Workshops will be devoted to The Sound Maker theme. Hosted by an instructor and a technical expert, and limited to a maximum of 8 participants, the Discovery Workshops blend academic education and hands-on experience in a dynamic format that encourages interaction. In a fascinating three-hour class, participants will learn why watches go ‘tick-tock’, how time can be expressed through sound, what makes a minute repeater chime – and the difference between a repeater and a Grande Sonnerie.

The hub of Atelier d’Antoine – which is named after the Maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre – is a specially developed space within the original, historic Manufacture building in Le Sentier, Switzerland.

As part of the 2021 programme, themed Manufacture visits will also be offered on the booking platform. The Discovery Workshops offer the option of adding a themed Manufacture visit, and a separate programme of Visits is structured to focus on a particular area of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise and heritage: The History of the Maison and the Stages of Watchmaking; Innovations and Inventions; and Creativity and Artistic Crafts.

For those who wish to learn more about what goes into making a fine mechanical watch, participating in an Atelier d’Antoine programme will be an unforgettable experience. Bookings can be made from 5 May 2021 at online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

The Reverso story began with a challenge: to create a wristwatch that could be worn on the polo field without being smashed. In 1930 César de Trey, a successful entrepreneur who was well acquainted with both Jacques-David LeCoultre and the Parisian firm of Jaeger SA through his activities in the watch business, was travelling in India, where British army officers had taken up polo. Asked if he could find a way to protect the glass and dial of their watches during matches, de Trey had the idea of a case that could be flipped over. He approached LeCoultre to produce it and, through connections with Jaeger, a French industrial designer, René-Alfred Chauvot, was engaged to design the case.

On 4 March 1931, the Paris patent office received an application to register “a watch capable of sliding in its support and being completely turned over”; in July, de Trey bought the rights to Chauvot’s design and in November he registered the Reverso name. Eager to get the revolutionary design to market as soon as possible, de Trey and Jacques-David LeCoultre set up a business partnership and began production immediately. The first pieces were on sale less that nine months after the patent application had been filed.

Success was immediate: as a quintessential expression of Art Deco style and the embodiment of modernity, the Reverso was adopted by tastemakers from all walks of life. Cases were offered in gold as well as the original Staybrite steel, and feminine models appeared, with options to be worn as pendants or handbag clips, as well as on the wrist. For those seeking even greater individuality, brightly coloured lacquer dials could be made to order, and the reverse side of the case personalised with engraving and lacquer.

As tastes changed after World War II, interest in the Reverso waned and by 1969, when the first quartz wristwatch heralded the greatest crisis the Swiss watch industry had ever faced, it had been largely forgotten. However, as the quartz invasion gathered pace, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Italian distributor, Giorgio Corvo bought the last remaining 200 Reverso cases, had them fitted with mechanical movements, and sold every piece within a month. In 1975 the Reverso was officially reborn.

Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to bring production of the case in-house and, in 1981, assigned one of its engineers, Daniel Wild, to redesign it to modern technical standards. However, given the Reverso’s status as a design classic, any aesthetic change had to be almost imperceptible. In 1985, the new case was unveiled – the first to be machined at Jaeger-LeCoultre using (then new) CNC technology. Waterproof, dust-proof, with a new flip-over mechanism and redesigned lug attachments and carrier, it comprised 55 parts, rather than the 23 of the original. Stylistically, it appeared completely unchanged.

In 1991, six decades after the Reverso was born, it began its transformation from ‘one style, one watch’ into an entire collection. In 1994, the Reverso Duoface was created – a unique expression of dual time, with local time on the front dial and home time on the reverse. It was followed, in 1997, by the Reverso Duetto, a feminine interpretation of the double dial principle.

Named after the Maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre, “Atelier d’Antoine” will stage a variety of educational programmes that combine academic instruction and practical activities, guided by experts from within the Manufacture.

The hub of “Atelier d’Antoine” is a newly developed space within the original, historic Manufacture building in Le Sentier, which has been specially designed for this purpose. In future, it is planned to open physical outposts of the Atelier in flagship boutiques in key international locations, as well as to offer the programme through digital channels.

“Atelier d’Antoine” will initially offer two different types of themed programme: Discovery Workshops and Manufacture Visits and, at a later date, will also offer Masterclasses – all programmes offering unforgettable experiences for those wishing to learn more about what goes into making a fine mechanical watch.

Discovery Workshops provide an opportunity to explore the world of Swiss fine watchmaking in a new way. Hosted by an instructor and a technical expert and limited to a maximum of 8 participants, the workshops blend academic education and hands-on experience in a dynamic format that encourages interaction.

Over the course of three hours, participants will dive deep into the heart of watch movements to understand how they work; they will discover the myriad technical and creative skills required to produce fine watches, the many different stages involved in their fabrication, and the artistic crafts employed in haute horlogerie. They will also learn about the past, present and future of watchmaking at Jaeger-LeCoultre and in the Vallée de Joux. They will also be invited to go hands-on, using larger-scale models to try to replicate the work of the Maison’s highly skilled watchmakers.

The Manufacture Visits are structured so that each focuses on a different area of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise and heritage: The History of the Maison and the Stages of Watchmaking; Innovations and Inventions; and Creativity and Artistic Crafts. The guided visits will range in duration from two-and-a-half to four hours, according to the theme being explored.

Following the traditional format already established at Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Masterclasses will be highly focused, hands-on tutorials led by an expert watchmaker or craftsman, in which participants actively practice particular skills of traditional watchmaking or artistic crafts.

THE SOUND MAKER

Introduced by the Maison in June 2020, The Sound Maker theme pays homage to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux and to its great legacy of chiming timepieces, expressing 150 years of accumulated chiming expertise in fresh new ways that link nature, art and horology.

Honouring The Sound Maker, the first series of Discovery Workshops and Manufacture Visits, will be devoted to the sounds of watchmaking.

The Manufacture Visits will focus on the secrets of sound-making and the Maison’s rich chiming heritage, as well as its latest chiming creations. In the Discovery Workshops, participants will learn why watches go ‘tick-tock’, how time can be expressed through sound, what makes a minute repeater chime – and the difference between a repeater and a Grande Sonnerie.

“Atelier d’Antoine” is open to everyone, from collectors who want to build on an existing passion to absolute newcomers with curiosity about watchmaking but no prior knowledge. To participate in any programme of “Atelier d’Antoine”, advance registration is required and may be done through Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques or, from December 2020 online at online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

FROM MUSIC BOXES TO POCKET WATCHES

Before Antoine LeCoultre turned to watchmaking, he and his father invented a new type of ‘keyboard’ for mechanical music boxes. Cut from a single piece of metal and shaped like a comb (peigne in French), it improved the quality of the sound, and prevented the instrument from detuning. Variations of this device became standard for almost all music boxes. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Heritage Collection features an early example from the 1820s, fitted with a LeCoultre ‘Peigne’ mechanism and set in a finely decorated tortoise-shell box.

After it was established in 1833, the LeCoultre atelier quickly gained a reputation for both inventiveness and quality and, by the 1860s, was known for its complicated watch movements, incorporating calendars, chronographs and chiming mechanisms. Around 1880, a decade after developing its first minute repeater, the Manufacture LeCoultre created Calibre 19/20 RMS, a Minute Repeater with Three Hammers, rather than the standard two hammers and gongs. Thanks to the third hammer, it creates a unique melody, with a distinctive three-note chime for the quarters.

As the Maison broadened its expertise, watchmakers also incorporated automata into chiming watches. The best-loved of these were jacquemarts – human figures with articulated limbs, set on the watch dial. Animated by the watch movement to coincide with the striking of time, they provide a visual representation of the chime. The intricate dial of an early 1890s Jacquemart Pocket Watch by LeCoultre, features a pair of jacquemarts in a romantic scene, decorated with enamel and engraving.

In 1895, Jaeger-LeCoultre invented and patented the silent strike-governor, also known as the silent regulator. This eliminated the background buzz characteristic of traditional regulators, thus producing a clearer chime. Different versions of that invention have since become an industry standard in chiming watches. Among the examples in the Heritage Collection is a 1914 pocket watch powered by Calibre 19 IMCCV, which unites a mono-pusher chronograph and a minute repeater.

In the early 20th century, LeCoultre was one of the few Manufactures to master triple-complication watch movements. For the 1910 Minute Repeater Triple Complication, LeCoultre Calibre 19/20IMCSQ brought together a minute repeater, a chronograph and a perpetual calendar in a classical hunter-style case.

To create an aesthetic worthy of the technical complexity, decorative crafts were often lavished on the more complicated watches. In a 1928 Lépine-style pocket watch, LeCoultre Calibre 17JSMCCRVQ combined a minute repeater with a perpetual calendar and a chronograph, providing a magnificent canvas for the crafts of skeletonisation, enamelling and engraving. Lépine refers to a style of watch movement architecture developed in the 1760s by the French watchmaker Jean-Antoine Lépine, which made calibres thinner.

MEMOVOX

In the mid 20th Century, as people increasingly sought watches with practical functions, Jaeger-LeCoultre drew on its mastery of chiming mechanisms to develop alarm watches. In this form of chiming calibre, the extremely rapid strikes of the hammer create a continuous single-pitch sound, closer to a buzz than to the bell-like chime of a minute repeater. The Memovox (its name, taken from Latin, means ‘voice of the memory’) has remained the reference in alarm watches for 70 years.

In 1950, the Maison introduced Calibre 489 in the first Memovox watch. The design was classically understated: on the dial, a triangular pointer on a mobile central disc indicated the alarm time, and the two crowns – one for winding and time-setting and the other to set the alarm – were set close to the case-sides.

Having created its first automatic wristwatch movement in 1946, the Manufacture launched the first automatic alarm movement, Calibre 815, a decade later. The oscillating weight is fixed at the centre of the movement, its swings limited by two bumpers, equipped with tiny shock-absorbing springs.

In 1958, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the Memovox Calibre 814 in two new variations. With international businessmen in mind, the Memovox International incorporated a 24-hour world time display on the dial’s inner disc. The Memovox Parking was designed to help motorists avoid fines for exceeding the pre-paid time on their parking meters by buzzing when the allotted time expired.

In 1959, responding to the rapid growth of leisure diving and the corresponding demand for purpose-built watches, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the world’s first diving watch with an alarm, the Memovox Deep Sea (Cal. 815). To enhance underwater safety, the alarm sound provides an acoustic signal and the vibration of the watch a tactile reminder of the elapsed diving time.

Introduced in 1963 and updated in 1968 with the addition of a date display (Cal. 825), the Memovox Polaris further enhanced the diving functionality of the alarm watch. A rotating inner bezel provides a visual indication of elapsed dive time, and a super-compressor case with a triple-layered caseback amplifies the alarm sound when submerged, while ensuring water resistance to 200 metres.

In 1970 the Memovox Speedbeat introduced Calibre 916, the first of a new generation of higher-frequency automatic movements by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Increasing the balance-wheel frequency to 28,800 vph made the movement more stable and thus more accurate. A new automatic winding system introduced an oscillating weight that turned 360 degrees around its axis to wind the mainspring.

Fitted with Calibre 918, the Master Réveil was introduced in 1994. In this new alarm mechanism, the hammer struck a gong rather than striking directly on the case, as it had done previously. The result was the distinctive ‘school bell’ sound that has remained the signature of Memovox to this day. The Master Réveil was also the first Memovox to undergo the demanding 1,000 Hours Test, which is recognised as one of the most stringent in-house quality control protocols in the watchmaking industry.

This great legacy in chiming watches has provided Jaeger-LeCoultre with a deep well of expertise on which it continues to draw to this day. The Manufacture’s constant evolution of its chiming watch repertoire epitomises the deep respect for tradition and constant quest for innovation that have driven La Grande Maison throughout its 187-year history.

MEMOVOX Reference 3161 sold for EUR 61’100 at Monaco Legend

MEMODATE POLARIS Reference E859 sold for CHF 40’000 at Phillips

Fall proved to be a fruitful season for Jaeger-LeCoultre treasures hunters as three extremely rare watches hit the auction block. Each one of the three watches embodies the spirit of innovation and aesthetics dear to the brand with a special twist, which makes them a treasure for collectors. Thanks to their unique features and provenance, they all contribute to enrich the brand’s heritage archives. Last but not least, all three pieces beat their highest estimate.

Reminiscing the roaring 60’s, while men conquer space and seas, gentlemen wish to work, travel and dive in style. Amidst the technological revolution, Jaeger-LeCoultre releases three unique watches, a Memovox reference 3161 made in platinum, a Memodate Polaris reference E859 and the Lucky 13 featuring the number 13 at every hour marker.

Memovox stands for the “voice of memory” and was known as the most reliable alarm watch at the time it was released. The model sold at Monaco Legend, the Memovox 3161, is considered as one of the most collectible piece ever produced by Jaeger-LeCoultre as well as extremely rare as it is made in platinum and features the iconic alarm complication. Moreover, the piece is accompanied by the extract of the archives from Jaeger-LeCoultre confirming its production in 1962.

Surfing on the trend of “complications with a practical purpose” typical of the 60’s, Jaeger-LeCoultre makes a diver’s version of the Memovox known as the Polaris is the United States and the Skin Diver Memovox in Europe. The reference E859 offers both a visual timer in the inner bezel and an auditory alarm which vibrates against the skin for ultimate safety. Whereas most Memovox dials do not bear any inscriptions apart from the brand name, the Polaris sold at Phillips is stamped Memodate, a particularity hardly ever seen.

From the deep sea to space, it was only a short step taken by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1962 with the Lucky 13. On Friday April 13^th, thirteen Senators gathered at the Anti-Superstition Society presented the Lucky 13 to Colonel John H. Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. Featuring the number 13 at every hour marker on the dial, the watch commemorates his spacecraft capsule number 13 and is an ode to the rejection of the number 13 as unlucky. Produced and assembled in the United States, the Lucky 13 is a further testimony of the tight links between Jaeger-LeCoultre and the American market.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is very proud to actively participate in discovering and tracing its legendary watches provenance. The three pieces sold at auction this fall epitomize the brand’s avant-garde and refined style. They are part of the rich and complex history of our brand which is yet to be fully unveiled and definitely to be continued.

And because we are also fearless, we wish you all a happy Friday 13^th!

The Home of Fine Watchmaking regularly invites its guests to make stopovers in its different ateliers, and to discover the restoration workshop as well as the Heritage Gallery.

Today, the Manufacture’s historic building, built in 1833 and enlarged in 1866, is in the spotlight and inaugurates a fully renovated façade.

The renovation of the historical building’s façade

For five months, the works consisted of restoring the historic appearance back to this building. For this, the Luc Chappuis Maison carried out substantive design operations: new lime plaster, new window frames made of Jura stones, bush-hammer technique... An opportunity for Jaeger-LeCoultre to pay homage to the past all while meeting the new energy saving norms and displaying the Maison’s primary vocation. “MANUFACTURE D’HORLOGERIE” (Watchmaking Manufacture) is written in appliqué letters above the entrance.

The Restoration Workshop

Behind the walls of this façade is the restoration workshop. Here, the antique watches are put into the expert hands of about ten watchmakers. The immediate proximity of the Heritage Gallery makes their job easier. Benefiting from direct access to the original plans, they can draw on this living memory in order to reproduce components that are impossible to repair or that have changed, for antique watches, pocket watches and other treasures entrusted to them by their owners for a complete restoration. The rich collection of nearly 6,000 stamps or swages, manufactured by the Maison for their unique movements and preciously preserved at the Manufacture, is also available for this precise watchmaking work.

The Heritage Gallery

The Heritage Gallery, redesigned between 2016 and 2017, presents the iconic timepieces and collections of Jaeger-LeCoultre. It offers visitors a unique, connected experience as well as total immersion into the key stages of the Maison’s history and the art of watchmaking.

On two levels, immense display windows are set in a vast space full of light with a pure décor. One part encloses the Maison’s archives, varying from the written record of technical plans, patents, drawings, old books, client registries, advertisements and catalogues which mark out the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre to meaningful chronological benchmarks. Besides their historical interest, these archives constitute a constant source of inspiration. As if to provide a window on the past, a workbench like the one used by Antoine LeCoultre is also exhibited. With its weathered wood and original tools which we like to imagine could have been used a few hours before, this old furniture generates a profound emotion.

Atmos, Reverso, Memovox, Polaris... Their name makes enthusiasts dream... In the centre of the Heritage Gallery, a monumental glass wall captures your attention. Around a staircase that is as white as snow, this transparent wall exhibits 340 of the 1’ 262 mechanical movements designed, created and assembled by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture. The smallest movement in the world is nestled among them, the calibre 101 weighing barely one gramme which was developed in 1929.

Throughout the visit, it is hard to not let yourself be captivated by the 413 patents of the Maison or the Millionometre. Invented in 1844 by Antoine LeCoultre, this genius’ instrument allowed us to measure microns, a unit of measurement that that didn’t exist yet at the time. Upstairs, where the atmosphere is more intimate, or even confidential, aesthetic masterpieces and exceptional pieces are set side by side without overshadowing each other in individual display cases. An opportunity to admire the renowned Hybris Mechanica collection.

At the end of the visit of this building filled with history, each guest enjoys a unique watchmaking journey to the heart of the Grande Maison, where the past illuminates the present to better reveal it... and set off from the Vallée de Joux with sparkles in their eyes…

and the unique LUCKY 13 to be sold by Phillips New York in December 2019

Throughout its history, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been driven by the spirit of inventiveness, its expertise rewarded with more than 400 patents, and its watchmakers’ technical skills and creative imagination embodied in more than 1,200 different calibres.

As these two rare watches from the mid-20th Century demonstrate, every decade has brought fresh ideas and solutions, reflecting the spirit of the times. Among the many changes brought by the 1950s and 60s – represented by each of these watches – were, on one hand, tremendous advances in technology and aerospace, and on the other, the transformation of diving from a challenging pursuit to a widely practised leisure activity.

A rare LeCoultre Polaris Memodate (1967): to be sold at Phillips Geneva, November 2019:

In 1950, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced its first wristwatch featuring an alarm and called it the Memovox (‘voice of memory’). As the model become one of the most desirable and reliable on the market, the company introduced different variations, including a date display, a self-winding version and even an alarm designed to time parking meters.

In 1959, noting that diving had begun evolving from a specialist pursuit into a recreational sport enjoyed by thousands, Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to adapt the Memovox to the sea. The company realised that it could offer both a visual timer (on the inner bezel) and an auditory alarm (which also caused vibration against the case) for ultimate diver safety.

To do so, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a patented, multi-layer case-back that optimised the alarm’s sound transmission under water. The outer case, with its 16 holes, allowed for the alarm tone to be heard and also felt on the wrist, while the inner case sealed and protected the movement.

Known in the United States as the Polaris, and in Europe as the ‘Montre de plongeur E859’, the reference E859 featured three crowns, each with the cross-hatch pattern characteristic of SuperCompressor watches. The first crown is for time setting, the second rotates the inner bezel for dive timing, and the third rotates the central disc to align the arrow with the alarm time.

The example being offered by Phillips was made in 1967 for the American market and stands out from other models thanks to its very rare dial markings. While most of the dials were stamped Memovox or bore no inscription other than the LeCoultre name, this watch is stamped Memodate.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the Memodate Polaris is its combination of two apparently opposite aspects of watchmaking: the tradition of delicate aural complications and the needs of a practical sporting timepiece. In this respect, it epitomises the open-minded spirit of inventiveness that has created such a rich patrimony at Jaeger-LeCoultre and continues to drive the Maison to this day.

Polaris “Memodate” Ref. E 859: An extremely rare and attractive stainless steel diver's wristwatch with alarm and date, produced in 1967.

The unique LeCoultre “Lucky 13” (1962): to be sold at Phillips New York, December 2019

The LeCoultre “Lucky 13” is a truly remarkable and unique watch presented by the Chicago Anti-Superstition Society alongside 13 U.S. Senators to an original Mercury Seven U.S. astronaut to commemorate his historic achievement of becoming the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.

Featuring the number 13 at every hour marker, the watch celebrated the Friendship 7 spacecraft capsule used for the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Friendship 7 was the 13th space capsule produced by McDonnell Aircraft Corp, and the 13s on the dial were used to illustrate the society’s rejection of the number 13 as unlucky.

The ceremony, taking place on Friday, April 13th, 1962, was entered in the House Congressional Record on October 13th, 1962. The consignor intends to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this watch to The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.

LeCoultre, “Lucky 13”: A unique, historically important and unusual gold-filled time-only wristwatch with centre seconds and “Lucky 13” dial, purchased by the consignor directly from the estate sale of Senator John H. Glenn, Jr.

As well as demonstrating Jaeger-LeCoultre’s technical expertise, the deep meaning and personal connections behind the story of these unique timepieces remind us that watches have always had social and emotional significance – which sometimes even overrides their practical purpose. 

“Memovox reminds, notifies, and wakes up.” This is how an advertisement from 1950 highlighted the merits of the watch that Jaeger-LeCoultre had just commercialized. During the years of economic recovery following the Second World War, the Memovox – the Voice of Memory – was designed to help businessmen remember their meetings through its chiming function.

With very sober and classic lines, this manually wound mechanical watch set itself apart with an additional crown to control the alarm function. This is the watch that the Swiss authorities of the Canton of Vaud, where the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is located, selected as a gift for Charlie Chaplin in 1953.

Memovox Automatic

In 1956, Jaeger-LeCoultre enriched its Memovox line by developing the first automatic watch in the collection that incorporated an alarm function. This model has since inspired a long line of watches.

Three years after its creation, Jaeger-LeCoultre expanded the audience of its alarm watch. Once limited to businessmen, the Grande Maison saw that this watch with its automatic movement was ideal for adventurers and sportsmen of all types. For proof of this, look no further than an ad from the 1970s, showing the newly created Concorde with this dynamic slogan: “Memovox, for the man of action.”

Memovox Worldtime and Memovox Parking

To celebrate its 125^th anniversary, the Grande Maison created two new models in honor of the Manufacture’s jubilee. The Memovox Worldtime shows the time across the world in the blink of an eye. As for the Memovox Parking, it monitors the parking meter and informs you when the meter is out. Someone had to think of it!

Memovox Deep Sea

In 1959, Jaeger-LeCoultre revealed its Memovox Deep Sea, equipped with the automatic Caliber 815. It was the world’s first diving watch that was equipped with an alarm. On this watch, the alarm no longer served as a wake-up call or to provide a reminder of an important meeting; rather, its purpose was to ensure the safety of divers.

Memovox Polaris

A brief six years later, the Memovox Polaris appeared, fitted with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 825. The idea for the Memovox Polaris was born in 1962, during deep sea exploration. At the time, the world was fascinated with all kinds of exploration, whether it was space, the great depths of the sea, or the poles.

In 1963, a pre-series of 50 pieces was launched. The new case boasted a more generous 42 mm diameter, quite sizable for the era, so as to make it easier to read the time.

Another important development concerned the striking mechanism. The creators of the Memovox Polaris took great pains to find a system that would make it possible for the alarm to ring loudly under water. To prevent the chime from being muffled by the fact that the watch could be in contact with a diver's wetsuit, a triple case-back was developed. A first case-back, in bronze, made the alarm resonate. A water-resistant case-back protected the mechanism from contact with water. Finally, a third case-back with 16 openings made it possible for the sound of the alarm to be heard properly under water.

Water-resistant to 200 meters, this Memovox was resistant to both shocks and magnetism. It was also equipped with a rotating bezel that was no longer external but rather internal, controlled by a third crown.

In 1968, Jaeger-LeCoultre designed a new, more sporty dial for this watch. Its numerals were transferred and coated with Tritium®, just like the hour makers, redesigned in a trapezoid shape, and the small triangle indicating the time of the alarm. The hands were baton-shaped and also covered with luminescent material.

In 2018, fifty years on, this design has inspired the artisans of the Grande Maison in the creation of a new collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris.

Memovox Polaris II

In 1971, a new, more advanced version appeared. Called the Memovox Polaris II, it boasted all the latest technological advances. Its Caliber 916 is part of the generation of high-frequency automatic movements developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre starting in 1970. With its balance wheel beating at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the watch reached a new standard of precision. The winding system was also innovative, with a weight capable of turning freely in either direction around its axis to wind the barrel. The caliber proved so effective that it inspired the current Caliber 956 that powers the Master Compressor Memovox.

Master Control Memovox and Master Grande Memovox

In 1998, the Master Control Memovox was introduced. Driven by Caliber 914, this watch boasted performance and reliability certified by one thousand hours of testing.

Two years later came the Master Grande Memovox Caliber 909-440/2, equipped with a perpetual calendar, moon phase display, and a hanging gong replacing the customary resonance case-back of the classic Memovox models.

Master Compressor Memovox

The year 2002 was highlighted by the appearance of the Master Compressor Memovox, representing a crowning achievement in the ongoing success story of the Memovox movement.

Master Compressor Memovox

In tribute to the impressive career of the Memovox Polaris, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented two Memovox Tribute to Polaris limited series in 2008: the “1965” and the “1968” models.

While both these Memovox Tribute to Polaris watches remained totally loyal to the spirit and the aesthetic of their forerunners, they were endowed with the latest Jaeger-LeCoultre technical innovations in order to meet modern standards in terms of precision, sturdiness and reliability. Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 956 therefore houses a striking mechanism composed of a gong suspended from the case-back. Moreover, its oscillating weight is equipped with ceramic ball bearings requiring no lubrication and no maintenance.

The case is fitted with a water-resistant case-back maintaining its role as a resonance chamber, and an external case-back featuring 16 round openings in keeping with the original aesthetic.

Master Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea

In 1959, Jaeger-LeCoultre had presented its very first underwater watch equipped with an alarm, the Memovox Deep Sea – of which there were two versions: one intended for European divers, and the other for their American counterparts. In 2011, the Manufacture paid tribute to this historical model with a limited series re-edition. As with the original, it comes in European and US versions. Equipped with a 40.5 mm diameter steel case and powered by automatic Memovox Caliber 956, the European version (in a series of 959 pieces) is distinguished by its black dial, while the American version (in a series of 359 pieces) features a black/gray dial bearing the “LeCoultre” signature.

Master Memovox Boutique Edition

In 2016, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its alarm watch with an automatic movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre marked the occasion with an exclusive limited edition model available only in its boutiques. Drawing inspiration from the 1970s Memovox “Snowdrop” model, this blue, vintage-style watch is presented with a very contemporary case and finishes while housing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 956.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox

In 2018, the Grande Maison is unveiling its new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris line, the design of which was inspired by the Memovox Polaris from 1968.

In this collection, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox adopts the look and alarm function of the original model, with a redesigned case. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1968 model and is available in a limited series of 1,000 pieces, sure to delight lovers of exclusive objects imbued with history.

From 1950 to today, very few watch movements can boast such longevity, thanks to its initial reliability and successive improvements. In 2018, over sixty years after it first appeared, the Memovox continues to ring with the times.

The journey begins with an exposition of the Maison’s outstanding historical archives, never before shown to the public, that constitute the “memory” of Jaeger-LeCoultre. Registers, documents, and old books have been meticulously categorised and line the shelves of the big archive room. They illustrate the Maison’s creative force since its earliest days. We can see here that as of the 19^th century, the Manufacture was supplying its movements to most of the major watchmaking Maisons. A Patek Philippe pocket watch with a LeCoultre movement is even displayed here for the first time to typify this characteristic of Jaeger-LeCoultre, “watchmaker to the watchmakers”. The Maison’s archives are a significant asset and source of endless inspiration to today’s designers. In this space, visitors get a real sense of that resource. A shelf displays an old cabinet stocked with components, so those who enjoy bygone curiosities can feast their eyes. It is like stepping back into history...

A very fluid experience, the tour leads into an elegant room bathed in light, with an airy curved staircase winding upwards in the middle. Here the Maison’s iconic pieces are on display, with modern-day creations basking in the glory of past masterpieces in a continuum that is purposely highlighted by three-panelled display cases. Atmos, Reverso, Geophysic – the Maison’s great icons are displayed in a setting that helps visitors understand how the current collections are legitimately descended from the rich legacy of the LeCoultre Maison and of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

As an example, the backdrop for the Reverso illustrates the Art Deco era when the watch was launched, along with the polo fields of India where it then took root. The display gives an insight into how the model has evolved over the decades, without losing its essence. The story is also brought to life in a digital animation shown in the central display case.

Upstairs, the journey continues past the restoration workshop where watchmakers labour calmly at their workbenches behind the wall of glazing that shields them. Jaeger-LeCoultre is a master in the art of restoration, and in this demonstration each stage is explained – since the old timepiece is received and appraised, through the search for components and supplies, up until the restoration itself.

The artisans are happy to answer questions and engage with visitors who are curious about their professional vocation, and all the passion and patience it requires. This demonstration of the Brand’s expertise in the field of restoration is reassuring for the client, because this workshop is the only place where the watches can be restored in keeping with traditional methods.

Most watches that are restored here date from the late 1920s to the late 1980s, with some exceptional pieces even dating back to the 19^th century. Restoration is carried out both to the movement and to the external parts of the watch. The challenge for the watchmakers is to get the movement back into working order and return the piece to its original appearance. If the components cannot be repaired or exchanged for stock items, the watchmakers will manufacture new ones using the original design drawings. It is a genuine made-to-measure service.

THE JAEGER-LECOULTRE MANUFACTURE

Since its creation, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been delighting and surprising devotees of beautiful objects. In keeping with the inventive spirit initiated in 1833 by its founder Antoine LeCoultre, the artisans of the Manufacture combine their talents and expertise to create collections which have been at the forefront of watchmaking both technically and artistically: Reverso, Master, Rendez-Vous, Duomètre, Geophysic and Atmos – this rich legacy built by the Grande Maison over centuries serves as a constant source of inspiration in its ongoing pursuit of excellence. In the wake of many legendary models, the 21^st century has seen the emergence of the Hybris Mechanica^™ and Hybris Artistica^™ collections. These rare pieces are as surprising as they are sophisticated yet again bearing witness to the creative passion of the men and women who work in symbiosis under its roof – some of them descending from a long line of watchmakers.

For Jaeger-LeCoultre, 2017 is an opportunity to reveal watchmaking treasures of stunning beauty from four of its iconic collections: Rendez-Vous, Reverso, Geophysic and Hybris Artistica^™. After celebrating the Reverso’s 85^th anniversary in style in 2016, the time has come for the Manufacture to elevate the new Rendez-Vous line to the apex of ladies’ watches; to highlight how the spirit of the Reverso Classic is freer than ever with its automatic movement perfectly embodying the Art Deco philosophy; to pursue the constant renewal of the Geophysic legend; and to showcase mysterious time by creating unique timepieces in very limited editions for the Hybris Artistica collection^™.

The movement is the organ that brings the watch to life. In the workshop where it is assembled, deft hands perpetuate age-old skills honed over more than 180 years, their virtuosity serving to awaken the inanimate matter. The watchmakers each infuse a little of their soul into every creation. The beating of the mechanism will forever hold the memory of whichever master artisan brought it into existence.