•  A magnificent new dial featuring three-dimensional hand-engraved dragons
•  A Cosmotourbillon orbits the dial in one sidereal day and a Northern Hemisphere sky vault displays the positions of the constellations in real time
• The chimes of a minute repeater amplify the romance of celestial timekeeping

Jaeger-LeCoultre is delighted to present a new expression of its celebrated Calibre 945 with a magnificent new dial and bezel that capture the mythical power of the dragon. Set in a pink gold case (750/1000 (18 karats)) and offered in a limited edition of five pieces, the Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’ showcases La Grande Maison’s artistic creativity, its mastery of the decorative crafts and its technical ingenuity.

Inspired by the Movements of the Planets and the Mythical Power of the Dragon

Originally created in 2010, Calibre 945 is testament to the depth of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise in celestial complications, uniting a sky chart with a celestial vault, a zodiacal calendar and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s patented Cosmotourbillon – a celestial flying tourbillon that orbits the dial. The calibre is further elevated by the integration of an innovative minute repeater.

The essence of Calibre 945 is the way in which it interprets astronomical timekeeping for the wrist, using the dial to display mankind’s link to the cosmos on both a literal and philosophical level. Having fully mastered sidereal time – the measurement used by astronomers to track the apparent movement of the constellations across the night sky – Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have created this one-of-a-kind calibre that brings celestial complications together in a fascinating new way.

An extraordinary calibre merits an exceptional habillage and the new Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’ brings fresh artistic expression to this marriage of complications – the mythical power of the dragon suggesting a parallel with the immeasurable power of the cosmos.

A Magnificent New Dial and Bezel Showcase the Decorative Arts

In a subtle allusion to infinite depths of the night sky, the dial is constructed on multiple levels, amplifying the beauty of the celestial displays while creating a three-dimensional habitat for a pair of magnificent, sculpted gold dragons. Decorated with intricately hand-engraved scales, the dragons clamber around the edge of the raised and domed sky chart disc and draw the eye towards the Cosmotourbillon. The dragons, along with the sky chart, accompany the Cosmotourbillon as it completes a full circuit of the dial in one sidereal day.

Visible around the edge of the celestial map and beneath the tourbillon, the deepest level of the dial – a matt black sandblasted disc – is decorated with tiny stars that echo the celestial map; around its periphery, the names of the months, and the tourbillon seconds are marked in white. The months and date of the zodiacal calendar are indicated by a sun-shaped gold pointer set.

The dial is encircled by three concentric rings that carry the indices for solar time (our everyday civil time), each finished with a different surface decoration to add visual depth. The opaline inner ring indicates 24 hours, the outermost ring, with a silver opaline finish displays minutes, and between them, the 12-hour ring is circular brushed, with applied golden indexes.

The case is a perfect complement to the artistic dial and mechanical sophistication of the Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’. The bezel, decorated by the artisans in the Métiers Rares^TM atelier of the Manufacture in a process that required 50 hours of work, is hand-engraved with scales that match those on the dragons’ bodies and on the small-scale alligator lining of the watch strap.

Displaying the Cosmos on the Wrist, with a Tourbillon that Orbits the Dial

The celestial vault maps the Northern Hemisphere night sky as seen from the 46th parallel – the latitude of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux – tracking the position of the constellations in real time. The Cosmotourbillon is elevated beyond its purely technical function as the regulating organ of the calibre: it measures the passing of time as it makes a complete, anti-clockwise circuit of the dial in one sidereal day. With a duration of precisely 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds, a sidereal day is defined by Earth’s rotation measured in relation to more distant fixed stars, whereas the 24-hour solar day – our civil time – is measured by Earth's orbit around the Sun.

The Constellations Chime with an Innovative Minute Repeater

Calibre 945 also takes Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise in chiming watches to new heights by uniting the astronomical complications with a minute repeater – considered to be the most challenging and rewarding of all horological complications for a watchmaker to master. The technical difficulty of creating one lies in the complexity of the mechanism needed to transcribe the precise time shown by the hands into a series of perfectly programmed strikes, with different sounds for hours, quarters and minutes. The artistic challenge is that, this being a miniaturised musical instrument, the chimes must be pure, harmonious and clearly audible. At Jaeger-LeCoultre, this continuing quest for the ideal sound has produced several patented innovations, including crystal gongs, trebuchet hammers and a silent interval governor. In the minute repeater mechanism of Calibre 945, these inventions contribute a special magic that complements the romance of celestial timekeeping.

Testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s enduring expertise in astronomical and chiming watches, the new Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’ eloquently expresses La Grande Maison’s constant quest to balance innovation and tradition through an inspiring synthesis of art and mechanics.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

MASTER HYBRIS ARTISTICA CALIBRE 945 ‘DRAGON’

Case: pink gold, 750/1000 (18 karats) with micro-blasted, satin and polished finishes; sapphire case-back

Dimensions: 45 mm x 16.05 mm

Calibre: manual mechanical Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 945

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Functions: hours/minutes, months, 24-hour indication; Cosmotourbillon indicating sidereal time; celestial disc with star chart indicating the constellations in the northern hemisphere in real time; zodiacal calendar; minute repeater

Power reserve: 40 hours

Dial: black dial with sandblasted, opaline and circular-brushed finishes; hand-engraved dragons sculpture in 18-karat (750/1000) pink gold

Water resistance: 5 bar

Strap: Alligator leather with small-scale alligator lining

Reference: Q52624A3

Limited edition of 5 pieces

• Showcasing the artistic talents housed within the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® atelier 
• The complex Reverso case subtly redesigned to host this artistic expression of Calibre 179

Designed according to the harmonious proportions of the Golden Ratio, the Reverso is known in watchmaking as a canvas for artistic expression – and in 2023, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179. This artistic expression of the Calibre 179 marries the technical tour-de-force of the Maison’s signature multi-axis tourbillon to the finest of artistic craftsmanship, harnessing the skills of the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts) artisans to elevate this timepiece to a new level.

A tour-de-force of mechanical ingenuity

Representing mechanical sophistication of the highest order, Calibre 179 features the fourth evolution of the multi-axis tourbillon, developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers specifically for the Reverso. The demand that the regulating mechanism be integrated into a movement that is shaped to follow the contours of the rectangular Reverso case and is slim enough to be comfortable on the wrist, makes the engineering feat all the more noteworthy. Moreover, Calibre 179 is a Duoface movement, displaying a different time zone on each dial as well as a 24-hour indicator for the second time zone on the reverse dial.

Visually enthralling to observe as it pirouettes around its twin axes, the structure of the Gyrotourbillon is highly complex: with a total of 123 components, it comprises one ultra-light titanium cage and a peripheral carriage mounted on ball-bearings; these two elements turn perpendicularly to each other at different speeds. The inner tourbillon cage rotates 360 degrees every 16 seconds and the peripheral carriage makes a full rotation once per minute; this peripheral carriage also provides a small seconds function, indicating the seconds on a ring that encircles the tourbillon aperture. A closer look reveals a blued semi-spherical balance spring beating at the heart of the mechanism, as well as the distinctive double-anchor shape of a Gyrolab balance ‘wheel’ – both elements paying testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s tireless quest for greater precision and mechanical efficiency. In this quest, the Manufacture’s engineers have created balance springs in several different forms over the years and this hemispherical shape, perfectly adapted to the hollow sphere at the heart of the Gyrotourbillon, adds aesthetic refinement as well as being highly efficient. The double-anchor shape of the Gyrolab was designed to reduce air friction and thus further enhance timekeeping accuracy.

Rather than being held in place by a conventional bridge, the tourbillon mechanism is supported by a ring of ball bearings. As a result, this flying gyrotourbillon appears to be floating in the space between the front and back dials of the Reverso, with no apparent means of support. The effect is amplified by the light reflected from the mirror-like surface of a polished blue lacquer disc positioned on the supporting cradle of the watch directly beneath the tourbillon aperture.

A showcase for the decorative arts

Anchoring the colour palette of the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 and creating a rich contrast with the pink gold case, the glowing dark blue lacquer also appears on the front and reverse dials of the watch.

With its double-sided, Duoface movement, this Reverso offers two distinct personalities. On the front dial, in a subtle allusion to the geometric patterns of Art Deco that determined the original Reverso design, a fine lattice of golden lines contrasts with the blue lacquer background and complements the deep blue gradient lacquer of the time display.

These lines are in fact ultra-fine ribs of the calibre plate metal, which remained when the surface was hollowed out to create depressions to contain the lacquer. A work of extraordinary precision, the lacquer was deftly hand-applied between the metal ribs to achieve the desired richness of colour and exactly the right depth; the surface is then polished to a glossy finish so that its surface is flush with the golden ribs.

On the reverse dial, blue lacquer has been applied to the fine tracery of the skeletonised hours-minutes ring and its supporting bridges, highlighting the airy aesthetic and the contrast with the golden tones of various movement components, and the soft silvery texture of the micro-blasting. The decoration on the reverse dial is a fascinating marriage of technology and tradition, with laser skeletonisation complemented by hand chamfering and hand-applied lacquer – affirming Jaeger-LeCoultre’s deep commitment to tradition while constantly seeking innovative approaches to the art and science of horology. Representing approximately 14 hours of chamfering work just for the cage of the Gyrotourbillon and eight hours for the signature shape of one bridge on the reverse side, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is testament to La Grande Maison’s commitment to hand-craftsmanship of the highest order.

Subtle new refinements for an iconic case

Instantly recognisable, the rectilinear geometry and harmonious proportions of the Reverso case – designed according to the Golden Ratio – belie the complexity of a design that incorporates the signature slide-and-swivel mechanism. The inside of the cradle is decorated with a deeply engraved sunray pattern that radiates out from the blue lacquer disc. With its strong Art Deco lines, emphasised by the signature gadroons above and below the dial, the case is a perfect foil for the intricate decoration of the two dials of the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179.

Comprising 382 components, including a Gyrotourbillon, a movement as complex as Calibre 179 naturally requires a generously sized case. However, with an overall thickness of 13.63mm and newly reconfigured and refined lugs, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is designed to be elegant and wearable.

Crafted for true connoisseurs of art and mechanics, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is a noble expression of the 180 skills brought together under one roof at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre – a remarkable collaboration between watchmakers and artisans who are at the peak of their powers.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO HYBRIS ARTISTICA CALIBRE 179

Case: Pink Gold 750/1000 (18 carats)

Dimensions: 51.2 x 31 mm x 13.63 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 179

Functions: Hours and Minutes on both dials; second time zone with 24-hour indicator on reverse dial, Gyrotourbillon (visible on both front and reverse dials)

Power Reserve: 40 hours

Front dial: Blue lacquer

Back dial: Skeletonised, coated with blue lacquer

Water resistance: 30m

Strap: Dark Blue alligator leather

Reference: Q39424E1 - Limited edition of 10 pieces