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.”  

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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…

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.