Preserving Cinematic Heritage

This year marks the 12^th year of the Film Restoration programme, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ongoing collaboration with Shanghai International Film Festival to protect China’s cinematic heritage for future generations. The collaboration reflects La Grande Maison’s own commitment to the preservation of heritage: in a dedicated restoration workshop established within its Manufacture, specialist watchmakers breathe new life into historic timepieces that might otherwise be lost forever. Under the Film Restoration programme 16 films have so far been preserved, spanning many different genres and including some of the most seminal works in Chinese cinema of the past 80 years. Among the most recently restored are Outside the Window (1973) directed by Sung Tsun-shou, A Soul Haunted by Painting (1994) by Han Shuqin, Flowers of Shanghai (1998) by Hou Hsiao-hsien and Hu Sang’s 1956 masterpiece, New Year Sacrifice.

The latest film to be restored, Early Spring in February (1963) is the best-known work by the great Third Generation director, Xie Tieli.

Celebrating the Filmmaker’s Art

Having a deep affinity with the world of film through a shared passion for both artistic and technical savoir-faire, Jaeger-LeCoultre has long been a supporter of the cinematic arts in China. For La Grande Maison, the protection, preservation and transmission of craft – in its many forms – is a fundamental value, and it is proud to maintain its commitment to the exceptional creativity represented by the art and craft of filmmaking in China. The prestigious and highly coveted Glory to the Filmmaker Award made its debut at Shanghai International Film Festival in 2018 to honour Chinese filmmakers who have made outstanding contributions in their field. The recipient of the 2023 award – considered to be a Lifetime Achievement recognition – will be a leading figure in Chinese cinema.

Honouring the Golden Ratio with a new Musical Show

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s private event to be held during the film festival pays homage to the Golden Ratio – the number that defines aesthetic harmony and has been the guiding spirit of the Reverso since it was created in 1931. Inspired by the world’s first drive-in movie theatre, which opened in the early 1930s, the specially designed ‘Art Deco Cinema’ also pays homage to the period acknowledged as the first golden age of Chinese cinema, centred in Shanghai.

The highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of The Reverso Musical Show, a spectacular sound-and-light show projected onto a giant screen of falling water. Telling the story of the Golden Ratio in four chapters, from the observation of nature, to the quest to define a formula for beauty, to mankind’s creation of beautiful objects governed by the golden ratio and concluding with the Reverso, which expresses the spirit of harmony with such eloquence. The ground-breaking British musician TØKIO M¥ERS composed a new soundtrack especially for the show, commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre through its Made of Makers programme, and will give a live performance of it during the premiere.

A Rendez-Vous with Flowers of Shanghai

The Manufacture's master watchmakers are deeply influenced and inspired by the natural world, artfully combining enamelling, engraving, gem-setting, and guilloché preserved by the Manufacture's Rare Handcrafts (“Métiers Rares®”), to achieve a balance between nature and watchmaking.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s explorations into fine watchmaking came from a tradition of precision that is shared by the cinematic world. Each timepiece donated for the charity auctions over the past years, represents Jaeger-LeCoultre’s esteem for the art of cinema, as well as a contribution to it. Every restored classic Chinese film illustrates Jaeger-LeCoultre’s passion and dedication to the art of time.

This year, the ‘Rendez-Vous Moon Medium Tribute to Cinema Unique Piece SIFF 2019’ for the charity auction Gala is decorated with 107 elegant and discreet diamonds on the bezel and dial, a pink-gold case, pink-gold applied hour markers and a silvered guilloché dial. The moon phase displayed at 6 o’clock has a new feminine expression of the moon, with a golden polished moon and stars on a red lacquered sky. Underneath, the cloud is also guilloché. The pink gold Floral applied numerals are true to the Rendez-Vous design codes.

Over the past nine years, in collaboration with the Shanghai International Film Festival, Jaeger-LeCoultre has restored dozens of Chinese classics, including ‘The Spring River Flows East’, ‘Two Stage Sisters’, ‘A Better Tomorrow’, ‘Endless Love’, and ‘Outside the Window’, as well as ‘Flowers of Shanghai’ which will be premiered this year. Both film restoration and watchmaking require patience and precision from the artists, as well as concentration on technical sophistication with aesthetic finesse. No matter how long it takes to restore “time” and indicate “time”, the fine watchmaking of Jaeger-LeCoultre strives to push the boundaries of precision.

A Celebration of Cinema

In 2018 the “Glory to the Filmmaker Award”, which first featured at the Venice International Film Festival, made its debut at the Shanghai International Film Festival, commissioned by Chinese filmmaker Joan Chen to pay tribute to the outstanding achievements of Chinese filmmakers in film art creation. This year, the Jaeger‑LeCoultre “Glory to the Filmmaker Award” made its second appearance at the Shanghai International Film Festival, to continuously support the growth of the Chinese film industry, and to honour artists that have made tremendous contributions to the development of filmmaking. As partner of the Shanghai International Film Festival Jaeger-LeCoultre will join Chinese filmmakers in writing a new chapter in the history of cinema.

Exquisite Craftsmanship Shines like a Star

The 21st Shanghai International Film Festival joyfully coincides with the 185th anniversary of Jaeger-LeCoultre. The endearing partnership endows this occasion with even greater significance. Unique savoir-faire and craftsmanship is the true faith coming from the heart of Jaeger-LeCoultre, which expands from fine watchmaking to an even greater world. Filmmakers tell a story through the lens, while watchmakers tell their story through their beloved creations: the story of the origin, history, specialty and culture of the brand. Moreover, greater stories are transferred from the wearer to their precious timepieces. At the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival 6 years ago, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched the Rendez-Vous collection. This year, the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Tribute to Cinema, created for this unique anniversary, will make its appearance at the exhibition during the festival. The Rendez-Vous Night & Day Tribute to Cinema is a limited edition of only 100 pieces comprised of a rose gold case set with diamonds. The elegant white dial highlighted with a dash of red at the Night & Day indicator, a replica of tender lights caressing your wrist. The timepiece not only manifests the fine watchmaking craftsmanship but perfectly incarnates femininity.

At the exhibition, guests will also have the chance to appreciate the brands’ new collection Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris, together with the Master and Reverso collections. Antique pieces and fine jewelry watches have traveled all the way from the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, and are destined to kindle the light at the exhibition even brighter. Watchmakers will take the central stage at the exhibition and demonstrate their expertise and techniques. The artisanship of Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers share the same tranquility and subtlety of the Vallée de Joux, where the Manufacture resides since 1833. Inside the Manufacture, a world committed to precision and complication, runs with humbleness and order. It is the place that bears more than 400 patents and 1200 manufacture movements, engraving glorious moments in the history of watchmaking. In Shanghai today, the 185 years of Jaeger-LeCoultre craftsmanship shines through.

Dream with Films, Glory to Filmmakers

For almost a decade, Jaeger-LeCoultre has worked closely with the most prestigious film festivals around the world. Paying tribute to talented creative minds in the world of filmmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre initiated the Glory to the Filmmaker Award for and with the Venice International Film Festival to honor artists that “made tremendous contribution to the development of contemporary filmmaking.” Renowned filmmakers such as Takeshi Kitano, Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino have been honored with this prestigious award at the previous editions of Venice International Film Festival. In 2018, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award makes its appearance at the Shanghai International Film Festival for the very first time to support the development of the Chinese film industry, honoring craftsmanship and savoir-faire. It marks the filmmaker’s extraordinary achievements in filmmaking and symbolizes the shared value and vision with the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand: time may fly but true classics never fade. Creativity is what makes it all live on.

Time flowing creates the timeless, a perfect reflection on the Jaeger-LeCoultre spirit and savoir-faire.

Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema

A limited-edition Rendez-Vous in the Jaeger-LeCoultre tradition

The Grande Maison takes great delight in paying tribute to Cinema, and has created an exclusive edition, as in 2017, that pairs watchmaking tradition with feminine elegance in an exquisite model. The new Rendez-Vous Night & Day performs an unprecedented role with bold staging, showcasing crimson red on both its iconic function disc at 6 o’clock and on its glistening, bright red alligator-leather strap. It also appears on the winding crown in the guise of a garnet cabochon as red as film-star lips.

An ode to film and the eternal feminine

Fitted with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 898A/1, the watch reveals a day/night indicator against a new backdrop. The Moon, which traditionally features on the models of this line, gives way to a five-pointed star. Could it be a tribute to cinema and its stars? Or a subtle reminder of one of the Rendez-Vous collection’s unique characteristics? In any event, this pink gold star gracefully glides across a crimson red background, which gives a subtle nod to the deep red of its strap. A bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds enhances this new expression and underscores the finely guilloché-adorned face of this sublimely feminine model, which can be discovered as a limited edition in Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.

“Glory to the Filmmaker” trophy

To celebrate the red-letter day of its official release, the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema will be presented at the Shanghai International Film Festival during the presentation ceremony of the now-famous “Glory to the Filmmaker” trophy. Inaugurated by Jaeger-LeCoultre, this award recognises every year the creative talents of exemplary past and present film figures who endeavour to advance and promote cinema. The world launch of the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema will be beautifully accompanied by the recognition of a female cinematic personality, whom the award will be presented this year in Shanghai.

Drawn to the world of film by a shared passion for magnificent storytelling, the Grande Maison transports us once again to the imaginative and creative realm of its unbridled talents. Like the scripting and production of a cinematographic work, the new Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema marks the culmination of a project performed by passionate artisans fuelled by a desire to share their art with an admiring audience.

Technical characteristics:

Size: 34 mm

Thickness: 8.52 mm

Calibre: 898A/1 – Automatic

Functions: H/M/S/Night&Day

Dial: Silvered guilloche / golden appliques / red Night & Day window

Diamons: 60 diamonds - 0.69 carats

Power Reserve : 60 hours

Reference : Q344246J