• Global Ambassador Jackson Yee, Friend of the Maison Wang Shun, Zhang Ziyi, Gigi Leung, Chilam Cheung, Zhu Zhu, Wang Xingyue, Karena Ng among the guests at the private opening night celebration of ‘The Precision Pioneer’
• Hypnotic artworks by street light-painter Roy Wang and a menu created by Michelin-starred chef Himanshu Saini, collaborations under the Made of Makers programme
• Historic timepieces and archive materials, star models from Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, and the global launch of two new limited-edition high-complication timepieces

Beijing, September 14, 2024 - Swiss watchmaking Maison Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the Asian premiere of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition at The Green, Wangfujing Central in Beijing. Showcasing almost 200 years of heritage and innovation, the exhibition invites the public to discover how the pursuit of precision has advanced the art and science of fine watchmaking.

A Night to Remember

To open this remarkable exhibition, Jaeger-LeCoultre was honoured to welcome global Ambassador Jackson Yee and Friend of the Maison Wang Shun, as well as acclaimed Zhang Ziyi, Gigi Leung, Chilam Cheung, Zhu Zhu, Wang Xingyue, Karena Ng, during a private celebration.

Honouring Precision through Art and Cuisine

Adding to the opening night celebration, Chinese street light-painting artist Roy Wang performed a live light-painting show with one of his signature motifs – the dragon. During his live demonstration, a spectacular light show accompanied the performance, setting the stage for an immersive experience. This light show will also be featured every evening throughout the exhibition’s duration. Four specially commissioned artworks by Roy Wang will also be displayed during the exhibition, in a standalone installation on Wangfujing Street.

The Maison also commissioned the two-Michelin-starred chef Himanshu Saini to create a special menu of tasting bites paired with perfectly matched beverages, inviting guests to embark on a culinary journey blending ingredients of the Vallée de Joux with flavours from the subcontinent at the Precision Atelier.

Both collaborations were commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre under its Made of Makers programme – a series of artistic partnerships that expands the dialogue between watchmaking and other art forms.

Two New Limited-Edition Timepieces Revealed

The exhibition also marks the global launch of two new limited-edition, high-complication watches that showcase exquisite decoration by the craftsmen of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier.

The Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945, features a hand-engraved bezel and three-dimensional dragons on the dial, complementing the Northern Hemisphere sky vault, the Cosmotourbillon that orbits the dial in one sidereal day, and an integrated minute repeater. The Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 184 reinterprets the Gyrotourbillon 5 with a new dial design featuring black Grand Feu enamel with a pattern of fine golden lines, and a smoky black, semi-transparent sapphire that allows an intriguing glimpse of the discs of the perpetual calendar.

A Journey Through Time and Precision

Created by Jaeger-LeCoultre as part of its mission to expand the cultural conversation around fine watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ offers visitors a deep immersion into the art and science of precision in fine watchmaking. The story of precision reveals the depths of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s rich heritage, craftsmanship and pioneering spirit, from the invention of the first pinion-cutting machine to the development of the Duometre concept. Visitors are invited to discover La Grande Maison’s quest for precision in four chapters: The Precision of Production and Decoration, The Precision of Chronometry, The Precision of Regulating Organs and The Precision of Complications.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship and Hands-on Watchmaking Experiences

A cinema space within the exhibition is dedicated to the 180 skills mastered within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s fully integrated Manufacture, showcasing essential aspects of the art and craft of watchmaking that have particular relevance to the theme of precision. In the Making is a series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes at the Manufacture, each focusing on a single craft: design, production, finishing, assembly and ornamentation.

In addition, visitors can watch live demonstrations of two key skills: perlage and movement assembly, and those who wish to try their own hand at these skills will be invited to do so. For those seeking an even deeper understanding of watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ offers hands-on educational workshops at the Atelier d'Antoine in the newly opened flagship boutique, located just three minutes’ walk from the exhibition. Discovery Workshop sessions at the Atelier d'Antoine are available to all visitors by appointment.

Location, Opening Hours and Admissions

‘The Precision Pioneer’ will take place from 14 September until 3 October 2024 at The Green, WF Central in Dongcheng, Beijing and is open to the public free of charge from 11.00AM to 08.00PM from Monday – Thursday and from 10:00AM to 10:00PM on Friday – Sunday and on holidays. Visitors may book guided tours on-site at the exhibition via a staff representative. Appointments for the Atelier d’Antoine Discovery Workshop should be made via a Sales Associate at the WF Central Boutique.

• The pursuit of precision for almost two centuries: a story of ingenuity and inventiveness told in four chapters
•  A celebration of craftsmanship and opportunities to try out key skills and join hands-on watchmaking workshops
• Art meets fine watchmaking through street light-painter Roy Wang, a collaboration under the Made of Makers programme

In the heart of Beijing this September, Jaeger-LeCoultre invites the public to discover how the pursuit of precision has advanced the art of fine watchmaking over the course of almost 200 years. Following the debut of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024 in April and its first stop in Dubai in May, Beijing is the first destination in China for the exhibition. Set in a purpose-built pavilion at WF Central in Dongcheng, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ will run from 14 September until 3 October 2024 and is open to the public free of charge.

Visitors will discover the story of precision through four major themes: The Precision of Production and Decoration, The Precision of Chronometry, The Precision of Regulating Organs and The Precision of Complications. 

The experience will be enriched by:

• Live demonstrations of key watchmaking skills, with the opportunity for visitors to participate;
•  A cinema space devoted to the video series In the Making, which takes viewers behind the scenes in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s integrated Manufacture;
•  Hypnotic artworks by street light-painter Roy Wang with live demonstrations by the artist;
• The Collectibles: fine examples of the most emblematic models of the mid-20^th century offered for sale;
• A dedicated room where visitors may touch and try on key pieces from the current collections;
• The world debut of two exceptional new high-complication watches;
• Shall guests want to further learn about the Maison, they may book a Discovery Workshop session of the Atelier d’Antoine at the WF Central Boutique.

The Pursuit of Precision – a Story of Ingenuity Told in Four Chapters

The quest for precision has particular significance at Jaeger-LeCoultre. Even before founding the Manufacture in 1833, Antoine LeCoultre was obsessed with precision and several of his inventions had a profound influence on the entire watchmaking industry. Over the decades, continuing research into precision has resulted in a series of breakthroughs, with many of the Maison’s 430 patents being awarded for its work in this field. Today, modern technological aids have turned core stages of the watch production process into an exact science; however, technology will never entirely replace the precise human gestures involved at every stage from raw metal to finished timepiece, for it is the craft of the human hand that gives a fine mechanical watch its soul.

Celebrating the magic of mechanical watchmaking and revealing the intellectual rigour and technical ingenuity that lie at its heart, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ tells the intriguing story of precision in four chapters.

The Precision of Production and Decoration tells how Antoine LeCoultre’s obsession with precision laid the foundation for the modern watchmaking industry and continues to drive Jaeger-LeCoultre almost two centuries later. The Precision of Chronometry identifies milestones in the Manufacture’s development of chronometer timepieces, from pocket watches in the 19th century, to today’s new models that are all certified under the rigorous 1000-Hour Control protocol. 

The Precision of Regulating Organs reveals the crucial role played by the regulating organ (namely, the balance wheel and hairspring) in delivering and maintaining accurate timekeeping. The Precision of Complications explores a fundamental conundrum of watchmaking: how to maintain a perfect flow of energy while adding complications that require extra bursts of energy.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship

A cinema space has been created within the exhibition, dedicated to In the Making, a series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s integrated Manufacture. Visitors can immerse themselves in aspects of the craft and art of watchmaking that have particular relevance to the theme of precision. Each film focuses on a single craft, including rarely seen stages of the watchmaking process, with voice-overs that explain the artisans’ processes in their own words.

In addition, visitors can watch live demonstrations of two key skills: perlage – the decorative technique used on watch components – and movement assembly. Moreover, those who wish to try their own hand at these skills will be invited to do so.

A Hands-on Educational Journey

For those wishing to deepen their understanding of watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition is complemented by a Discovery Workshop presented by the Atelier d’Antoine. The workshop will be held in a dedicated space inside the new Jaeger-LeCoultre flagship boutique. The boutique is located on the ground floor of WF Central, just three minutes’ walk from the exhibition, with entrances on Wangfujing Street and from inside the mall.

Focusing on precision, this Discovery Workshop presents a great opportunity to discover why precision is crucially important at every stage of the watchmaking process. Participants in this dynamic and interactive Discovery Workshop will encounter many surprises, including the rare opportunity to try a key watchmaking skill with their own hands, guided by an expert from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

 Art Meets Fine Watchmaking

A collaboration initiated by Jaeger-LeCoultre under its Made of Makers programme will be showcased as part of ‘The Precision Pioneer’. Through collaborations with artists, designers and craftsmen from disciplines outside watchmaking, Made of Makers explores the dialogue that naturally exists between horology and art. The programme has, to date, embraced the visual arts, gastronomy and music.

Expressing ‘The Precision Pioneer’ theme through intriguing visual artworks, street light-painter Roy Wang will present four works commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre.  Displayed in a specially constructed space on Wangfujing Street, three light-painting photographs and a stop-motion video will give passers-by a foretaste of the exhibition that awaits. A rising international light-painting star, Roy Wang blends traditional painterly techniques with cutting-edge technology to create pieces that transcend time and space. The artist will present live performances as he creates new light-painting works during the exhibition, which will also feature a photo-booth where visitors can try light-painting for themselves.

Visitors are invited to enrich their experience by pausing to enjoy a complementary refreshment in the Precision Atelier.

Opening Hours and Admission:

‘The Precision Pioneer’ will take place from 14 September until 3 October 2024 at The Green, WF Central in Dongcheng, Beijing and is open to the public free of charge from 11:00AM to 08.00PM from Monday – Thursday and from 10:00AM to 10:00PM from Friday – Sunday and holidays. Visitors may book guided tours on-site at the exhibition via a staff representative. Appointments for the Atelier d’Antoine Discovery Workshop should be made via a Sales Associate at the WF Central Boutique.

• Jordanian-Palestinian R&B artist Zeyne and Syrian actor Moatasem Al Nahar among the guests at the private opening night celebration of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition
• Four hypnotic light-painting artworks by Chinese urban artist Roy Wang unveiled for the first time and a menu by two Michelin-starred Chef Himanshu Saini, created exclusively for Jaeger-LeCoultre, offered to the guests
• Historic timepieces and archive materials, the star models from Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, and the launch of a new limited-edition timepiece: the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948

Dubai, May 7, 2024: Swiss watchmaking Maison Jaeger-LeCoultre marked a momentous occasion with the Emirati premiere of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition. This captivating showcase, hosted at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, invites the public to discover how the pursuit of precision has advanced the art of fine watchmaking over the course of almost 200 years.

A Dazzling Debut Event

To kick off this remarkable exhibition, Jaeger-LeCoultre was honoured to welcome the Jordanian-Palestinian R&B artist Zeyne and the Syrian actor Moatasem Al Nahar during an exclusive private opening celebration.

The Emirati film producer Abdulla Alkaabi was animating the evening as its Master of Ceremony before handing over to the renowned DJ Kaboo for the after party.

Honouring Precision

Adding to the festivities, Chinese light-painting artist Roy Wang unveiled for the first time four exclusive light-painting artworks created exclusively for La Grande Maison and performed a live light-painting show with one of his signature motives - the dragon.

Two Michelin-starred Indian chef Himanshu Saini, who created four special bites for Jaeger-LeCoultre, was also present, inviting guests to embark on a culinary journey blending ingredients of the Vallée de Joux with flavours from the subcontinent at the Precision Atelier.

Both collaborations were commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre under its Made of Makers programme – a series of artistic partnerships that expands the dialogue between watchmaking and other art forms.

A New Limited-Edition Timepiece Revealed

The exhibition opening was further graced by the reveal of a new interpretation of the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948, with a green enamel dial. A uniquely artistic expression of the world-time complication uniting mechanical excellence with rare handcrafts - enamelling, guillochage and lacquering. The Universal Tourbillon makes a complete circuit around the dial in 24 hours, echoing the way that Earth spins on its axis and makes a circuit around the Sun.

A Journey Through Time and Precision

Created by Jaeger-LeCoultre as part of its mission to expand the cultural conversation around fine watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ offers visitors a deep immersion into the art and science of precision in fine watchmaking.

From the palladium hairspring to the first multi-axis tourbillon or from the anti-magnetic cage to the Duometre concept, visitors are invited to embark on a quest for precision divided in four chapters: The Precision of Production, The Precision of Chronometry, The Precision of Regulating Organs and The Precision of Complications.

As visitors journey through the Story of Precision, they will enjoy exploring the depths of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s rich heritage, craftsmanship and pioneering spirit.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship and a Hands-on Experience

A viewing room within the exhibition is dedicated to the 180 skills mastered within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s fully integrated Manufacture, showcasing essential aspects of the art and craft of watchmaking that have particular relevance to the theme of precision.

‘In the Making’ is devoted to a series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes, each focusing on a single craft: design, production, finishing, assembly and ornamentation. In addition, visitors can watch live demonstrations of two key skills: perlage and movement assembly.

To offer a deeper understanding of watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ provides hands-on educational workshops at the Atelier d'Antoine.

Location, Opening Hours and Admission

The Precision Pioneer is open free of charge to the public until May 19, offering the opportunity to experience craftsmanship and watchmaking in a new cultural context. Presented at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, opening hours are: 11am until 10pm on weekdays; 10am to 10pm on weekends. Guests will be able to walk in or may book guided visits online at: https://bit.ly/PrecisionPioneerDubaiVisit. Discovery Workshop sessions at the Atelier d'Antoine are available to all visitors by appointment.

• A story of ingenuity and inventiveness in four chapters: the pursuit of precision for almost two centuries
• A celebration of craftsmanship and a rare opportunity to join hands-on watchmaking workshops
• Art and Gastronomy meet fine watchmaking in two collaborations under the Made of Makers programme

This May, through a richly immersive experience staged in Dubai, Jaeger-LeCoultre invites the public to discover how the pursuit of precision has advanced the art of fine watchmaking over the course of almost 200 years. Following the debut of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ at Watches and Wonders Geneva in April, the UAE is the first stop on a world tour. Located at The Space at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ is open to the public free of charge and will run from 7–19 May 2024.

Visitors will discover the story of precision through four major themes: The Precision of Production and Decoration, The Precision of Chronometry, The Precision of Regulating Organs and The Precision of Complications.

The experience will be enriched by:

• Hands-on watchmaking Discovery Workshops;
• A space devoted to the video series ‘In the Making’, which reveals the secrets of many skills practised in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s integrated Manufacture;
• A live demonstration of key stages in watchmaking production;
• The Precision Atelier, serving a menu of bites and paired beverages created exclusively for Jaeger-LeCoultre by two Michelin-starred chef Himanshu Saini;
• A series of new light-painting works created under the latest Made of Makers programme;
• An exceptional new limited-edition watch that will make its world debut.

The Pursuit of Precision – a Story of Ingenuity Told in Four Chapters

A core value since the company was founded by Antoine LeCoultre in 1833, the quest for precision has particular significance at Jaeger-LeCoultre. A prolific inventor as well as a visionary watchmaker, the founder of La Grande Maison was obsessed with precision and several of his inventions, including the first pinion-cutting machine, were to have a profound influence on the entire watchmaking industry. Over the decades, continuing research into precision has resulted in a series of breakthroughs, with many of the Maison’s 430 patents being awarded for its work in this field. Today, while modern technological aids to precision have turned core stages of the watch production process into an exact science, technology will never entirely replace the precise human gestures involved at every stage from raw metal to finished timepiece, for it is the craft of the human hand that imbues a fine mechanical watch with its ineffable soul.

‘The Precision Pioneer’ celebrates the magic of mechanical watchmaking. The exhibits will include rarely seen archive materials as well as components that allow insight deep inside watch mechanisms. Alongside a collection of remarkable historic timepieces, highlights of the current collection will include the new Duometre models launched at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, and the global launch of a new high-complication watch. Revealing the intellectual rigour and technical ingenuity that lie at the very foundation of watchmaking, the exhibition tells the intriguing story of precision in four chapters.

The Precision of Production and Decoration tells the origin story of how the Maison’s founder translated his obsession with precision into inventions that were to lay the foundations for the modern watchmaking industry. It reveals how the founder’s spirit has driven the Manufacture for almost two centuries, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to enhance and complement the irreplaceable value of precise hand-craftsmanship. This chapter also explores the high-precision crafts employed in the decoration and finishing of movements and dials. The Precision of Chronometry identifies milestones in the Manufacture’s development of chronometer timepieces, from pocket watches in the 19th century, to today’s new models that are all certified under the rigorous 1000-Hour Control protocol. Chronometry means, simply, timekeeping accuracy, and this chapter reveals the deep research that must be undertaken to compensate for the challenges that a wristwatch faces during daily wear.

The Precision of Regulating Organs reveals the vital role of the regulating organ (namely, the balance wheel and hairspring). This is the beating heart of the watch that we find so fascinating to observe – and the regularity of that heartbeat, known as isochronism, is crucial to accurate timekeeping. Visitors will discover Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ceaseless research into the ideal forms of hairsprings and tourbillons, which have resulted in many patented inventions. The Precision of Complications explores why the addition of complications (additional functions, such as calendars, chronographs or minute repeaters) is a fundamental challenge to timekeeping precision because operating a complication disrupts the perfectly regular flow of energy from the mechanism’s barrel to its regulating organ. This chapter demonstrates how Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have mastered the precision of complications and invented the Duometre system, which ensures that the operation of a complication has no impact on the timekeeping function.

A Hands-on Educational Journey

Revealed at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024, Jaeger-LeCoultre is pleased to count a new Discovery Workshop to be offered by the Atelier d’Antoine.  Focusing on precision – a pillar of the Maison since it was founded in 1833 – this programme presents a great opportunity to discover why precision is crucially important at every stage of the watchmaking process.

As its name suggests, the Precision Pioneer Discovery Workshop reveals the true meaning of precision in watchmaking, the challenges that mitigate against it, and the exceptional degree of skill required to achieve precision at the highest level. Rarely showcased in its own right, precision is fundamental to every stage of the watchmaking process from raw materials to finished timepieces. Participants in this dynamic and interactive Precision Pioneer Discovery Workshop will encounter many surprises, including the rare opportunity to try a key watchmaking skill with their own hands, guided by an expert from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The Precision Pioneer Discovery Workshop will be available to all visitors by appointment.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship

Showcasing the 180 skills housed under one roof at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, a space within the exhibition is dedicated to aspects of the craft and art of watchmaking that have particular relevance to the theme of precision. ‘In the Making’ is devoted to a series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes, each focusing on a single craft, including rarely seen stages of the watchmaking process, with voiceovers that explain the artisans’ processes in their own words. In addition, visitors can watch live demonstrations of two key skills: profile turning (known as blanking) and movement assembly.

 Art and Gastronomy Meet Fine Watchmaking

Two collaborations initiated by Jaeger-LeCoultre under its Made of Makers programme will also be showcased as part of the exhibition. Through a series of collaborations with artists, designers and craftsmen from disciplines outside watchmaking, Made of Makers explores and extends the dialogue that naturally exists between horology and art. The programme has, to date, embraced the visual arts, gastronomy and music.

Translating the concept of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ yearly thematic into a captivating sensory journey, the Made of Makers programme commissioned the two-Michelin-starred, Dubai-based chef Himanshu Saini to create the Precision Atelier, a new gastronomic experience dedicated to the science of ingredients. The Precision Atelier offers a specially created menu of tasting bites matched to perfectly paired drinks, that take guests on a true adventure in taste and texture – a fascinating journey through layers of precisely blended and balanced flavours that evolve on the palate, with the added surprise of familiar ingredients taking on unexpected textures.

Jaeger-LeCoultre will also unveil the latest Made of Makers collaboration during the exhibition: a series of works by one of the world’s rising stars in the art of light-painting.

Opening Hours and Admission:

‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition will occur from 7–19 May 2024 at The Space, ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC. Open to the public free of charge, from 11am to 10pm on weekdays and 10am to 10pm on weekends. Visitors may register online in advance at  https://bit.ly/PrecisionPioneerDubaiVisitor on arrival. Appointments for guided tours and the Precision Pioneer discovery workshop  should be made online at https://bit.ly/PrecisionPioneerDubaiVisit.

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