THE 'CURVE OF TIME' KING'S CAKE BY NINA MÉTAYER

KEY FACTS:

• A King’s Cake created by World’s Best Pastry Chef, Nina Métayer in 2023 and 2024: drawing inspiration from French tradition, chef Nina Métayer prolongs her collaboration with Jaeger-LeCoultre with a new culinary creation

• A recipe paying tribute to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s birthplace: a cocoa puff pastry and chestnut-based creation inspired by the texture and flavors of the Vallée de Joux

• Five golden vermeil ‘fèves’: a limited edition of 5 gold fèves are hidden across the King’s Cakes worldwide for a fortunate few

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s collaboration with Nina Métayer began in 2021 with the inauguration of the 1931 Café, for which the celebrated pâtissière imagined a bespoke menu of pastries inspired by Art Deco. Named Pastry Chef of the Year three times before the age of 30, Nina Métayer is renowned for the striking visual elegance of her creations and for her singular ability to compose evocative flavours in unexpected ways.

In 2026, this creative dialogue continues with the creation of an exclusive King’s Cake for the Maison, entitled ‘Curve of Time’. As part of the Made of Makers™ programme, the collaboration unfolds through a new culinary expression where time, tradition and craftsmanship converge. With the ‘Curve of Time’ King’s Cake, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Nina Métayer invite guests to celebrate the beginning of the year in the warmest of ways, honouring heritage while embracing artistic innovation, and capturing the essence of the Vallée de Joux through flavour and texture.

A CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON TRADITION

Rooted in a centuries-old French custom that celebrates conviviality and the pleasure of sharing at the beginning of the year, the King’s Cake becomes, in the hands of Nina Métayer, a contemporary expression of taste and artistry. With ‘Curve of Time’, the artiste-pâtissière revisits this emblematic ritual through a refined and gourmet signature, transforming tradition into a moment of sensory discovery.

The galette combines cocoa puff pastry with a generous chestnut frangipane, enhanced by delicate notes of hazelnuts, to create a rich, multi-layered tasting experience. From cocoa-infused laminated pastry to chestnut cream, hazelnut praline with nibs and a gold-shimmered cocoa tuile, each element is composed with meticulous precision. This attention to structure, balance and detail echoes the values of fine watchmaking, where mastery of time is expressed through exacting craftsmanship and harmonious proportions.

In this dialogue between haute pâtisserie and horology, ‘Curve of Time’ reflects Jaeger-LeCoultre’s enduring pursuit of excellence, celebrating tradition while reinterpreting it through creativity, precision and emotion.

COLLECTIBLES ‘FÈVES’ HONORING THE REVERSO’S DESIGN

Honoring the spirit of conviviality that defines the King’s Cake tradition, each creation conceals a ‘fève’ designed in the form of a medallion, a small charm that crowns its finder King or Queen for the day. For this special edition, the ‘fèves’ pay tribute to two defining milestones: 2021, marking the beginning of the collaboration between Nina Métayer and Jaeger-LeCoultre, and 2023, the year of the chef’s international consecration. Among them lie five exceptional treasures: limited golden vermeil ‘fèves’, exclusively crafted for Jaeger-LeCoultre, inspired by the iconic Reverso case shape and individually valued over €850, awaiting discovery by a fortunate few.

The King’s Cake will be offered by Jaeger-LeCoultre as a gift to selected clients and collectors.