Earlier this year, watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a new gallery devoted to showcasing the brand’s heritage at its Vallee de Joux manufacture in the Swiss village of Le Sentier. The Heritage Gallery is designed as an unprecedented encounter with the maison and its rich history that constantly inspires creativity, even to this day — a setting that stirs the emotions and stimulates dialogue. Pay a visit to this gorgeous facility, and experience surprise and wonder in a memorable encounter that is both authentic and contemporary.
The Heritage Gallery extends across more than 500 sq m of the oldest buildings in the manufacture, which used to house the LeCoultre farm in the early 19th century when the destiny of the maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre, had yet to unfold. To afford visitors a real experience of the brand, the gallery design is totally in harmony with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s aesthetic codes, with pure colours, understated pale furnishings, and light as a central feature. This area marks the starting point of the complete manufacture tour that takes in the workshops.
An accompanying guide leads visitors on a journey through the wealth of the maison’s heritage, leaving plenty of opportunity for independent discovery, thanks to various interactive features. Right from the start, it is fun for visitors: They select a year on a touchscreen — perhaps the year they were born — and get to see what was happening within the brand that year. An image is projected onto a background symbolising a significant creative moment for Jaeger-LeCoultre, giving an insight into the maison’s rich past and the breadth of its archives. Now visitors can step right into the story and have themselves photographed against this backdrop. The tour continues in this vein so everyone will go home with unique memories.
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 lined on the shelves of the big archive room, illustrating the maison’s creative force since its earliest days. As early as the 19th century, the manufacture was supplying its movements to most of the major watchmaking maisons — evidenced by a Patek Philippe pocket watch with a LeCoultre movement, displayed to typify this characteristic of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s role as “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.
A visit to the heart of the Heritage Gallery begins with “Reflections of History and Great Inventions”. This zone puts the display items into context through a clever play of mirrors: Objects displayed on one side are reflected in the visuals on the opposite wall. In this way, for instance, the millionometer from 1844 — a revolutionary instrument for measuring a micron — illustrates the inventive genius of Antoine LeCoultre, whose portrait hangs on the facing wall. The story of the Vallee de Joux, the maison’s founding fathers, and the birth of the brand are all related through historical objects and photographs, with commentary from the guide who tells stories and anecdotes about the maison throughout the tour. The innovative spirit of Jaeger-LeCoultre is represented in the key dates that mark milestones in its history and creative achievements.
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.
By this stage, you will have surely marvelled at the magnificent wall of calibres, wrapping around the staircase like a precious cloak. The effect it creates, as you climb the stairs, is like stepping right inside the maison’s DNA and feeling the heartbeat of its infinite inventiveness. There are 340 calibres on display, out of the 1,262 that have been built since the brand’s beginnings — a number that tangibly and gracefully captures the creativity of all those who have worked under this roof since 1833.
Upstairs, in a more intimate and secret space tucked into the mezzanine under the building’s roof, the most exceptional pieces are laid bare. The uncommonly creative models from the Hybris Mechanica collection are set out in individual display cases. And to illustrate the wealth of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artistic know-how, the manufacture’s rare handcrafts “Metiers Rares” — gem-setting, enamelling, engraving and fine watchmaking — are shown off in a display of old pieces alongside contemporary designs.
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 19th 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 tour ends on the gallery balcony, where visitors can view some watches on their own wrists, thanks to augmented reality. It is an exciting way to finish off this journey through the maison’s past and present — both so inextricably linked — by taking a look towards the future. Exploring the Heritage Gallery, which serves as a window into the manufacture’s treasures, is an essential stage in getting to know Jaeger-LeCoultre. It anchors the visitor in a closer relationship with the grande maison and promises to be the first chapter of a wonderful story.
To avail yourself of a visit to the Heritage Gallery, register your interest on www.jeagerlecoultre.com.