Watch it!

JULY 2019

Watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre hosted gala dinner at London’s Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition

The Royal Academy has played host to some of the most celebrated treasures of the art world for over 250 years, including the only marble sculpture by Michelangelo in Great Britain.

While London’s popular Royal Academy of Arts 2019  Summer Exhibition is on-going until August 12, the institution was the venue on July 8 for Swiss luxury timepiece brand Jaeger-LeCoultre‘s gala dinner in a celebration of the Art of Precision, in the company of friend of the Maison actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and other luminaries, shining the light on the house’s 186-year history of watchmaking.

Founded by King George III in 1768, the Royal Academy is an independent institution led by eminent artists and architects whose mission is to be a voice for art and artists, while promoting the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate.

Benedict Cumberbatch against a backdrop of 

London’s Royal Academy of Arts  Summer Exhibition

Guests enjoyed on that evening a Letters Live performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliet Stevenson, Ellie Bamber and Clarke Peters.

(L to R) CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre  Catherine Rénier,  actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Ellie Bamber,

Clarke Peters and Juliet Stevenson at London's Royal Academy of Arts @getty

Actress Juliet Stevenson was one of the

Letters Live readers.

A philanthropic initiative, Letters Live promotes the power of literacy by inviting influential artists to perform live readings of historical letters, while adding their own artistic interpretation to the original text.  

Jaeger-LeCoultre watches on display during the evening included the Maison’s latest masterpiece introduced at 2019 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel (left).

 It boasts a miniaturised multi-axis gyrotourbillon and has been designed with four sets of hammers and patented crystal gongs to play the Westminster carillon, the musicality made famous by the clock tower housing Big Ben at London's Palace of Westminster. The new design also incorporates a one-minute constant force mechanism which acts as a secondary power source, providing consistent energy to the tourbillon in order to further enhance the accuracy of both the jumping minute hand and the minute repeater.  

Also on show was the Master Grande Tradition Répétition Minutes Perpétuelle, with new helix shaped gongs and an innovative configuration which instead of seeing the gongs lying flat allows them unprecedented height and space, in a structure designed to replicate the richness and strength of the chimes of antique sonnerie pocket watches. The Master Grande Tradition Répétition Minutes Perpétuelle comes with a new case comprising more than 80 separate hand finished parts and an automatic mechanism and perpetual calendar overcoming the need for manual winding.  

Photos on the gala evening by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Jaeger-LeCoultre

January 2019 

Even famous people need to keep track of time.

Luxury watch brand Montblanc Reconnects Through Nature at SIHH in Geneva 

Luxury watch brand Montblanc  pays homage to the spirit of exploration and the rich tradition of the Minerva manufacture at the 29th INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF HIGH WATCHMAKING in Geneva January 14 – 17 2019, with a space dedicated to the wonder and beauty of the great outdoors.  And with the presence of some beautiful star quality people at its cocktail reception.

Walking into the Montblanc area at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is like stepping outdoors, taking a stroll through luscious greenery and breathtaking mountain vistas and valleys.

"The Montblanc space at this year’s SIHH serves as a reminder of the importance finding inspiration by reconnecting through nature, which becomes increasingly important in our fast-paced way of living”, explains Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.  (Photo by Daniele Venturelli For Montblanc)

Against this natural backdrop, Montblanc introduces its latest watchmaking collections including TimeWalker, Star Legacy, Heritage and the new 1858 timepieces inspired by the legendary professional Minerva watches from the 1920s and 1930s conceived for military use and exploration.

The design of the booth combines natural wood, plants and rock evoking the beauty of mountain landscapes and bringing visitors closer to nature.

(L to R) Celebrity model David Gandy, screen star Hugh Jackman,  Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki and model Isabeli Fontana at the Montblanc Cocktail at SIHH 2019, Palexpo on January 14, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli For Montblanc)

“It is great to come back to SIHH, showcasing the brand’s evolution in the watchmaking sector. Exploring this environment is an opportunity for our visitors to experience the spirit of exploration that inspired 1858, a line built for explorers and anyone who dares to venture out into nature to find new perspectives. The Montblanc space at this year’s SIHH serves as a reminder of the importance finding inspiration by reconnecting through nature, which becomes increasingly important in our fast-paced way of living”, explains Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.

Photo by Daniele Venturelli For Montblanc

Stepping into the lobby, visitors are transported into the universe of the Montblanc 1858 product line, greeted by a breathtaking mountain face reflected in a lake below. With their elegant pairing of khaki green and bronze, the new timepieces are displayed in wood and glass cases around the space including the Montblanc 1858 Automatic, Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph and Montblanc 1858 Geosphere. Plant walls frame wood seating areas where the calm and serene surroundings can be enjoyed.

Covering one of the walls, a timeline illustrates the major milestones in the 161-year history of Minerva, the manufacture founded by Charles-Ivan Robert in 1858 as a manufacturer of pocket watches before gaining international recognition for its precision timepieces and becoming a leading specialist in the manufacturing of professional watches and stopwatches. In addition to charting the evolution of classical watchmaking, the timeline highlights key milestones in the spirit of mountain exploration as well as the spirit of racing, and the role Minerva played in each of those.

To reaffirm its belief in the importance of stepping outdoors to reconnect through nature, Montblanc is showing its support to CREA Mont Blanc during SIHH and beyond, donating funds to the Research Center For Alpine Ecosystems (rather than gifting its traditional Montblanc giveaways to guests.) The money donated will contribute to “Mont-Blanc Observatory: a base camp for science”, a project that develops a training center for teaching decision-makers, mountain professionals and business leaders about the impact of climate change on the alpine ecosystems.

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Congrats to all winners at this January's 76th annual Golden Globe Awards.

But does anybody know how the celebrities kept calm during the length of time they had to endure at the Golden Globe Awards before they could get something to eat (apparently no food was served during the three-hour plus event)?

Well, we won't know until we're told by the brands in question, obviously, that some of the celebrities were wearing their prized timepieces.  The one I like most is what was gracing Lili Reinhart's wrist.  Billed as a rising star as one of the leads on The CW's Riverdale, the 22-year-old American actress walked on the red carpet in a red chiffon dress with train, sporting a vintage, platinum and diamond wrist watch from the year 1945 from the luxury brand Jaeger-Lecoultre.  It's just classy and divine.

Also sporting a classy Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece was British actor Nicholas Hoult, from the cast of Best Picture nominee "The Favourite".   Hoult wore the Master Ultra Thin Date in style.  Now surely, looking so dapper, he must be a future Bond contender!!!

December 2018

Mickey Mouse is 90 years old.
Congratulations Mickey and thank you for all the fun and entertainment you've provided us all these years.

Ingersoll Limited Edition The Walt Disney Quartz Gents Mickey Mouse Watch.

Photo: Lucia Carpio