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The opening of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Heritage Gallery
Thursday the 4
of October 300 people gathered in Le sentier to attend the formal opening of
the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Heritage Gallery.
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The manufacture,
"La Grande Maison" is still located were it was founded in 1833 by
Antoine LeCoultre. Time has come to finally present at their birthplace many of
the numerous inventions of the man and the company.
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The new entrance,
and above it the new Gallery are located at the very location of the original
workshop. The original building is now dedicated to history and passion.
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No need to say
that the restoration of the building was from scratch, quite impressive in
fact.
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We may particularly
remember some workshops (enter the building, turn right and go to the end of
the corridor and choose between Miklos Merczel enamelling department, the
restoration and engraving office, or Sylvain Golay's Ali Baba's
cave! All that is gone from there now but the new place is really amazing!
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That's
not an easy job when to want to open spaces, to let the light in, but also to
let the passionate people in too. It was a long work that is now going to give
its fruits.
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300 people were
pleased to come to Le Sentier to see the new Gallery because Jaeger-LeCoultre
has a long history of creation and invention, but also a very successful recent
history. Who wouldn't be happy to see success touch those who deserve it!
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Jaeger-LeCoultre
has become a very young manufacture, employing now more a thousand people. It
was now time to show also to those young people what their heritage is, to be
proud of it and to deserve it.
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Those who represent
the future of the company were the "beefeaters" of the day, keeping
the doors.
Talking the
next day with Jerome Lambert, he confirmed that the Heritage Gallery is not
intended to be a mere dead museum but an ever moving fusion of the Manufacture
and History. The Manufacture can't be assimilated to the past, but only
to the future.
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The French
actress Carole Bouquet was chosen as an ideal patron and opened the Gallery
with Jerome Lambert. Hopefully we will see her committed again with the
Manufacture.
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We then had a
show of vertical dancers, followed by fireworks. Then all the kids waiting up
the hill in our back probably realized that they would not see Leonardo Di
Caprio that night. Don't worry I'm sure he will come someday, but
maybe more discreet than we were!
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We fastly got
in, hurried to see and not knowing that we would have to wait a little more.
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To queue
between Jean-Claude Meylan and Andre Reymond is not necessarily unpleasant, to
say the least, as we don't have so many opportunities to see real
horology stars!
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Once got in the
dinner room we had the opportunity to see some very special high jewellery
creations from Jaeger-LeCoultre, that we will have an opportunity to explore quite
soon. It was then time to find our table to meet those with whom we would share
this night travel.
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Let's say
that all the Jaeger-LeCoultre family friends were there quite probably, each
representing their side of the whole story.
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Carole Bouquet
and Jean-Marc Barr don't really need to be presented, their successful
career being anyway too dense to be told here. For all Polaris fans and for all
divers I will just remember you that Jean-Marc Barr played the role of Jacques
Mayol in "Le Grand Bleu" from Luc Besson. A movie as a dream!
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Jacques Mayol, or Jean-Marc Barr playing Jacques Mayol :
Tu sais ce qu'il faut faire pour vivre au milieu des sirenes ? ― Non,
quoi ? ― Tu descends au fond de la mer tres loin, si loin que le bleu
n'existe plus, la ou le ciel n'est plus qu'un souvenir. Une fois que tu es la
dans le silence, tu y restes et si tu decides que tu veux mourir pour elles,
rester avec elles pour l'eternite alors elles viennent vers toi et jugent
l'amour que tu leur portes, s'il est sincere, s'il est pur et si tu leur plais
alors elles t'emmeneront pour toujours.
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Jerome Lambert reminded
us the story of the establishment of horology in the Vallee de Joux and the
story of Antoine LeCoultre. He then let us in the hands of Ute Lemper.
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"Allez
venez Mylord…."
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The emotion was
great as Ute Lemper is definitely a great singer and as she was very much
inspired that night.
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Lily Marlene
was there with us for some charming suspended seconds.
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But we had a
heavy program that night and we couldn't unfortunately spend the whole time
with her.
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Let's go
back to our main subject and have a look at the new Gallery. Those who have been
there three years ago will be surprised by the new entrance. This place
definitely shows that the Manufacture is more opened to visitors than ever.
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One more effort
like this one and they will soon serve Sushi at the Marchairuz!
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You've seen
the empty space when it was being renovated, there is still room for monumental
views.
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The first room in
the Gallery, located right above the entrance, will show temporary exhibitions
that will change every three months.
The first
exhibition is dedicated to the founding of the Manufacture by Antoine LeCoultre.
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It shows many documents,
tools and prototypes that reveal the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of
this man and family.
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Today as we are
used to see CNC machines it is interesting to see that building tools was
necessary before to make any product. The creator had to create the product and
also how to make it.
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The evolution
in 170 years is really impressive, for horology as for the way of life.
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Creating a company
was certainly a very long work and a lifetime accomplishment. Today's
fast successes are nowhere near the merit of developing a manufacture like LeCoultre
at this time.
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The second room
on the same floor is the main room of the Gallery, showing first the glass wall
of 300 calibres and then several windows exposing the nicest pieces of the
Jaeger-LeCoultre historical collection (200 pieces out of the several thousand owned
by JLC).
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You will have a
hard time not to dream of such a wall to put in your home.
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The following
windows show more pieces than you want to see, and certainly more than you
imagine to see.
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Probably all of
the best LeCoultre or Jaeger-LeCoultre ever created models are represented. That's
also an opportunity to see nearly all of the most appealing modern models.
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The visit
continues on the upper floor in the same room with other windows and watches. You
would want to spend hours looking around and trying to decide which one is your
favourite.
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Another room
opening in April 2008 will allow collectors to put some special pieces on their
wrist. I don't know if these will include vintage pieces or only the
modern collection. That will certainly be a place of choice.
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I don't
think there is a single range of the company that doesn't find its place in
the exhibition.
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Some pieces are
not owned by the company yet and they still buy around 10 to 15 pieces each
month to complete the collection. This is really in order to improve their
choice and they definitely don't try to influence the vintage market
prices through auctions as for instance they have not offered more than 250 000
Swiss francs for the sistership of the Grande complication above pictured. Jerome
Lambert is particularly looking for a 1965 Polaris as they don't own this
model and don't want to assemble it. Please send your offers to Jerome at
Le Sentier! 
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Jerome Lambert confirms
that the Gallery will be open only for appointed visitors, for obvious security
reasons. The Gallery visit will generally be twined by a Manufacture visit. Who
wants to look at the past and not at the future!
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It is now time to
leave the Gallery and let you imagine your next visit. You've not seen it
all obviously.
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We also had the
opportunity to talk to Joel Cordier who was showing the very much awaited
Duometre a Chronographe. Production of serial pieces is going to begin very
soon and some lucky boys will be happy for Christmas!
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Miklos Merczel
was also there presenting different dials for Master Ultra thin models and for
Reverso a Eclipse. He was followed by a gem setter but we will see that another
day!
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Going back to
the dinner room for the end of the evening I had the opportunity to discuss
with Henry-John Belmont who managed Jaeger-LeCoultre before Jerome Lambert, and
who now works as a consultant for Minerva. If you ever meet him don't
hesitate to discuss with him as he is ever passionate and open, sharing
horology stories that you would not dare to repeat.
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Did I say
before that sitting at my table I had the pleasure to find there one of our
community members! Amanico was there, still waiting for his Polaris but wearing
proudly his titanium Master Minute Repeater. Should I add that on my other
side I was accompanied by Yves Meylan! What a party!
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Discussing on
the next morning with Jerome Lambert I was pleased to hear the confirmation of
the launch in 2008 of a re-edition of the Polaris. It will be a very limited
series as the three expected different versions should not exceed around 1700
pieces in total, i.e. the original Polaris production run. As you may imagine
you'd better book yours now as late awaken amateurs may regret their lost
chance. But for sure those who will enjoy the new Polaris will be more than
happy, specially the French market that will enjoy a specific version,
justified by the involvement of the Paris Jaeger-LeCoultre team and of some
French collectors. SIHH 2008 is 6 months away and I don't expect to know
more before!
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Another new
watch presented in full detail this one is the new Master Grand Tourbillon, a
43mm platinum case with black dial. The series will be limited to 300 pieces
and will be presented in a very prestigious box with a piece of stone of the original
building of Antoine LeCoultre's workshop. The watch is a commemorative
piece for the opening of the Gallery.
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Thank you very
much to Jerome Lambert and the Jaeger-LeCoultre teams for this invitation and
great organization. The Heritage Gallery is going to be a must in the horological
tours and another great reason to visit this extraordinary Manufacture.
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Dje
The opening of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Heritage Gallery
Thanks a lot, Jerome, for this complete report.>>>
Thanks Dje for a great report.....
Great report, much appreciated
