Jaeger-LeCoultre strikes a chord with its timepieces

music to our ears

For Janek Deleskiewicz, every Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece has its own music. “The Reverso Cordonnet Duetto is a Schumann cavalier, whereas the Gyrotourbillon would be equal to a Beethoven symphony," says the watchmaker’s artistic director. “By using the simple expression of time in the context of music, you realise its character – be it simple or complicated."

Deleskiewicz – who has played the saxophone at Jaeger-LeCoultre events – says his approach to design is borne from his experiences around the world. “You see some very strange things when you’re on the streets, or in airports and shopping centres. I visited Hong Kong a lot when I was younger and now, when I open my dryer, the smell of cleaning and humidity somehow reminds me of the place," he says. All of these stimuli is then channelled into the fantastical designs of Jaeger-LeCoultre. “It’s important for us that we give people something which is better than the normal. We think of Jaeger-LeCoultre as coming from a wonderful world.

“The youngest designer at Jaeger-LeCoultre today – who is 25 years old – was not even born when I began my career there in 1988," Deleskiewicz adds, with a laugh. He remembers designing the Reverso for its 60th anniversary and also the Reverso Duetto in 1995. The latter became popular for its two faces which could enable a transition from a day watch to an evening timepiece without it ever leaving your wrist.

This year, the manufacture pays tribute to the iconic Reverso, celebrating the collection’s 85th anniversary with a suite of models through the Reverso One, Reverso Classic and Reverso Tribute. It also established Atelier Reverso, offering greater personalisation to create something truly unique through a choice of dials, materials and design, gem-set hour-markers and a choice of straps with options of calfskin, alligator, ostrich and satin. “I think the world is changing in that young people – including my daughter – want very specific and individualised expressions," Deleskiewicz says. “Atelier Reverso addresses this new generation."

Jaeger-LeCoultre