Jaeger LeCoultre has been a continuous innovator since it's beginning in 1833. Antoine LeCoultre began the company with a desire to discover new engineering processes and methods, and when Edmond Jaeger became a partner in 1903, he continued the company's spirit of innovation and individuality. Since then Jaeger LeCoultre has filed for hundreds of patents and has set standards in Swiss watch making. Since its formation in 1883, Jaeger Le Coultre have been the cutting edge of creation and innovation within the world of watchmaking.
1931 was a revolutionary year for the company and the world of wristwatches. The Reverso, invented for English Polo players who had the annoying habit of cracking their watch crystals, had a case that rotated a full 180 degrees, turning the face of the watch away from danger. The watch was well received by the public and instantly captured the heart of the "Art Deco" Art Deco era. The great economic depression, the following World War, and the inevitable changes in fashion nearly spelt doom for the watch. Luckily, however, an Italian watch dealer, Giorgio Corvo, noticed some unused Reverso cases at the Manufacture on a visit and took them home with him. Fitting them with movements, they were an instant success. The Reverso became an iconic piece of design and style - a living legend. Today, the Reverso accounts for approximately 80% of all watches produced by the Manufacture and is universally regarded as a horological classic. Now the Reverso is Jaeger LeCoultre's most recognized watch, as it is the longest running watch model in the world.
The Reverso Collection boasts extreme variety. Moonphases, Art Deco, and Grande Tallie offer the wearers gold buckles, engravings, precious stones and other personal pieces. It allows wearers the option of wearing two watches in one, as some heads swivel to reveal a second, different watch. Jaeger LeCoultre offers a wide variety of watches that are all beautiful and sophisticated but very unique.
The following year, 1932, found Patek Phillipe in deep financial trouble and looking for relief. LeCoultre, who had close ties with the company, proposed purchasing a majority interest. However, when the arrangement was close to being finalised, the Stern brothers - whose company manufactured the dials for Patek Phillipe - made a counter-offer that the management of Patek could not refuse. The Stern family took control of the company and have owned it since. In an ironic twist, Richemont (the owners of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre) bought Stern Creations S.A. in Geneva, Stern Manufacture and Stern Appliques in La Chaux-de-Fonds in June of 2000.
The Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre continued to prosper through the '40s and '50s. The company introduced the Memovox, Futurematic, Geomatic, and Geophysic watches. The Atmos and Baguette clocks. The remarkable Compass camera. It also continued to produce peerless ebauche for the other Swiss houses. It is also during this time that Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin developed close ties. The two companies, through the ownership and management of George Ketterer, began an arrangement whereby Jaeger-LeCoultre provided the movements and Vacheron Constantin became an etablisseur , or a compiler and marketer of watches. This relationship ends in 1965 when George Ketterer moved entirely to Vacheron Constantin , severing his ties with LeCoultre and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The Master Control 1000 Hours series, introduced in 1992 with the Grande Taille, is tested for an astonishing 1000 hours - while it is in the case, with its hands and dial installed - far outstripping the COSC requirements. The classic watches of the Manufacture were redesigned and tested to fit the classic 1950s aesthetic and 1000 Hours promise. Memovox, Reveil, Reserve de Marche, Moon, Date and Ultra Thin all become part of the Master line. The automatic.
Perpetual with day, date, month, year and moonphase as well as the Master Grande Memovox - an automatic perpetual moonphase with accoustic gong ? also join the Master family. The Master Geographic, with date, power reserve and a selectable second time zone is introduced in 1996. The Master Limited series of 250 pieces in platinum is introduced in 1997 and grows to include the entire Master series, save for the venerable Grande Taille. And the technical excellence of the Manufacture continues to this day. The amazing oversized date mechanism used in the Lange & SÆhne line of watches, regarded as the horological feat of the year, was invented and patented by Jaeger-LeCoultre. It now appears in the new SeptantiÕme which features a rectangular movement with an 8-day power reserve, large date, day/night phase and power reserve indicator.
Today, the Manufacture holds a unique place in the world of Swiss watch making. It still exists in Le Sentier, a few hundred feet from the original workshops of 1833. It still manufactures all its own movements and cases - and finishes both to a superb standard. It is recognised as amongst the very best of serially-produced watchmakers in the world. It continues to sell ebauche to a select group of great houses. And, above all else, it continues the traditions of Jaeger and LeCoultre - creating innovative, interesting and desirable movements, watches and clocks.
We have Jaeger Discounts on our website. Our Jaeger Discount watches are the highest quality and most durable Discounts available - almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Our Discounts are of unparalleled quality and endurance. They'll last as long as the real things - and at a significantly reduced cost. If you've ever wanted to own Jaeger watch, but couldn't afford it, a Jaeger Discount watch is right for you.