Focus on Jaeger-LeCoultre who celebrates in 2013 its 180th anniversary

This anniversary will be commemorated by the introduction of some exceptional timepieces, as well as the holding of exclusive exhibitions and events around the world.

The adventure began in 1833 when self-taught watchmaker Antoine LeCoultre set up his own workshop after inventing a pinion-cutting machine. This invention was to be followed by dozens of others, as well as hundreds of patents, each of which contributed to forging the international reputation of Swiss watchmaking. The small workshops grew so fast that it was soon nicknamed the “Grande Maison” in the Vallée de Joux. By 1888, the Manufacture already employed around 500 watchmakers, technicians and artists.

Over the past 180 years, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created and produced over 1,200 different calibres and filed more than 400 patents. The Grande Maison has a number of world firsts to its credit, along with superlative achievements and legendary watches such as the Reverso, the Duoplan, the Memovox, the Polaris, the Gyrotourbillon 1 and 2, the Duomètre line, as well as the perpetual Atmos clock. Today, over 1000 people work within the Manufacture and master all the forms of expertise required to make this brand one of the most inventive in the watch industry.

For 180 years, decade after decade, in step with the new skills consistently incorporated within the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux, various buildings have been added, progressively extending around the original workshop of Antoine LeCoultre at the heart of the village of Le Sentier – a mere stone’s throw from the place where Pierre LeCoultre bought his very first plot of land in 1559.

The rooftops of the Manufacture have multiplied to form a complex architectural ensemble which constitutes a prodigious creative space. Within the assembled premises of the Grande Maison, 180 watchmaking skills and 20 technologies cooperate in inventing, producing, assembling, adjusting, gem-setting, engraving or enamelling unique timepieces that permanently enhance and renew the grand Swiss watchmaking tradition.

• 1559 Pierre LeCoultre arrives in the Vallée de Joux
• 1612 Pierre II LeCoultre founds the village of Le Sentier
• 1730 The LeCoultre forge is established
• 1833 Founding of the Manufacture by Antoine LeCoultre
• 1844 Invention of the Millionometer
• 1847 Invention of the pivoting winding mechanism
• 1851 Gold medal at the World Fair in London
• 1858 Elie LeCoultre helps his father Antoine
• 1866 A new building: LeCoultre becomes the first Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux
• 1870 First complicated calibres
• 1874 A new building
• 1880 Jaeger is founded in Paris
• 1888 A new building
• 1890 The Manufacture produces 156 calibres
• 1890 The first Grande Complication models
• 1900 Jacques-David LeCoultre is in charge of production
• 1903 Jacques-David LeCoultre meets Edmond Jaeger
• 1907 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 145, the world’s thinnest movement
• 1912 Extension of the Manufacture
• 1915 Aviation and automobiles
• 1925 Invention of the Duoplan watch
• 1927 A new building
• 1928 Invention of the Atmos clock
• 1929 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101, the world’s thinnest movement
• 1930 Chronoflight
• 1931 8-day twin-barrel wristwatch
• 1931 Birth of the Reverso watch
• 1932 “Baguette” table clock
• 1933 A new building
• 1937 Official birth of the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand
• 1938 Compass miniature camera
• 1946 Jaeger-LeCoultre tourbillon Calibre 170
• 1946 First automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre watch
• 1950 Birth of the Memovox
• 1953 Futurematic
• 1953 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 803, 1.64 mm thick
• 1956 First automatic wristwatch with an alarm
• 1958 Geophysic Chronometer
• 1959 Memovox Deep Sea. First diver’s watch equipped with an alarm
• 1965 Memovox Polaris
• 1967 Participation in the Beta 21 movement
• 1972 A new building
• 1976 Jaeger-LeCoultre automatic, thin, high-frequency Calibre 900
• 1982 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 601, the world’s thinnest quartz movement
• 1983 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 889
• 1987 Jaeger-LeCoultre mechaquartz Calibre 630
• 1989 Grand Réveil
• 1990 Géographique
• 1991 Reverso 60ème
• 1992 Master Control 1000 Hours
• 1994 Reverso Duo
• 1997 Reverso Duetto
• 1997 A new building
• 1999 Atmos du Millénaire
• 2000 Jaeger-LeCoultre joins the Richemont Group
• 2002 Master Compressor Memovox
• 2003 Reverso Platinum Number Two
• 2003 Atmos Mystérieuse
• 2004 Gyrotourbillon I
• 2005 Master Minute Repeater Antoine LeCoultre
• 2006 Reverso grande complication à triptyque
• 2007 Duomètre
• 2007 Master Compressor Extreme Lab
• 2007 Opening of the Heritage Gallery
• 2008 4 pink gold limited series marking the 175th anniversary of the Manufacture
• 2008 Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2
• 2009 New 9,000 square-metre building
• 2009 Duomètre à Grande Sonnerie
• 2010 Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication
• 2011 Reverso Répétition Minutes à Rideau
• 2012 Duomètre Sphérotourbillon
• 2013 Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates its 180th anniversary