Amazing Watchmaking: Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches Hybris Artistica

Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Artistica Duometre Spherotourbillon Pocket watch

Every once in a while, we are wowed in the watch industry by technology, creative invention and the spirit of the arts. Thankfully, this happens more often than not lately thanks to the innovative and free spirited thinking prevalent in today’s watch world. Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing first-hand one such demonstration of mastery of the arts – when Jaeger-LeCoultre invited me to a collectors’ dinner in New York – where it premiered exclusively the Hybris Artistica Collection of timepieces.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Gyrotourbillon 1 interpreted by Katie Rodgers (Photo, Anna Cone)

I was fortunate enough to be able to get my hands on these timepieces individually and to truly experience the glory and beauty of each and every one. This series combines the most advanced technically advanced complicated watches with the world of watchmaking crafts, including the making of the balance spring, skeletonizing, hammering, beveling, finishing, diamond setting, enameling, sapphire work and more. The 12 precious watches embody the 180 skills of the Grand Maison of Jaeger-LeCoultre and symbolize the brand’s horological prowess. To further capture the spirit of the artisanry, the brand hired fashion illustrator Katie Rodgers, Paper Fashion, to reinterpret the one-of-a-kind pieces on paper. Here we bring you a slide show of some of these most fantastic pieces, along with some of the renditions created by Rodgers.