Inventor and self-taught watchmaker Antoine LeCoultre founded his first workshop in 1833, after he invented a machine to produce watchmaking pinions. Over the following years Antoine became responsible for a number of revolutionary watchmaking innovations that continue to inspire the manufacture of Jaeger-LeCoultre watches today.
To date, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture has created over 500 different calibres with complications, including over 200 chronographs, over 200 repeaters and numerous grand complications. Highlights in the brand’s history include the world’s smallest calibre, the world’s most complicated wristwatches and a timepiece of near-perpetual movement.
This dedication to perfection is inspired by the company’s founder: Antoine LeCoultre’s original watch parts were made to such high standards that no tool could detect their degree of inaccuracy, so in order to raise the bar even higher, he created the world’s most accurate measuring instrument. This Millionomètre served as a benchmark for more than 50 years.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is dedicated to transforming the smallest pieces of metal into mechanical marvels, with many skills involved in the creation of every timepiece. The iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso calls for 1,434 different operations in its manufacture, over 90% of which involve manual dexterity.
The company believes its greatest treasure is the combined technical knowledge, experience and skills that are shared by the 1,000 talented people that work to create Jaeger-LeCoultre watches. Over 180 kinds of different watchmaking expertise are found under one roof at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, from the rarest craft professions to the most cutting-edge technologies.
