Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Enamel

Hybris Artistica,  twelve timepieces united in a unique collection

Jaeger-LeCoultre unveils twelve unique and precious timepieces symbolising the horological excellence of the Grande Maison.

The new watch collection builds on the fascination generated by grand complication watches and by the Hybris Mechanica collection that the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux has been developing over the years. The Hybris Artistica timepieces epitomise the unique spirit of inventiveness brought to life by 180 century-old skills in a ‘calendar’ of wonderment combining as never before watchmaking art and transcendent creativity.

Watchmaking sensations: the quest for balance

Hybris Artistica further enhances the iconic masterpieces of the brand and demonstrates the boundless creativity as well as the rich watchmaking culture of the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux.

Faithfully perpetuating traditional watchmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents complicated watches with specially crafted cases each more sophisticated than the next. Each of the twelve models in the Hybris Artistica collection represents an unprecedented blend of design, technical construction, watchmaking art and exquisite craftsmanship to achieve the point of equilibrium that dramatically expresses the Manufacture's mastery and style.

Through daring materials and strong aesthetic choices, the Manufacture draws upon the talent of its artisans while eluding technical traps and constraints. It submits its cases and movements to the ultimate demands of beauty and excellence. Such is its singular vision that has been successfully mingling tradition and invention for over 180 years.

180 skills under one roof

What is a fine watchmaking timepiece if not the extraordinary sum of the technical knowledge, experience and expertise shared and cultivated by the more than 1,300 people working at the Manufacture?

The Grande Maison carries on the impetus set in motion by Antoine LeCoultre. Since 1833, this watchmaker was able to instil into his company the principle of making in-house the tools of the trade as well as every watch component emerging from the workshops. This approach that was at once historical and historic, earned the Manufacture a notable reputation for the rare skills required to design and manufacture remarkable timepieces.

The making of a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is a multi-facetted process involving countless cells of expertise working together to create living tissue. From profile turning to casing-up, through stamping, jewelling, chamfering, decorating the movement, as well as making adjustments, fitting the hands and assembly, all the crafts involved represent a constantly tested foundation of expertise as well as a shared set of human and horological values.

Employees of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre master in all respects the most innovative and creative skills inherent in exceptional watches. All have followed a specific Jaeger-LeCoultre apprenticeship process that consists of working together on a daily basis to learn from the talents of others.

It is indeed only through such close collaboration that creative boundaries can be consistently pushed back.

Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Enamel

The Dual Wing concept is reflected by the presence of two distinct areas on the dial: on the left, the opening revealing the secrets of the Sphérotourbillon, and on the right, the main dial indicating the local time. An additional 24-hour dial occupying the upper part of the watch displays the time in a second time zone. The small seconds counter is located in the lower part of the dial.  

In this Hybris Artistica version, the dial is made of blue paillonné enamel that gives the watch face a dreamlike quality. The enamelling workshop of the Manufacture has a perfect mastery of this technique which requires a delicate touch and intense concentration. The artisan shaves tiny motifs or chips from a block of silver, called paillons. These tiny chips are volatile and can easily scatter. Only with the expertise accumulated over time can the artisan distribute them harmoniously on the enamel. After the dial comes out of the kiln, with the inherent risks of firing at 800°, the artisan begins the difficult task of polishing the enamel. This involves revealing the metal elements flush with the dial without scratching the surface with specks of dust from the precious metal. In the end, the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Enamel is adorned with a sleek midnight blue robe strewn with stardust. Echoing this magical dial, the bezel is decorated with a border of enamel in an elegant reiteration of the overall harmony. The side of the case is engraved with a design inspired by the Doge's Palace in Venice. For this purpose, openings are pierced all around the case, then filled with enamel and polished to reveal the beauty of the design.  

Perfection has its challenges, and Jaeger-LeCoultre meets them unflinchingly. Thus, the movement itself had to be redesigned and reworked. Steps were added – in gold so they could be enamelled – to remain in harmony with the rest of the dial. This staircase forms a spectacular amphitheatre that showcases the exuberant actor of this timepiece, the multi-axis tourbillon with a transparent sapphire bridge.