Unwinding the Past: Jaeger-LeCoultre Launches the Third Edition of The Collectibles in Singapore

When it comes to luxury watches, the adage ‘Old is gold’ rings especially true, as the value of these timeless pieces only appreciates with age, courtesy of their rarity, craftsmanship, and historical relevance. Most watchmakers have in their horological panoply classic models from previous decades that collectors and enthusiasts actively seek out. Such older luxury watches may have sophisticated mechanical movements, hand-finished embellishments, and design aspects that reflect the era in which they were created. Some of these watches may have been owned by important persons or are related to major events in history. In other words, these can be regarded as invaluable collectibles that have stood the test of time. 

To make pre-owned exceptional timepieces of the brand more accessible to watch lovers, Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) has launched the third edition of The Collectibles, a programme covering watches from a carefully curated selection of vintage models. After displaying the first collection in Vallée de Joux and the second in Los Angeles, the watchmaker has launched the third chapter of the programme in Singapore, which has a significant watch-collecting community. 

In essence, The Collectibles, launched to commemorate the Manufacturer's 190th anniversary, has been primarily designed for collectors keen to acquire La Grande Maison's most iconic timepieces; it also seeks to deepen their knowledge of a period that was highly significant not only for the luxury timepiece maker’s horological advancements, but also for the development of watchmaking as a whole. What’s more, the Collectibles coffee-table book, which complements the capsule collection of timepieces available for purchase, is the ultimate reference for the Manufacturer's 17 most notable models created between the 1920s and the 1970s.

The Collectibles celebrates the pioneering spirit that has always propelled JLC, highlighting its groundbreaking products, such as the Duoplan, Reverso, Memovox, Futurematic, and Geophysic. Each of the 17 models has its own chapter, which includes important information for collectors, such as the year of manufacture for each reference, the movement utilised, the case metal used, and the dial variant. This is supplemented by interesting photographs as well as copies of historical documents from the Manufacture archives.

The third capsule collection, consisting of 10 watches, includes pieces for both men and women, ranging from rarely seen interpretations of the Reverso and the Memovox with eye-catching dials to highly sought-after models, such as the Master Mariner Deep Sea from 1970 and the Triple Calendar from 1945. One of the pieces is an early version of the Powermatic – this is the first time this groundbreaking model has been presented by The Collectibles. The watch, which dates back to 1949, the year in which the Powermatic was introduced, is powered by Calibre 481; it has a 'bumper' automated winding technology as well as an incorporated power reserve indicator. The Powermatic, well known for its dependability, quickly became the Maison's iconic watch.

For women, three outstanding pieces exemplify La Grande Maison's commitment to combining technical sophistication with great design. A Duoplan Coulissante from 1933 features the two-level Duoplan calibre (which allowed for unprecedented levels of miniaturisation) in a gold case with a cover that slides to conceal or reveal the dial. A ladies' Reverso from 1934 has a rare and visually stunning chocolate dial in a steel case, while a 1938 Calibre 101 model on an articulated gold bracelet houses one of the world's smallest hand-wound mechanical movements in an avant-garde design that marked the transition from Art Deco to the more sculptural forms that defined the 1940s. Other high-design novelties include a 1970 Memovox Polaris II with a turquoise dial and bezel, and a 1969 Memovox (named 'Brownie' for its unusual brown lacquer dial), which has now acquired a tortoise-shell patina.

 Each Collectibles timepiece comes with an excerpt from the Jaeger-LeCoultre archives, a complimentary copy of The Collectibles book, and a new strap designed to fit the style of each watch. In addition, if accessible, the original box, paperwork, and strap or bracelet will be included. The third edition of The Collectibles debuted in Singapore on October 11, with a panel discussion moderated by Matthieu Sauret, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Product Marketing and Heritage Director. The collection, together with The Collectibles coffee-table book, will be shown at the Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique in Marina Bay Sands till October 23. The timepieces will also be available for purchase at jaeger-lecoultre.com.