Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Three New and Complex Rendez-Vous Watches

It was six years ago that Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled its first new collection for women in decades: Rendez-Vous. Launched with Diane Kruger as the face behind the line, the collection was designed expressly for women and was all about romance, femininity and allure – indicative of its name. Since then, the line has evolved to include complications and artistic versions and has become globally beloved. Now, the brand unveils three new Métiers d’Arts Rendez-Vous watches, including the Rendez-Vous Tourbillon and Celestial that round out the line using artistic watchmaking crafts.

The new Rendez-Vous watches are a deft blend of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmaking prowess and its command of the arts, including high-jewellery gem setting and artistic dial work. In fact, in the brand’s state-of-the-art workshops in Le Sentier, there is an entire floor dedicated to Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares.” Bathed in light thanks to the high windows all around, this workshop is where the artistic magic happens; where the new Rendez-Vous Tourbillon and Rendez-Vous Celestial watches don their lavish looks.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Celestial Red and Grey

Easily one of the most alluring watches on the market, the Rendez-Vous Celestial watch captures hearts with its entrancing sky chart that maps out the stars on the dial. The two newest high jewellery versions, the Rendez-Vous Celestial Red and Celestial Grey, are each powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 809/1 automatic movement. Both offer hours, minutes, Rendez-Vous star indicator (to set the time for that secret meeting) and Sky chart. Each watch features the constantly moving star and displays the changing constellations in the sky as well as the signs of the zodiac. Each version, however, is slightly different, in its size and its look, but both utilize rare arts and gem setting to tell their story.

The Rendez-Vous Celestial Red watch is a 37.5mm rose gold case that features an incredible bezel set with graduated pink sapphires that range in hue from red to pink to amethyst. It is accented with brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial is a pale pink/purple grossular stone and the zodiac signs are enamelled in shades of pink gold. With a power reserve of 45 hours, this watch underscores the brand’s mastery of Rare Handcrafts.

The Rendez-Vous Celestial Grey has all of the same wonderful attributes as its Red sibling, however, its two-level dial depicts the sky chart disk in mother-of-pearl with a silvered sunray pattern.  Complementing the white tones, the bezel and case sides are set with 113 diamonds weighing 1.86 carats. This watch offers 40 hours of power reserve.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Tourbillon

For the newest high-jewellery Rendez-Vous tourbillon, the brand uses its gem-setting techniques to further highlight the large tourbillon escapement in this 39mm watch. Powered by the automatic Caliber 978 with a hand-decorated one-minute tourbillon seemingly floating in the air, the watch offers 45 hours of power reserve. The glittering brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial, and also on the bezel, case sides, enhance this intricate escapement.

Two versions of the new Rendez-Vous diamond-set tourbillon are being offered: one in 18k white gold with a midnight blue dial, and one in 18k pink gold with a mother-of-pearl and silver sunray dial – as seen here. On both models, there are diamonds set on the inner chapter ring of the dial. In the white gold version, there are 241 diamonds in total (case, dial, bezel, lugs) weighing 2.8 carats. The pink gold version boasts 215 diamonds weighing 2.52 carats.

Each of these new Rendez-Vous watches requires dozens of hours in the Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares” workshop where the gold is prepared and the diamonds are meticulously set by master craftsmen. Each diamond is individually set and polished by hand.

Being special pieces from the “Métiers Rares” workshop, the price of these new watches is only on request. More details on www.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

This article has been written by Roberta Naas, founder of A Timely Perspective; and author of six books on watches.