Dubai, May 7, 2024: Swiss watchmaking Maison Jaeger-LeCoultre marked a momentous occasion with the Emirati premiere of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition. This captivating showcase, hosted at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, invites the public to discover how the pursuit of precision has advanced the art of fine watchmaking over the course of almost 200 years.
A Dazzling Debut Event
To kick off this remarkable exhibition, Jaeger-LeCoultre was honoured to welcome the Jordanian-Palestinian R&B singer Zeyne and the Syrian actor Moatasem Al Nahar during an exclusive private opening celebration.
The Emirati film producer Abdulla Alkaabi was animating the evening as its Master of Ceremony before handing over to the renowned DJ Kaboo for the after party.
Honouring Precision
Adding to the festivities, Chinese light-painting artist Roy Wang unveiled for the first time four exclusive light-painting artworks created exclusively for La Grande Maison and performed a live light-painting show with one of his signature motives – the dragon.
Two Michelin-starred Indian chef Himanshu Saini, who created four special bites for Jaeger-LeCoultre, was also present, inviting guests to embark on a culinary journey blending ingredients of the Vallée de Joux with flavours from the subcontinent at the Precision Atelier.
Both collaborations were commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre under its Made of Makers programme – a series of artistic partnerships that expands the dialogue between watchmaking and other art forms.
A New Limited-Edition Timepiece Revealed
The exhibition opening was further graced by the reveal of a new interpretation of the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948, with a green enamel dial. A uniquely artistic expression of the world-time complication uniting mechanical excellence with rare handcrafts – enamelling, guillochage and lacquering. The Universal Tourbillon makes a complete circuit around the dial in 24 hours, echoing the way that Earth spins on its axis and makes a circuit around the Sun.
A Journey Through Time and Precision
Created by Jaeger-LeCoultre as part of its mission to expand the cultural conversation around fine watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ offers visitors a deep immersion into the art and science of precision in fine watchmaking.
From the palladium hairspring to the first multi-axis tourbillon or from the anti-magnetic cage to the Duometre concept, visitors are invited to embark on a quest for precision divided in four chapters: The Precision of Production, The Precision of Chronometry, The Precision of Regulating Organs and The Precision of Complications.
As visitors journey through the Story of Precision, they will enjoy exploring the depths of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s rich heritage, craftsmanship and pioneering spirit.
A Celebration of Craftsmanship and a Hands-on Experience
A viewing room within the exhibition is dedicated to the 180 skills mastered within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s fully integrated Manufacture, showcasing essential aspects of the art and craft of watchmaking that have particular relevance to the theme of precision.
‘In the Making’ is devoted to a series of short films that take viewers behind the scenes, each focusing on a single craft: design, production, finishing, assembly and ornamentation. In addition, visitors can watch live demonstrations of two key skills: perlage and movement assembly.
To offer a deeper understanding of watchmaking, ‘The Precision Pioneer’ provides hands-on educational workshops at the Atelier d’Antoine.
Location, Opening Hours and Admission
The Precision Pioneer is open free of charge to the public until May 19, offering the opportunity to experience craftsmanship and watchmaking in a new cultural context.
Presented at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC, opening hours are: 11am until 10pm on weekdays; 10am to 10pm on weekends.
