• A joyful ode to nature, deeply imbued with traditional Oriental symbolism and showcasing some of the timeless crafts of Jaeger-LeCoultre Métiers Rares® atelier: lacquer work, miniature-painting and gem-setting
• Uniting the artistic traditions and craft skills of East and West, intricately decorated dials and highly sophisticated mechanisms celebrate femininity in refined and timeless style
Inspired by Asia’s centuries-old artistic tradition of depicting nature, Jaeger-LeCoultre expands the Rendez-Vous Sonatina “Peaceful Nature” series with three new watches. The new trilogy is a subtly feminine expression of the times that celebrates both precision and craftsmanship. Combining Eastern and Western artistic traditions, it combines the richness of rare decorative craftsmanship with the technical sophistication of Haute Horlogerie.
A joyful ode to nature and its special place in Asian artistic tradition, the new Rendez-Vous Sonatina trilogy is dedicated to the three decorative crafts that Jaeger-LeCoultre mastered so meticulously in their Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts™). Studio: Miniature painting, lacquer work and precious stones.
The use of lacquer, with its incomparable transparency and intense brilliance, indicates the close affinity between Asian craftsmanship and European style. Urushi lacquer is an ancient craft, the first known examples of which date back to, the end of the Neolithic period. Urushi lacquer was first brought to the west from Asia in the 16th century. Highly regarded for its noble looks and exotic origins, it has had a profound impact on European art and taste since.
Plants and animals have usually been noticeably symbolic in Asian cultures, imbued with unique powers and attributes, and scenes from nature play an crucial position in Asian artwork history. Closely reading the accurate paperwork and anatomy of plant life and animals, artists have for hundreds of years reproduced them in delicate and noticeably correct detail. Nature-portray reached its apogee with “flower-and-chicken pictures” (known as kachōga in Japan and Hwajohwa in Korea), even though topics had been now no longer constrained handiest to plants or birds, and people factors did now no longer always seem together. It is that this way of life that Jaeger-LeCoultre’s designers and Métiers Rares® artists have interpreted at the dials of the brand new timepieces, uniting the crafts of lacquer work, miniature-portray and gem-putting with consummate skill.
Three dials; three images – each telling powerfully symbolic story
Peaceful Nature – A Crane: Against a background of dark blue-green lacquer, a crane (tsuru in Japan) hovers over a pine tree, the arc of its wings repeating the sinuous lines of the dial. The crane, which is revered throughout Asia as an auspicious sign, stands for luck and a spirit of optimism. A symbol of longevity, as it was believed to live 1000 years, and being monogamous, it often appears in wedding decor, representing the long and peaceful life of the couple. As an evergreen plant, the pine is also a symbol of longevity and virtue.
Peaceful Nature – Kingfisher: The golden brown dial is adorned with delicately painted sprigs of red quince, also a symbol of longevity, renewed and rejuvenated by the fact that its bloom each spring. A kingfisher (hisui in Japan, cuiniao in China) perches among its red flowers. the harbinger of summer, the kingfisher is a positive symbol in almost all cultural traditions and represents beauty and virtue, faithfulness and devotion, faithfulness and a happy marriage.
Peaceful Nature – Koi: On a black dial, a bright orange Koi swims beneath the gentle waves of a pond framed by sprawling willow branches – a symbol of spring and with it romance and femininity. the charm. Willow’s gentle qualities are balanced by the power of Koi, which are believed to bestow determination, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity, and bring
rewards in the form of success, abundance, and good fortune.
A tour-de-force of skill, artistry and endless patience
Each of these exquisite dial compositions was entirely handcrafted in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Métiers Rares® workshop and embodied by the master in an amazing ballet of craftsmanship and precision over many weeks. First, the master prepares the absolutely flawless surface of the dial, then he builds up the gradient of the lacquer layer by layer to create the richly shiny background of the. Only after the layers of varnish have completely hardened can you start painting.
First, guided most effective via way of means of eye and hand, the artistan applies miniscule dots of gold lacquer paint to mimic the impact of maki-e lacquer (a technique, perfected at some point of the Japanese Edo period, of sprinkling gold powder or fragments of gold leaf onto moist lacquer to create a gradient impact). Next, in a way similar to grease portray on canvas however on a microscopic scale, the particular photograph is formed, one tiny brushstroke at a time – a method taking a few 35–forty hours of painstaking and rather centered work. As a very last touch, factors of every photograph are highlighted with tiny gold paillons (flakes), painstakingly applied. Lifelike in detail, with a terrific experience of motion and visible depth, every of those miniature works of artwork is imbued with the artisan’s persona and passion, making they all very subtly different. Finally, more than one layers of translucent lacquer are applied, to seal the finished portray in a lustrous and eternal coat.
The composition of the Rendez-Vous Sonatina dial is asymmetrical but perfectly balanced, set with floral hands and numerals characteristic of the collection. Applied numerals, graded in size, form a crescent moon, which wraps around an elegant image. A thin oval diamond ring runs beneath the applied numerals, drawing attention to the painted image and complementing the sparkling circle of pearl diamonds on the bezel. At the center of each image viewed through the oval hole, the Night & Day display rotates once every 24 hours in an endless dance of the sun, moon and stars.
At the edge of the dial is a delicate gold star, marking the time of a special date or meeting, which can be moved to the desired position using a second crown fitted to the side of the case. When the time comes, will chime a melodious chime by striking the gong hidden in the clockwork to remind the owner of their meeting.
This poetic and whimsical expression of femininity is brought to life by the technical sophistication of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house Caliber 735, an automatic movement with a striking complication and night/day indicator, developed exclusively for Sonatina watches. The elegant complexity and fine details of this movement are showcased through the transparent sapphire crystal case back.
Complementing the dial of the and completing these horological gems, the alligator leather strap with a lustrous mother-of-pearl finish secures to the wrist with a rose gold deployant clasp.
The Rendez-Vous Sonatina “Peaceful Nature” series is a cheerful and sophisticated expression of femininity with exquisite dials enhanced by complex movements Aesthetic Expression. A reminder of the cultural exchange between East and West that has been so important to the art world for centuries, and limited to 10 pieces per watch, the new Rendez-Vous Sonatina is available exclusively in Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
RENDEZ-VOUS SONATINA PEACEFUL NATURE – CRANE
RENDEZ-VOUS SONATINA PEACEFUL NATURE – KINGFISHER
RENDEZ-VOUS SONATINA PEACEFUL NATURE – KOI
Dimensions: 38.2mm diameter x 10.59mm thick
Calibre: Self-winding Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 735
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds; Rendez-vous indicator, Night& Day indicator
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Pink gold 750/1000 (18 Karats)
Case-back: Open
Water resistance: 5 bar
Strap: Shiny alligator
Diamonds: 160 (for 1.86 carats)
Reference: Q35924J1/J2/J3
Limited edition of 10 pieces each
ABOUT THE STELLAR ODYSSEY
In 2022 Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to the astronomical phenomena that lie at the very origin of how mankind measures time. Since the earliest days of the Manufacture, astronomical functions have played a major role in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s portfolio of complicated timepieces – ranging from simple forms of moon phase display to highly complex perpetual calendars, equation of time, sky charts, and the draconic and anomalistic lunar cycles. Mastering all three measures of time – solar, lunar and sidereal – the watchmakers of La Grande Maison have
perpetually innovated to create the most advanced and precise mechanisms that represent or even predict celestial phenomena. This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre embarks on a Stellar Odyssey with an immersive exhibition and a series of themed events that will embrace inspirational collaborations with a visual artist and a mixologist, and a fascinating programme of celestially-themed Discovery Workshops at Atelier d’Antoine. The Stellar Odyssey is an invitation to discover how the mysteries of the cosmos are translated into micro-mechanical wonders for the wrist.