“In the Making” Video Series By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Swiss luxury watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre has unveiled its “In the Making” video series, which takes viewers on a journey behind the scenes at its Manufacture in Vallée de Joux. The series meticulously reveals the 180 distinct artisanal techniques that go into crafting a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece.

The series takes viewers on an intimate journey behind the scenes, shedding light on the rarely seen stages of the watchmaking process and the passion that has driven the Maison since 1833. The videos pay tribute to the timeless values of creativity and precision instilled in every artisan at the Manufacture.

With each film focusing on a single craft, “In the Making” unveils the extraordinary skills and dedication of the artisans that have been perfected through countless years of practice. The series showcases the diverse range of crafts housed within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s fully integrated Manufacture, paying equal attention to each chapter corresponding to the sequence of steps required to create a fine timepiece: Design, Produce, Finish, and Ornament.

Design

The Design chapter showcases the aesthetics of a watch, including the shape, size, style, and composition of the dial and case, along with the technical considerations that range from the development of new complications and movements to the overall architecture of the movement. Collaborating in intense synergy, technical designers and movement constructors work alongside the designers, ensuring that every beautiful-looking design is backed by engineering and technical design of the highest precision.

Produce

The Produce chapter delves deep into the production process, revealing the mastery of the specialists who cut, stamp, or treat raw metal to transform it into the different components of a timepiece. The series captures the countless assembly steps that lead to final casing up and polishing, where the metal is magically brought to life. Beyond producing new timepieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house restoration workshop breathes new life into watches that may be decades old, using original spare parts or making identical components from scratch using original blueprints and metal-stamping templates.

Finish

The Finish chapter showcases the importance of watch movements’ fine finishing and hand decoration. Every artisan excels at every skill and gesture to achieve consistent angles and reflections. The techniques used range from traditional ones like perlage, Côtes de Genève, and skeletonization to modern ones like micro-blasting.

Ornament

The Ornament chapter combines centuries-old decorative crafts like guilloche, engraving, gem-setting, and various enameling techniques. Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the few watchmaking manufacturers with a dedicated Rare Handcrafts (Métiers Rares®) atelier under its roof. The specialized artisans work side-by-side in a dedicated atelier, exchanging ideas and sharing their creative energy while perpetuating ancestral know-how within the Manufacture.

‘In the Making’ is a work in progress, with the first eight films covering eight watchmaking crafts. The series will grow into a fully comprehensive library as more videos are completed. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to understated sophistication and technical creativity has powered the creation of more than 1200 calibers since 1833, making it the Watchmaker’s Watchmaker. With its artisans, engineers, designers, and watchmakers working together perfectly, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture continues to create fine watchmaking creations that will last for generations.

The series is available via Jaeger-LeCoultre’s official website.

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