In launching its collection of diver’s watches, Jaeger-LeCoultre discovered some magnificent unspoilt natural marine areas. The Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux rapidly became aware of the vulnerability of these ecosystems and of the necessity – and indeed the urgency – of preserving this biodiversity.

It was in the context of this initiative that in 2008 Jaeger-LeCoultre signed a partnership agreement with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the International Herald Tribune in order to raise public awareness of this environmental cause and to support the defence and protection of remarkable marine sites, which require immediate intervention if they are to be effectively preserved.

Clive Owen, Jaeger-LeCoutlre friend, Jérôme Lambert, Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO, Irina Bokova, UNESCO general director; French film director Jacques Perrin; Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, International Herald Tribune President and Nic Vandermarliere, Representative of Flanders to UNESCO

As a complement to this action, for the past four years Jaeger-LeCoultre has been providing direct financial support to the management team of the world heritage sites through the annual auction of a one-of-a-kind model from the Manufacture – with proceeds being entirely donated to the protected marine site.

For the year 2012, Jaeger-LeCoultre organised the fourth online auction of the unique n°1 prototype of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph. The funds thus raised were donated to the Puerto-Princesa National Park in the Philippines, and allocated to the purchase of material – a dinghy, a GPS and portable sonar equipment, diving material including bottles and a compressor – as well as to providing diving training for two of the park employees who will handle monitoring exercises on the state of the Puerto Princesa subterranean river national park.

Operations will continue in 2013. On February 7th, Jaeger-LeCoultre has reaffirmed its commitment to UNESCO and support for the programme, and presented the film entitled Marine World Heritage: the Crown Jewels of the Ocean.

On this occasion of its 180th anniversary year, Jaeger-LeCoultre is more strongly than ever committed to this cause. The presentation of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea will also be highlighted by various operations designed to support the protected UNESCO sites.

Source: Image.Net by Getty Images for Jaeger-LeCoultre