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Jaeger-LeCoultre will organize public workshops and visits

ATELIER D’ANTOINE

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October 2020


Jaeger-LeCoultre will organize public workshops and visits

The Swiss brand announces the opening of “Atelier d’Antoine”, a new initiative that gives watch collectors, enthusiasts and members of the general public the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of fine watchmaking in the manufacture’s building in Le Sentier.

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amed after the Maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre, “Atelier d’Antoine” will stage a variety of educational programmes that combine academic instruction and practical activities, guided by experts from within the Manufacture.

The hub of “Atelier d’Antoine” is a newly developed space within the original, historic Manufacture building in Le Sentier, which has been specially designed for this purpose. In future, it is planned to open physical outposts of the Atelier in flagship boutiques in key international locations, as well as to offer the programme through digital channels.

Jaeger-LeCoultre will organize public workshops and visits

“Atelier d’Antoine” will initially offer two different types of themed programme: Discovery Workshops and Manufacture Visits and, at a later date, will also offer Masterclasses – all programmes offering unforgettable experiences for those wishing to learn more about what goes into making a fine mechanical watch.

Discovery Workshops provide an opportunity to explore the world of Swiss fine watchmaking in a new way. Hosted by an instructor and a technical expert and limited to a maximum of 8 participants, the workshops blend academic education and hands-on experience in a dynamic format that encourages interaction.

Over the course of three hours, participants will dive deep into the heart of watch movements to understand how they work; they will discover the myriad technical and creative skills required to produce fine watches, the many different stages involved in their fabrication, and the artistic crafts employed in haute horlogerie. They will also learn about the past, present and future of watchmaking at Jaeger-LeCoultre and in the Vallée de Joux. They will also be invited to go hands-on, using larger-scale models to try to replicate the work of the Maison’s highly skilled watchmakers.

The Manufacture Visits are structured so that each focuses on a different area of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s expertise and heritage: The History of the Maison and the Stages of Watchmaking; Innovations and Inventions; and Creativity and Artistic Crafts. The guided visits will range in duration from two-and-a-half to four hours, according to the theme being explored. Following the traditional format already established at Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Masterclasses will be highly focused, hands-on tutorials led by an expert watchmaker or craftsman, in which participants actively practice particular skills of traditional watchmaking or artistic crafts.