Third edition of The Collectibles in Singapore – 10 exceptional vintage timepieces, complemented by The Collectibles Book

Jaeger-LeCoultre is delighted to present the third edition of The Collectibles, a meticulously curated collection of rare and sought-after timepieces created by the Manufacture during the 50-year ‘golden age’ of 20^th-century watchmaking (1920s-1970s). Comprising 10 exceptional timepieces for men and women, this third capsule collection will be unveiled in Singapore in October 2024. After presenting the first collection in the Vallée de Joux and the second in Los Angeles, Jaeger-LeCoultre brings the third edition of The Collectibles to Singapore in appreciation for the strong watch collecting community in that country.

The Collectibles programme: exceptional timepieces and a master reference book

Introduced to coincide with the 190years of the Manufacture, The Collectibles was conceived for collectors wishing to acquire one of La Grande Maison’s most emblematic timepieces and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their knowledge of a period that was highly significant not only for the advances made by the Maison but also for the development of watchmaking as a whole.

Complementing the capsule collection of watches presented for sale, The Collectibles coffee-table book is the definitive reference to the 17 most significant models produced by the Manufacture between the 1920s and 1970s. All watches offered under The Collectibles programme are drawn from among the 17 models represented in the book.

Celebrating the pioneering spirit that has always driven La Grande Maison, The Collectibles shines the spotlight on such ground-breaking innovations as the Duoplan, Reverso, Memovox, Futurematic and Geophysic. A full chapter is devoted to each of the 17 models and includes such essential data for collectors as the years of production for each reference; the movements used; case metals employed; dial variations and more. This is supplemented by detailed and informative photography, and copies of historic documents from the Manufacture’s archives. Along with providing indispensable data for collectors, The Collectibles book includes background stories that place the watches in the historical and cultural context in which they were born, offering a broader understanding of the evolution of the modern mechanical watch over the course of half a century.

A collection of 10 timepieces from the 1920s to the 1970s 

The third capsule collection, comprising 10 watches, includes a wide variety of pieces for both men and women, ranging from rarely-seen interpretations of the Reverso and Memovox with eye-catching dials to classic examples of highly sought-after models such as the Master Mariner Deep Sea from 1970 and a Triple Calendar from 1945.

Among the pieces is an early example of the Powermatic, and it is the first time that an example of this ground-breaking model has been offered through The Collectibles. Dating from 1949, the year of the Powermatic’s launch, the watch is equipped with Calibre 481 featuring a ‘bumper’ automatic winding system and an integrated power reserve indicator (invented and patented by Jaeger-LeCoultre). Renowned in its day for its reliability, the Powermatic became the Maison’s emblematic watch immediately after its launch.

For women, three outstanding pieces epitomise La Grande Maison’s commitment to marrying technical sophistication with great design: from 1933, a Duoplan Coulissante features the two-level Duoplan calibre (which enabled an unprecedented degree of miniaturisation) in a gold case with a cover that slides to conceal or reveal the dial. A ladies’ Reverso from 1934 features a rare and eye-catching chocolate dial in a steel case; and a 1938 Calibre 101 model on an articulated gold bracelet sets one of the world’s smallest hand-wound mechanical movement in an avant-garde design that marked the transition from Art Deco to the more sculptural forms that came to define the 1940s.

Other high-design pieces include a Memovox Polaris II from 1970, with a turquoise dial and bezel, and a 1969 Memovox nicknamed ‘Brownie’ after its distinctive brown lacquer dial, which has acquired a patina resembling tortoiseshell.

Fully authenticated and restored to preserve its historical nature

Every piece is thoroughly vetted by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s historical experts, restored and fully serviced by the specialised watchmakers of the Manufacture’s restoration workshop. Currently numbering 10 experts, the restoration team can go through the Manufacture’s archives and find the blueprint of every piece ever made, and in some cases also find original spare components. If there is no component to hand, there is a stock of some 6,000 swages or stamps that they can use to make an identical component from scratch. Because the Manufacture is fully integrated, the entire process can be carried out in-house. While the mechanical restoration may, in some cases, be significant, the intervention on the case and dial must be kept to a minimum, since too much work would alter the historical nature of the piece for collectors; therefore, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s acquisitions team seeks watches that are as close as possible to their original condition.

Each Collectibles timepiece is presented with an extract from the Jaeger-LeCoultre archives and a complimentary copy of The Collectibles book, as well as a new strap chosen to complement the style of each watch. In addition, when available, the original box and papers, as well as original strap or bracelet will be included.

The third edition of The Collectibles will be launched in Singapore on October 11, 2024 with a panel discussion led by Matthieu Sauret, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Product Marketing and Heritage Director. The collection will be presented, along with The Collectibles book, at the Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique at Marina Bay Sands from 13–23 October 2024. The timepieces will be available to purchase through jaeger-lecoultre.com, as well as during the Singapore presentation.