An Artistic Ode to Venice: Jaeger-LeCoultre's Limited Edition Reverso Tribute Enamel Timepieces
3 min read
As the hype of Geneva Watch Days settles, Jaeger-LeCoultre shes some light on the Homo Faber Biennial exhibition in Venice this September, with three new limited-edition Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces, paying homage to the enchanting city of Venice. These watches celebrate Venice through the lens of the great Impressionist painter Claude Monet, reaffirming the Reverso's status as the ultimate canvas for artistic expression.
The Métiers Rares™ Atelier: A Testament to Craftsmanship
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to craftsmanship parallels Homo Faber’s mission to honor and promote the craft in all its forms. The new Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Venice Series’ timepieces are a testament to the skills nurtured within Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ Atelier. These pieces combine the crafts of miniature painting, enameling, and guillochage, creating a harmonious blend of artistry and horology that echoes the mission shared with Homo Faber.
The creation of these timepieces posed numerous challenges, particularly in reproducing Monet's original paintings—measuring over 65 x 92 cm—onto a canvas of just 25 x 20 mm. The process not only required precision in miniaturization but also demanded an artistic recreation of Monet’s textured brushstrokes and the dreamlike quality of his works. Each piece required 14 layers of enamel and up to 15 separate firings at 800° Celsius to achieve the desired intensity and depth of color.
The dials of the timepieces, adorned with hand-guilloché patterns beneath translucent colored enamel, complement the miniature paintings on the case-backs. This meticulous process demands up to nine hours of work for each dial, with up to seven separate firings to achieve the perfect finish. The final touch is the application of faceted appliqué hour-markers and Dauphine hands, which highlight the beauty of the decoration.
Celebrating Venice with Three Artworks
San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk:
Monet’s view of San Giorgio Maggiore, painted as the sun sets behind the island, reduces the buildings to a silhouette, focusing on the interplay of light, color, and reflection. The miniature reproduction of this painting required approximately 70 hours of meticulous work. The dial, featuring grand feu enamel in a complementary shade of blue, echoes the serene beauty of the original artwork.
The Grand Canal Venice:
This afternoon view of the Grand Canal, with Santa Maria della Salute seemingly floating on the water, captures the hazy light of Venice. The case-back reproducing this masterpiece required 70 hours of enameling, while the dial’s wavy guilloché pattern mirrors the reflections on the water. The effect is enhanced by layers of translucent grand feu enamel in soft green tones.
The Doge’s Palace:
Monet’s early morning depiction of the Doge’s Palace, painted from a gondola, focuses on the atmospheric effects of light on water. The shimmering beauty of this painting is skillfully reproduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans over 70 hours. The dial features a lozenge guilloché pattern that changes with the angle of light, amplified by rich layers of translucent blue grand feu enamel.
Limited Editions
Each of the three Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Venice Series’ timepieces is offered in a limited edition of just 10 pieces. These timepieces are not only a tribute to Venice, the host city of the Homo Faber Biennial, but also a celebration of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to the marriage of fine watchmaking with the decorative crafts of guillochage, enameling, and miniature painting. Exquisite examples of artistry, craftsmanship, and the enduring allure of Venice!
