Tribute to Nature:
Jaeger-LeCoultre Presents the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series
Taking inspiration from Asia’s enduring artistic heritage depicting the natural world, Jaeger-LeCoultre enhances the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series with the introduction of three new timepieces. Serving as an exquisitely feminine embodiment of time, these creations beautifully marry precision and artistry, bridging Eastern and Western artistic traditions while seamlessly uniting rare decorative crafts with the technical mastery of high watchmaking. This trilogy serves as a jubilant homage to nature, deeply rooted in the Asian artistic tradition, and employs three of the decorative crafts expertly perfected by Jaeger-LeCoultre in its Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts™) atelier: miniature-painting, lacquer work, and gem-setting. The incorporation of lacquer, renowned for its unparalleled translucence and opulent sheen, establishes a profound connection between Asian craftsmanship and European elegance. Plants and animals have always been highly symbolic in Asian cultures, imbued with special powers and attributes, and scenes from nature play an important role in Asian art history. Three dials; three images – each telling a powerfully symbolic story.
Peaceful Nature – Crane: Against a background of deep blue-green lacquer, a crane (tsuru in Japan) hovers above a pine tree, the arc of its wings following the curving lines of the dial layout. Revered throughout Asia as an auspicious sign, the crane embodies happiness and a soaring spirit. Symbolising longevity because it was thought to live for 1,000 years, and being monogamous, it often appears in wedding décor, representing a long and peaceful life for the couple. The pine tree, as an evergreen, is also considered a symbol of longevity and virtue.
Peaceful Nature – Kingfisher: A golden-brown dial is adorned with the delicately painted branches of a red quince tree – also a symbol of longevity, renewed and rejuvenated by the reappearance of its blossom every spring. Amid its red blooms perches a kingfisher (hisui in Japan; cuiniao in China). A harbinger of summer, the kingfisher is a positive symbol in almost every cultural tradition, representing beauty and virtue, fidelity and devotion, faithfulness and happy marriage.
Peaceful Nature – Koi: On the black dial, a vivid orange-coloured koi swims beneath the gently rippling surface of a pond, framed by the spreading branches of a willow tree – a symbol of spring and, thus, of romance and feminine charm. The delicate qualities of the willow are balanced by the strength of the koi – believed to confer strength of purpose, courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, bringing the rewards of success, abundance and good fortune.
Tribute to Nature:
Jaeger-LeCoultre Presents the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series
Taking inspiration from Asia’s enduring artistic heritage depicting the natural world, Jaeger-LeCoultre enhances the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series with the introduction of three new timepieces. Serving as an exquisitely feminine embodiment of time, these creations beautifully marry precision and artistry, bridging Eastern and Western artistic traditions while seamlessly uniting rare decorative crafts with the technical mastery of high watchmaking. This trilogy serves as a jubilant homage to nature, deeply rooted in the Asian artistic tradition, and employs three of the decorative crafts expertly perfected by Jaeger-LeCoultre in its Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts™) atelier: miniature-painting, lacquer work, and gem-setting. The incorporation of lacquer, renowned for its unparalleled translucence and opulent sheen, establishes a profound connection between Asian craftsmanship and European elegance. Plants and animals have always been highly symbolic in Asian cultures, imbued with special powers and attributes, and scenes from nature play an important role in Asian art history. Three dials; three images – each telling a powerfully symbolic story.
Peaceful Nature – Crane: Against a background of deep blue-green lacquer, a crane (tsuru in Japan) hovers above a pine tree, the arc of its wings following the curving lines of the dial layout. Revered throughout Asia as an auspicious sign, the crane embodies happiness and a soaring spirit. Symbolising longevity because it was thought to live for 1,000 years, and being monogamous, it often appears in wedding décor, representing a long and peaceful life for the couple. The pine tree, as an evergreen, is also considered a symbol of longevity and virtue.
Peaceful Nature – Kingfisher: A golden-brown dial is adorned with the delicately painted branches of a red quince tree – also a symbol of longevity, renewed and rejuvenated by the reappearance of its blossom every spring. Amid its red blooms perches a kingfisher (hisui in Japan; cuiniao in China). A harbinger of summer, the kingfisher is a positive symbol in almost every cultural tradition, representing beauty and virtue, fidelity and devotion, faithfulness and happy marriage.
Peaceful Nature – Koi: On the black dial, a vivid orange-coloured koi swims beneath the gently rippling surface of a pond, framed by the spreading branches of a willow tree – a symbol of spring and, thus, of romance and feminine charm. The delicate qualities of the willow are balanced by the strength of the koi – believed to confer strength of purpose, courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, bringing the rewards of success, abundance and good fortune.
Executed entirely by hand within the Jaeger-LeCoultre Métiers Rares® atelier, every dial in these exquisite compositions is meticulously brought to life by the artisan in a display of skill and precision spanning several weeks. The process begins with the artisan preparing a pristine dial surface, initiating the task of layering the lacquer to build up a gradient color that yields a radiant background. Only after the lacquer layers have fully solidified can the painting process commence. The artisan, guided solely by eye and hand, then applies minuscule dots of gold lacquer paint to replicate the effect of maki-e lacquer—an ancient Japanese Edo period technique involving sprinkling gold powder or fragments of gold leaf onto wet lacquer for a gradient effect. As a finishing touch, tiny gold paillons (flakes) are applied to accentuate elements of each image.
The central chronograph second hand is coated in a vibrant yellow hue, a thematic color echoed in the watch’s perforated strap, crafted from black rubber with a yellow interior. An innovative addition is the patent-pending small-seconds hand at 9 o’clock, meticulously fashioned from Grade 5 Titanium, resembling NASA’s iconic Saturn V rocket. Achieved through laser turning, the hand exhibits a compelling 3D structure, and its colors are rendered using white varnish, ablation, and laser blackening. This small yet evocative detail pays homage to the triumph of the Apollo program.
Executed entirely by hand within the Jaeger-LeCoultre Métiers Rares® atelier, every dial in these exquisite compositions is meticulously brought to life by the artisan in a display of skill and precision spanning several weeks. The process begins with the artisan preparing a pristine dial surface, initiating the task of layering the lacquer to build up a gradient color that yields a radiant background. Only after the lacquer layers have fully solidified can the painting process commence. The artisan, guided solely by eye and hand, then applies minuscule dots of gold lacquer paint to replicate the effect of maki-e lacquer—an ancient Japanese Edo period technique involving sprinkling gold powder or fragments of gold leaf onto wet lacquer for a gradient effect. As a finishing touch, tiny gold paillons (flakes) are applied to accentuate elements of each image.
With lifelike detail, an extraordinary sense of movement, and visual depth, each miniature masterpiece reflects the artisan’s unique personality and passion, resulting in subtle differences among them. Finally, multiple layers of translucent lacquer are applied, enveloping the completed painting in a luminous and enduring finish. The composition of the Rendez-Vous Sonatina dial, while asymmetrical, achieves a perfect balance, featuring the iconic Floral hands and numerals that characterize the collection. Graduating in size, the applied numerals create a crescent that delicately encircles the intricate painting. Adding a touch of brilliance, a fine oval-shaped ring of diamonds enhances the painted image and harmonizes with a sparkling circle of grain-set diamonds adorning the bezel. In the heart of each scene, visible through an oval-shaped aperture, the Night & Day indicator gracefully completes a 24-hour rotation, portraying a continuous dance of the sun, moon, and stars.
Positioned along the dial’s edge, a dainty golden star denotes the time for a special rendezvous or meeting, adjustable through a second crown on the side of the case. Upon the appointed hour, a single strike on a concealed gong within the watch mechanism produces a melodic chime, gently reminding the owner of her engagement. This whimsical and poetic expression of femininity is animated by the technical brilliance of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture Calibre 735, a self-winding movement featuring a chiming complication and a night-day indicator specifically crafted for the Sonatina. The intricate complexity and meticulous details of this mechanism are showcased through the transparent sapphire case-back. Completing these horological treasures, an alligator leather strap, matching the dial’s hue and endowed with a radiant, pearlized finish, elegantly secures to the wrist with a pink gold folding buckle.
As a celebration of refined and joyful femininity, blending exquisite dials with sophisticated mechanisms, the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series stands as a testament to the exceptional skills of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares® craftsmen in both technical precision and aesthetic expression. Limited to 10 examples of each watch and exclusive to Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, these new Rendez-Vous Sonatina timepieces continue the cultural dialogue between East and West that has been integral to the arts for centuries.
To explore the latest from Jaeger-LeCoultre, visit our Swiss Watch boutiques – the official retailer of Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces.
Positioned along the dial’s edge, a dainty golden star denotes the time for a special rendezvous or meeting, adjustable through a second crown on the side of the case. Upon the appointed hour, a single strike on a concealed gong within the watch mechanism produces a melodic chime, gently reminding the owner of her engagement. This whimsical and poetic expression of femininity is animated by the technical brilliance of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture Calibre 735, a self-winding movement featuring a chiming complication and a night-day indicator specifically crafted for the Sonatina. The intricate complexity and meticulous details of this mechanism are showcased through the transparent sapphire case-back. Completing these horological treasures, an alligator leather strap, matching the dial’s hue and endowed with a radiant, pearlized finish, elegantly secures to the wrist with a pink gold folding buckle.
As a celebration of refined and joyful femininity, blending exquisite dials with sophisticated mechanisms, the Rendez-Vous Sonatina ‘Peaceful Nature’ series stands as a testament to the exceptional skills of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares® craftsmen in both technical precision and aesthetic expression. Limited to 10 examples of each watch and exclusive to Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, these new Rendez-Vous Sonatina timepieces continue the cultural dialogue between East and West that has been integral to the arts for centuries.
To explore the latest from Jaeger-LeCoultre, visit our Swiss Watch boutiques – the official retailer of Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces.
