This week, Brisbane members of our Watch Advice Collector’s Circle joined us & Jaeger-LeCoultre for an evening learning about the Maison and discovering some exceptional timepieces.
This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre brought us the theme of the Valley of Inventions to Watches & Wonders 2026, and this set the tone for what Jaeger-LeCoultre would bring us for the fair, as well as throughout the year. Jaeger-LeCoultre is known as the Watchmaker of Watchmakers for good reasons, and the Valley of Inventions theme helped to communicate some of the reasons why.
Jaeger-LeCoultre was one of the few watch brands that helped to get the Swiss watch industry going, making and supplying movements and movement parts in varying capacities for some of the watch world’s biggest brands, with the likes of Cartier, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin to name a few. And all done from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux in the Swiss Jura – hence the Valley of Inventions theme for this year.
One of the biggest releases for Jaeger-LeCoultre this year was the Master Control Chronometre (MCC) collection in a time-only (Date) model, a Power Reserve Date model and a Perpetual Calendar. From the outset, these integrated bracelet watches proved a hit, even with us here at Watch Advice finding it hard to find fault with any of the three models in either steel or 18k pink gold. These filled a very important gap in the market for Jaeger-LeCoultre and added to the already impressive lineup.
On top of these, as Jaeger-LeCoultre always does, it showcases why it earned the moniker of the Watchmaker of Watchmakers, with haute horlogerie pieces in the form of the Hybris Inventiva Gyrotourbillon À Stratosphère, the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Jumping Date and the Master Hybris Mechanica Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Tourbillon. They are a mouthful to say, but they are amazing pieces that showcase why Jaeger-LeCoultre is so revered in the industry.
So this week, for the first time in Brisbane, Jaeger-LeCoultre brought to the River City a selection of watches, ranging from the ever-popular Reverso collection, Polaris, the new Master Control Chronometre range, and three very special high watchmaking pieces that perhaps stole the show!
Approximately 30 Collector’s Circle members attended Winnifred’s Champagne Bar & French Bistro in Fortitude Valley to see the latest MCC collection along with the other selected watches from Jaeger-LeCoultre. With collectors ranging from new to very seasoned, it was a chance to learn more about Jaeger-LeCoultre, the history of the brand, and why it is the Watchmaker of Watchmakers.
As soon as guests started arriving, they made a beeline to the watches, and with around 15 stunning watches on display, people were soon picking them up and trying them on. As many of the watches are quite rare, this was the first time a lot of the guests were seeing them in person, and being able to try them on the wrist was even more special.
Above, the Duometre Chronograph Moon in a platinum case, paired with a copper-coloured opaline dial, was a winner on the night, as was the 18k pink gold Reverso Tribute Monoface with the silky smooth Milanese pink gold mesh bracelet. Below, the Duometre Sphérotourbillon Moon wow’d the attendees, and the new Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar in steel was also a drawcard.
Of course, it would not be a Jaeger-LeCoultre event without a range of iconic Reverso pieces to try on. From the aforementioned Reverso Tribute Monoface on the Milanese bracelet, to the classic Duo Face with the dual time zone display, and some beautiful engraved and enamelled pieces to showcase the more artistic side of the Maison.
Above, the Reverso Tribute Duoface with the dual time zone face showing, in an 18k pink gold case, and an example of the artisanal work Jaeger-LeCoultre is able to do with the Reverso Tribute Enamel Tiger from 2022 that features a tiger on the enamel caseback, done via a technique called modelled engraving, using differently sized chisels to chisel and sculpt the metal step by step. Below is the Reverso Tribute Monoface with the ridiculously smooth Milanese bracelet and a very special Reverso Duoface Tourbillon in pink gold, which was assembled by hand in the Grandes Complications workshop of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The new Master Control Chronometre collection, which was on full display with all five new models, seemed to be a crowd-pleaser too, and not surprisingly, as this collection is the first time in decades that Jaeger-LeCoultre has produced an integrated bracelet watch.
Above, guests are getting to try on the new MCC collection, most of whom had the same feedback, which was they are very hard to fault! Below, the 18k pink gold MCC Perpetual Calendar and the MCC Date Power Reserve models. If you have not read our hands-on Reviews of these yet, then read about them here: MCC Perpetual Calendar, MCC Date Power Reserve, and the MCC Date
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Watch Advice event without a little bit of an education into Jaeger-LeCoultre and some of the technical abilities that have made Jaeger-LeCoultre the Maison it is today. Managing Director for Jaeger-LeCoultre Australia & New Zealand, Justin Devaux gave guests an insight into the brand, a short history on Jaeger-LeCoultre and some of the technical innovations that have come out of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Watch Advice also hosted a group of prominent watch collectors in Brisbane for Jaeger-LeCoultre the previous night, to showcase the latest novelties and high complications at Petite. This allowed us to sit down with those collectors and readers in a more intimate setting and learn about Jaeger-LeCoultre.
It was a great couple of nights, and we think all the guests, plus us here at Watch Advice, enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and us, alongside the team at Jaeger-LeCoultre, would like to thank all those who attended.
If you want to come to more events like these across the country, then join our collector’s circle and stay tuned for more events and get-togethers. Hit the banner link below!
