Jaeger-LeCoultre proudly introduces a captivating new edition to its Master Hybris Artistica series, the Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’. This masterpiece is presented in a refined pink gold case, crafted from 750/1000 (18 karats), and limited to just five exquisite pieces. The watch underscores the brand’s profound expertise in both decorative arts and horological technology with a fresh artistic perspective.
Introduced in 2010, the Calibre 945 stands as a symbol of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s deep-rooted skills in celestial watchmaking. This calibre combines a sky chart, a celestial vault, and a zodiacal calendar with the groundbreaking Cosmotourbillon – a celestial flying tourbillon that orbits the dial, enhancing the minute repeater feature. This unique combination interprets astronomical timekeeping on the wrist, reflecting humanity’s connection with the cosmos both practically and philosophically. The calibre offers an intricate measure of sidereal time, used by astronomers to track the constellations’ journey across the night sky.
The Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’ breathes new life into this sophisticated mechanism with its splendid design and superb craftsmanship. The dial, layered to mimic the expansive night sky, features a duo of sculpted gold dragons adorned with meticulously hand-engraved scales. These dragons encircle the sky chart disc, drawing attention to the Cosmotourbillon as it completes its daily rotation in alignment with sidereal time.
Beneath the tourbillon, the lowest level of the dial displays a matt black sandblasted surface punctuated by tiny stars, mirroring the celestial theme. The periphery of this disc details the months and seconds, while a sun-shaped gold pointer indicates the dates of the zodiacal calendar. The dial is also encircled by three concentric rings showing solar time, each finished differently to create visual depth – the innermost indicates 24 hours, the middle shows 12 hours, and the outermost tracks minutes.
The bezel, painstakingly hand-engraved with dragon scales by the Métiers RaresTM artisans at Jaeger-LeCoultre, mirrors the grandeur of the dragons and complements the intricate alligator strap. This artistic expression is matched by the watch’s technical prowess, particularly the minute repeater. Known for its complexity, the repeater translates visible time into audible signals with distinct tones for hours, quarters, and minutes. This mechanism benefits from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s patented innovations like crystal gongs and trebuchet hammers, ensuring the chimes are both harmonious and resonant.
Positioned to map the Northern Hemisphere’s night sky from the 46th parallel – near Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Vallée de Joux home – the celestial vault tracks real-time constellation movements. The Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 ‘Dragon’ is not just a timepiece but a celebration of the cosmos’ enduring mystery and beauty, elegantly captured on the wrist. This luxury timepice exemplifies Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to uniting art with mechanics in the pursuit of creating timepieces that are both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.
