Self-taught watchmaker and prolific inventor Antoine LeCoultre is one of the greatest personalities in the history of watchmaking. Technological innovations stretching back to 1844—keyless winding systems, shockproof watchcases, the production of miniature components—revolutionized the profession and set standards for the industry. With Parisian stopwatch-maker Edmond Jaeger, he furnished prestigious houses like Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillipe, and Cartier with movements that made innovative watch design possible. Today Jaeger-LeCoultre preserves its legacy of craftsmanship and is a principal player in precision technologies and design. Using previously unpublished archival material and new photography, Jaeger-LeCoultre traces the history of their historic manufacturer. A catalogue raisonné of the company's famous movement designs and timepieces, including the Reverso and the Atmos, make this an essential reference for all watch collectors.

About The Author

Franco Cologni, international authority on fine watch making, has written many works on jewelry and the history of the clock industry, including Secrets of Vacheron Constantin (Flammarion, 2005) and Cartier: The Tank Watch (Flammarion, 1998).