Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the oldest and most prestigious watch manufacturers today with a history stretch back nearly two centuries. In 1833 Antoine LeCoultre started his watchmaking business in the Swiss town of Le Sentier in Vallee de Joux. Vallee de Joux, the birthplace of Swiss horology, is home to some of the finest watchmakers in Switzerland, including Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet.
Antoine was completely dedicated to refining and improving the watchmaking and timekeeping. In 1844 he developed the millionometer, which allowed him to measure micrometers, or one thousandth or a millimeter. In 1847 he further improved watchmaking once again with the crown winding mechanism, replacing the extraneous winding key. Though Jean-Adrien Philippe of Patek Philippe is also credited with this development, LeCoultre’s crown is now the standard. This is because LeCoultre’s crown also allowed the adjustment of the watch hands.
By 1860, LeCoultre was producing all parts of watches in-house and providing complicated movements, chronographs and calendar movements to other watch manufacturers. In the early 20th century, LeCoultre was the leading watch manufacturer in the Vallee de Joux. In 1903, the watchmaker had produced the flattest movement, and in 1929 produced the smallest watch movement, weighing less than a gram.
In 1903, LeCoultre met French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger, whom brought the Swiss watch company to the luxury market. By 1937, the company name was officially changed to Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches. Jaeger was mostly involved in design work while LeCoultre produced the highest quality movements for the duo. The movements used in these watches are considered some of the best and other top watch manufacturers have also used Jaeger-LeCoultre movements, including Cartier, Audemars Piguet and Panerai.
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