One of the big advantages of writing about watches is being invited to workshops and manufacturers and see how the watches are made. And even better is having the opportunity to learn and try experiences hands on, which isn’t just fun and interesting but gives you a much deeper appreciation of the skill involved. And it’s great getting to meet and talk to the people behind the watches and discover what motivates them.

The reason I cherish these experiences so much is that they are so rare (even before COVID-19). It’s usually quite a disruption for brands to host a small group of journalists (and I’m usually quite a disruption by myself) as we interrupt watchmakers, craftspeople, and artists at work with a never-ending stream of often inane questions and photography.

And while we do our best to share these treasured experiences with you as best as we can, nothing can replace the pleasure and joy of experiencing things for yourself.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier d’Antoine

Happily, Jaeger-LeCoultre is now offering Atelier d’Antoine masterclasses, manufacture visits, and discovery workshops to not just journalists, but also watch enthusiasts and aficionados. You can already register to participate at Jaeger‑LeCoultre boutiques and from December 2020 at online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

And for those unable to travel to Switzerland for Atelier d’Antoine courses and experience, Jaeger‑LeCoultre is planning to open outposts in flagship boutiques in key international locations as well as offer programs online.

Chiming watch model used to explain gong length and its effect on frequency at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atelier d’Antoine The Sound Maker masterclass

This summer, I had the pleasure of participating in a Jaeger-LeCoultre Atelier d’Antoine masterclass entitled “The Sound Maker.”

Our first challenge was carefully listening to a tape of sounds and trying to list everything we heard. That was harder than it seems like it should be.

Jaeger-LeCoultre striking watch model from the Atelier d’Antoine experience

For a few hours, a few of my colleagues and I learned about acoustics and sound as we tried to tune oversized chiming gongs to match a frequency on an oscilloscope. That was also much more difficult than it sounds, which gave us a better appreciation for how much effort goes into making chiming watches ring loudly with pleasing tones.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Le Sentier-based museum

And as much fun as the Atelier d’Antoine was, it’s also well worth visiting the Jaeger‑LeCoultre manufacture just for the museum display – it’s sensational!

Display of Atmos clocks in the Jaeger-LeCoultre museum

For more information, please visit Jaeger-LeCoultre Atelier d’Antoine. You can book a visit to Le Sentier at JLC boutiques or online (from December 2020) at online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

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