Le Chenit, Switzerland
Incorporating Asian art and cultural motifs in its creations, Jaeger-LeCoultre creates two limited-edition pieces repainting and reproducing two of Hokusai’s woodblock prints in miniature versions on the back of the new foldable and reversible Reverso watches.
“The Waterfall at Ono on the Kisokaido Road (Kisokaidō Ono no bakufu)” and “The Waterfall Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse at Yoshino in Yamato Province (Washū Yoshino Yoshitsune uma arai no taki)” are the celebrated works of Hokusai.
The reproductions emerge as hidden treasures burrowed behind the case backs of the reversible watches and through the enamel reproductions carried out by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans.
The Waterfall at Yoshino edition captures a snapshot from a famous Japanese tale about the heroic yet tragic life of General Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
When it’s on its primary watch face, this edition can be differentiated from its sister reference with its Lozenge guilloché dial.
The Waterfall at Ono edition is outfitted with Barleycorn guilloché, while the case back depicts the renowned waterfall with a powerful sense of life.
The challenge is that multi-coloured prints require the use of multiple woodblocks, with each different colour applied in turn – and there was the added challenge of reproducing the bokashi effect of subtly nuanced and graduated colours seen in the original.
To achieve these illusions, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master enameller had to develop her own technique.
Each reproduction will be available in ten pieces and prospect owners will have to pay more than €80,000 per limited-edition wristwatch.
Product: Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai
Artist: Katsushika Hokusai
Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre
