The Gentleman Magazine Issue 20 | April 2020 | Page 17
For the flip side of her Reverso Classic Medium Thin, she
asked Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engravers to reproduce a favourite
photograph of Finn. “He’s been my constant companion,
unconditional support, and the guiding light in my life,”
explains Seyfried. “He’s my forever lucky charm and having his
little face against my skin every day will be the perfect reminder
of how special our bond is.”
NICHOLAS HOULT
A watch enthusiast since he was very young, British actor
Nicholas Hoult (The Favourite, X-Men, A Single Man) has
enjoyed close links with Jaeger-LeCoultre for the past four
years, regularly participating in the Maison’s cinema-related
activities. His Reverso, a Reverso Classic Large Small Second
in Steel, reflects his relaxed and classical style of dressing and
his choice of engraving – his son’s initials – is equally classical,
yet deeply personal.
“I engraved the initials HKH as a way to honour my son and
keep him close to me every day. Timepieces have a tradition
in my family of being passed down between generations. I
am excited to pass along this watch to my son one day, “ says
Hoult, adding that his interest in watches began through his
own father’s fascination with timepieces. Through his choice
of engraving, Hoult has created a future heirloom with a deep
emotional connection to his family.
AMANDA SEYFRIED
Welcomed by Jaeger-LeCoultre as a friend of the Maison at
the beginning of 2019, when she attended SIHH for the first
time, American actress Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia! Les
Misérables) often speaks about her beloved dog, Finn. Since
she rescued the Australian Shepherd from an animal shelter
almost a decade ago, he has played a major part in her life.
NI NI
With starring roles in The Flowers of War and Love and Destiny
among her credits, Ni Ni is one of China’s most acclaimed
young actresses. A friend of Jaeger-LeCoultre since 2018, she
has taken an active role off-screen in the Maison’s initiatives to
support and preserve the cinematic arts. For her Reverso, Ni Ni
has chosen plum blossom as a poignant reminder of her home
town – but it could just as easily be seen as an allegory of the
actress’s delicate beauty and inner strength.
“When I was a child, many Chinese poems about the elegance
and resilience of the plum blossom impressed me a lot. In my
hometown, Nanjing, we have the ‘best Plum Blossom Mountain
in China’ and Xuanwu Lake, where you can find plum trees
blooming vibrantly even in winter snow,” Ni Ni explains. “The
choice to include these elements was not only due to the classic
beauty of the plum blossom, but also because it’s symbolic of
perseverance in the face of adversity.” The cool tone of the steel
case of Ni Ni’s Reverso Classic Medium Thin makes a beautiful
background for the delicate engraving of the plum blossoms.
Everybody who owns a steel or gold Reverso – whether new or
pre-owned – can request an engraving for the reverse side of
the case. And, through an online commissioning tool (https://
engraving.jaeger-lecoultre.com ), Jaeger-LeCoultre has made
the process extremely straightforward, regardless of where
in the world an owner may be. Online, the standard options
include a choice of initials or dates in a variety of font styles,
simple text messages or Zodiac signs, all with the option of
adding coloured lacquer to highlight the design. Bespoke
designs – based on a photograph, a sketch or even starting
with just an idea – can also be commissioned online. The
possibilities are as infinite as the skills of the designers and
engravers at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture.
Many owners may prefer the more intimate experience of
commissioning their engraving through a Jaeger-LeCoultre
boutique. Especially for bespoke work (as with the engravings
commissioned by Ni Ni and Amanda Seyfried) there is great
pleasure to be participating in the creation of a unique and
intensely personal design, then following the progress of the
engraving until the final work of art is revealed.
Whether the engraving is simple or more complex, it always
transforms a Reverso from a fine watch into a unique piece – a
highly personal reminder of a meaningful story. Some stories
deserve to be captured for ever. What is yours?
The Gentleman Magazine | 17