Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded in 1833 in Le Sentier, Switzerland, by Antoine LeCoultre. From its earliest years, the manufacture built a reputation for technical innovation, producing complete watch movements and components entirely in-house. Over time, the company developed hundreds of calibres and supplied movements to brands including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. 

In the early 1900s, Edmond Jaeger, a Paris-based watchmaker known for his ultra-thin movements, challenged Swiss manufacturers to produce his designs. Antoine’s grandson Jacques-David LeCoultre accepted the challenge, leading to a collaboration that produced some of the thinnest calibres of the period. Their partnership became formalised in 1937 under the name Jaeger-LeCoultre.

During this era, Jaeger-LeCoultre also produced dashboard instruments for cars and aircraft, alongside traditional wristwatches.

The Reverso was introduced in 1931 following a request from British Army officers in India who wanted a wristwatch that could survive polo matches. The design featured a rectangular case that could rotate within its carrier, protecting the dial with a solid metal back.

Beyond the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s contribution to horology includes several significant models. The Memovox, launched in the 1950s, was one of the first automatic alarm wristwatches and became a hallmark of mid-century design. 

The Master Control line, introduced in 1992, focused on accuracy and reliability, with each watch undergoing the brand’s 1000 Hours Control test. This collection helped re-establish Jaeger-LeCoultre’s position in the modern mechanical watch era.

The Duomètre range, launched in 2007, introduced the Dual-Wing concept, separating timekeeping and complication functions into two independent gear trains powered by a shared regulator. 

Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of the few Swiss manufactures that designs, develops and assembles every part of its watches under one roof.