Jaeger-LeCoultre international executive
director Jean-Marc Keller presents the art of watchmaking throughout the company's 172 years of history. Until tomorrow visitors can discover enamel painting, gem setting, engraving and watch-making on the fourth floor "city square" of the Taipei 101 shopping mall.
Taipei Times: Why did Jaeger-LeCoultre hold this exhibition in Taiwan?
Jean-Marc Keller: Well, over the years Taiwan has been a very important market for this company. We've been represented here for more than 20 years. We have been planning this exhibition for more than a year and this event, from my personal point of view, is a mini watch-manufacturing exhibit.
We have brought over four important technicians directly from Switzerland to demonstrate their magnificent expertise. The exact process of manufacturing watches is also shown to the public step-by-step in the other rooms.
TT: What is the main idea behind all these activities? How can a visitor learn from such an exhibition?
JK: The basic idea is to give visitors an idea about the art of watchmaking. The exhibit can be divided into three domains: historical presentation, classic display and technical demonstration, and watch-making classes.
While visitors are looking at Jaeger-LeCoultre watches and antique clocks produced from different periods, they are in fact walking through the company's history of development since 1833 and will therefore appreciate the craftsmanship involved. In the "classic area," our skillfully-designed watches such as Gyrotourbillon, Minute Repeater, Reveil, Reverso, Compressor Chronograph and Atmos clock can be found. Every watch displayed has its own uniqueness and this is what collectors are looking for since they are all produced in limited editions.
For instance, our Master Minute Repeater has been named "Watch of the Year" by many major magazines in the world and is limited to 200 pieces only. Meanwhile, we also use this opportunity to offer six classes to local watch lovers and help them enjoy the experience of designing watches through computer software and assembling watches through a manual procedure. At the end of each class, participating students will be issued a certificate and a personal work robe by the company's watch factory.
TT: How do you view the luxury watch market in Taipei?
JK: Like Hong Kong and China, the market in Taipei has always been very good for us. People in Taiwan are very knowledgeable about watches. When I was talking with some of the local watch lovers the other day, I had the feeling that we were talking the same language. They are interested in mechanical watches and are looking for complicated watches like the Gyrotourbillon or Minute Repeater watch. You know, what usually happens is that when we come with limited edition of watches, the first one who jumps into buying new sophisticated watches is Taiwanese. You have a lot of collectors here in Taiwan.
TT: How has your company's performance been so far this year?
JK: Very good, indeed. We have had a two-digit growth rate so far and are doing well. Whenever we have new products, we always come to Taiwan to inform Taiwanese collectors. You know, many of them have 20 or 30 costly watches in their collection and they are constantly looking for new ideas and new functions or innovations in watch products.
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