The Rendez-Vous Shooting Star

wgclients01
Jul 23
5 min read

In 2022, the watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre created an intriguing and remarkable new watchmaking complication introduced for the Rendez-Vous collection: the Shooting Star. Now, in 2025, the Maison presents a new interpretation of this romantic and feminine complication, featuring intricately hand-painted peonies on the dial.

A NEW INTERPRETATION OF A MAGICAL CELESTIAL COMPLICATION

KEY FACTS:

Exceptional craftsmanship: the dials highlight the Maison’s mastery of artistic crafts - 110 hours and nine lacquer shades for the pink peony, and 80 hours with twelve shades for the blue
A remarkable watchmaking complication: the in-house Calibre 734, comprising 335 individual parts, captures an intriguing celestial phenomenon
Limited edition: each version is released in an exclusive edition of only 10 pieces

INSPIRED BY THE MYSTERY OF THE NIGHT SKY

Watchmakers have always been fascinated by the night sky, not only for its beauty but also because the regular movements of the stars and planets are the foundation of how we measure time. However, unlike these regular astronomical events, shooting stars are completely random and ephemeral – making them the most romantic and mysterious of all celestial phenomena. Not technically stars but rocky debris that burns brightly on hitting Earth’s atmosphere, they are visible only at certain times of year and under the right conditions, their light streaking across the night sky and disappearing in the blink of an eye. These rare phenomena have captivated mankind since the dawn of time – and inspired the watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre to translate their ethereal magic into a timepiece.

In keeping with the Maison’s deep legacy in developing astronomical complications, its watchmakers were also inspired by the challenge of creating a completely new celestial complication, conceiving, developing and producing the new mechanism entirely within the Manufacture. Activated by the movement of the wrist, the shooting star appears on the dial at random moments.

ARTISTIC CRAFTS AMPLIFY THE MAGIC OF SHOOTING STARS

The Rendez-Vous Shooting Star is presented in two enchanting variations, both cased in 18k pink gold (750/1000). As a canvas for the skills nurtured in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house Atelier des Métiers Rares™, the dial is a complex structure of three superimposed discs. Made of transparent sapphire glass, the uppermost of the three layers has been hand-painted in lacquer with lush peony blooms, which conceal the shooting star when it is inactive. The process begins with a delicate yet decisive step: drawing all the outlines freehand, guided by the artist’s interpretation of the design.

The intricate process of miniature painting then continues with the foliage, which is painted in mirror image on the reverse side of the disc. Once completed, the disc is turned over to paint the flowers on the front. Using nine different shades of lacquer for the pink peonies and 12 shades for the blue, the dials must be painted in a single, uninterrupted session because the lacquer dries very quickly. For the artist, there are no second chances and no margin for error. Adding to the challenge, the artisans work in anti-static gowns and full protective gear to ensure the piece remains completely free of foreign particles. Even the slightest contamination means starting over. Throughout, the sapphire crystal must stay perfectly clean — despite prior steps such as setting the dial — preserving the integrity of the final creation. The painting on both sides of the dial adds depth to the design, while the intricate detail of the flowers and delicate rendering of the petals creates an almost photo-realistic effect.

Set beneath the sapphire dial, the second layer is a rotating disc of mother-of-pearl, which has been airbrushed with multiple layers and different shades of blue to create the effect of a starry sky. The soft glow of the mother-of-pearl creates subtle colour variations and adds to the visual depth. On one side of this disc is a laser cut-out of a shooting star silhouette. When activated, the disc spins and, as its path curves across the upper part of the dial, the cut-out reveals the third layer – a fixed disc of silvery metal with a glowing gradient finish – creating the optical illusion of a flash of light across the sky.

Defining the trajectory of the shooting star, a three-quarter circle of diamonds is set into the sapphire glass dial. The bezel is set with a circle of brilliant-cut diamonds that draw the eye towards the dial and, in keeping with the aesthetic codes of the Rendez-Vous, the upper surfaces of the lugs, and the top of the crown are also diamond-set. The pink peony model features a fully diamond-set pink gold bracelet, with a total of 625 brilliant-cut diamonds and approximately 6.31 carats across the entire watch. The blue peony variation, paired with a shiny blue alligator leather strap, includes 189 brilliant-cut diamonds set on the case and dial, totalling around 1.47 carats for the whole timepiece.ive gear to ensure the piece remains completely free of foreign particles. Even the slightest contamination means starting over. Throughout, the sapphire crystal must stay perfectly clean — despite prior steps such as settng the dial — preserving the integrity of the final creation. The painting on both sides of the dial adds depth to the design, while the intricate detail of the flowers and delicate rendering of the petals creates an almost photo-realistic effect.

A REMARKABLE WATCHMAKING COMPLICATION

To create a mechanism that expresses an unpredictable phenomenon is a fascinatig challenge for watchmaking as it appears to defy the laws of horology – a world where everything is expressed through precisely calibrated, mathematical rhythms.

Drawing on more than 190 years of expertise accumulated within the Manufacture, the engineers and watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre developed the in-house automatic calibre 734, comprising 335 individual parts, incorporating the shooting star mechanism. In doing so, they have succeeded in a remarkable feat of capturing a random phenomenon in a watchmaking complication.

Combining technical mastery with La Grande Maison’s artistic sensibility, the Rendez-Vous Shooting Star reimagines the magic of the night sky. Almost 500 stars form this celestial scene - not painted, but precisely applied as transfers on the dial of the peonies’ variations, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail behind each creation. The choice of peonies – a flower that epitomises femininity with its lush yet delicate form, and, in many cultures is a symbol of prosperity, abundance and enlightenment - amplifies the romance and beauty of watchmaking complication like no other.