Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Fourth Installment of The Collectibles Capsule Series

A decade-old calibre and the world’s smallest movement inspire ten historic women’s timepieces

Jaeger-LeCoultre has introduced the fourth capsule collection in its The Collectibles series, this time focusing on women’s watches powered by the milestone Duoplan calibre and the legendary Calibre 101. The ten models pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Duoplan mechanism and celebrate a century of technical innovation.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Fourth Installment of The Collectibles Capsule Series

The Collectibles Programme and Historical Context

Launched to document Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most emblematic designs from the 1920s to the 1970s, The Collectibles curates 17 limited-edition watches that illustrate key chapters in the Maison’s heritage. Each model is fully restored by the brand’s Heritage Department, accompanied by archival extracts, a copy of the comprehensive The Collectibles volume and a period-style leather strap or original integrated bracelet. Where available, original presentation boxes and documentation are included.

Duoplan and Calibre 101: Pioneering Miniaturisation

The Duoplan licence was filed in 1924 and the first movements entered production in 1925. Its two-level architecture allowed components to be stacked, achieving unprecedented compactness and reliability. Between 1925 and 1935, Jaeger-LeCoultre manufactured over 50 000 Duoplan calibres, many destined for delicate women’s watches. The most extreme achievement was the Calibre 101, produced from 1929 onwards. Measuring just 14 × 4.8 × 3.4 mm and weighing under one gram, it remains the smallest mechanical movement still in serial production. A Calibre 101 was famously presented to Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation in 1953.

Collection Highlights

Art Deco Diamond-set Cocktail Watches: White-gold cases set with brilliant-cut diamonds, each housing a Calibre 101 movement.
Duoplan Tubogas Bracelet Models (c. 1950): Flexible yellow-gold bracelets with alternating fluting and mid-century Duoplan mechanics.
Duoplan Chaîne (1941): Bracelet watch in yellow gold featuring broad, articulated links typical of wartime resourcefulness.
Duoplan Tuile (1939): Rectangular case set perpendicularly on the wrist, topped by a tile-shaped domed crystal evocative of Mediterranean roofs.

Restoration and Heritage Workshop

All models undergo meticulous disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning of components, replacement of worn parts from the JLC archive and gentle refinishing of cases and dials. Movements are oil-profiled according to original specifications, with timing adjusted to within a few seconds per day. Each watch is then quality-tested over 240 hours before being returned to its period-correct presentation.

Exhibition and Availability

The capsule collection will be unveiled on 13 June 2025 in Paris, the birthplace of Edmond Jaeger whose partnership with Jacques-David LeCoultre led to the Maison’s foundation in 1937. Following the launch, all ten watches will be on display at the Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique on Place Vendôme from 13 June to 27 July 2025.

These additions provide a fuller picture of the technical achievements behind Duoplan and Calibre 101 movements, the scale of their original manufacture and the exacting restoration process that underpins The Collectibles series.