Conquest of a Virgin Peak: Antoine LeCoultre’s Peak

Written by James Matthews

Wednesday, 18th November 2009

himaya1 Under the patronage of the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux, the team of three mountaineers – Swiss guide Stéphane Schaffter, renowned Apa Sherpa and Little Karim Baltis – have successfully scaled virgin summit in Himalaya, christened Antoine LeCoultre’s Peak.

Three exceptional Jaeger Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces have been part of the adventure: the famous 1958 Geophysic Chronometer; the Master Compressor Extreme Lab which became an instant watch industry sensat sensation when ion introduced in 2007; along with a third creation currently being prepared in the secret of the Manufacture workshops and due to be unveiled in January 2010.

Despite extremely tough weather conditions including a base camp covered with 40 cm of snow and daily avalanche risks, our adventurers have accomplished their mission by reaching this 6,589-metre peak that required an extremely delicate technical approach. In an age where it sometimes seems everything has already been discovered, conquering a virgin summit is an endeavour comparable to the famous expeditions undertaken in the mid-20th century with the aim of climbing the world’s greatest peaks one after the other.

Stéphane Schaffter, a Swiss alpinist who has scaled the fabled Bonatti Pillar, has been accompanied by Apa Sherpa, who has 19 ascensions of Everest under his belt; as well as Little Karim, who has accompanied many great sportsmen in their over 8,000-metre high-altitude expeditions.

All three men, who have displayed an indomitable spirit of adventure throughout their lives and know that limits are there to be surpassed, have naturally chosen Jaeger-LeCoultre watches as the timekeeping instruments in their daring undertaking.

Alongside the Master Compressor Extreme Lab, it is no coincidence that the Geophysic Chronometer was also part of the expedition.

The Geophysic Chronometer first launched in 1958 is one of the most important models in the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre, encapsulating the values of precision, resistance and aesthetic values. It was born within an historical scientific context to which it made a direct contribution.

The International Geophysical Year (IGY) was a large-scale scientific effort organised on the initiative of the United States as a follow-on to the 1882 and 1932 International Polar Years. It was the subject of a five-year preparation programme and lasted from July 1957 to December 31, 1958, timed to coincide with an expected peak of solar activity.

Tens of thousands of scientists working for 67 different countries took part in this 18 monthlong endeavour. They laid the foundations of global knowledge of terrestrial and spatial phenomena. The IGY was also the starting point for international cooperation in the Antarctic. Research covered a number of disciplines including geomagnetism, seismology, continental drift, solar activity, cosmic rays, longitude and latitude determinations, glaciology, hydrology, oceanography, meteorology, as well as gravity.

The technical characteristics of the Geophysic Chronometer by Jaeger-LeCoultre matched the needs of researchers, whether on polar base stations, in laboratories or during underwater expeditions. Behind this horological project was a determination to create a watch able to “withstand all trials”. The hostility of the polar climate called for people and instruments resistant to extreme conditions.

The Geophysic Chronometer was in particular equipped with a case resistant to magnetic fields, which also represented one of the main areas of scientific study during this period.

The precision, the resistance, and the reliability of the Geophysic Chronometer made it an emblem of excellence – to the extent that when a group of Genevan citizens, with the support of the municipal authorities, decided to honour the feat accomplished by the American atomic submarine Nautilus, which had just reached the North Pole, they chose the Geophysic Chronometer as a symbolic gift.

On December 16, 1958, two Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Chronometers were officially presented to W.R. Anderson and J.F. Calvert, commanders of the Nautilus and the Skate, through the intermediary of F.B. Warder, commander of the submarine flotilla of the U.S. Navy Atlantic fleet. Their thanks were duly addressed to the Mayor of Geneva.

In 2009, for the conquest of a new peak, the three different above-mentioned Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces, all “super sherpas” in their own right, have thus accompanied the three mountaineers throughout their ascension, constantly reminding them of the pioneering role played by the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux in constantly pushing back the limits of precision while keeping pace with daring technical accomplishments.

Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre
Born of an invention, the Grande Maison has always been driven by the spirit of discovery; the need to create new, ever more accurate and more complex technical marvels. Year after year, knowledge and skills have been enriched, renewed and multiplied to serve the unique purpose of mastering the countless operations involved in manufacturing watch movements and cases – the fundamental prerequisite for rising to the most daunting technical challenges.

A major player in watchmaking history, Jaeger-LeCoultre has now celebrated its 175th anniversary. The Manufacture has an impressive range of world firsts, superlative creations and legendary models to its credit, including the Reverso, the Duoplan, the Master Control, the Memovox Polaris, the Gyrotourbillon I and the Atmos. In 2009, around 1000 people proficient in over 40 watchmaking professions and more than 20 cutting-edge technologies continue to pay tribute to the pioneering ardour of the company founders by creating new masterpieces proudly perpetuating the grand horological tradition. In 2010, as a further extension to the capacious premises now surrounding Antoine LeCoultre’s original atelier, Jaeger-LeCoultre will be inaugurating a new building providing 9,000 square meters of additional workshop space.