Jaeger-LeCoultre marked the American debut of “The Reverso Tales” exhibition Wednesday night time with an intimate chat with home ambassador — and well-known watch collector — Lenny Kravitz.
“It began after I was about 5,” Kravitz mentioned of his love for watches within the dialog, which was held with Ben Clymer, founder and government chairman of Hodinkee. The rock star was wearing all black, pointed boots, a blinding necklace — ostensibly of diamonds — and a brand new Reverso timepiece not but accessible to the general public.
“I used to be simply attracted to those devices,” he mentioned of a gaggle of watches his dad, a journalist, introduced dwelling from an task in Vietnam. He recalled that regardless that he knew he wasn’t to play with them, he did, after all. ”I used to be simply fascinated,” he mentioned. And a bona fide watch man was born.
“I’ve at all times been attracted to those watches however by no means owned one,” he mentioned of his emotions for the model and the Reverso earlier than he was requested to work with JLC (because it’s recognized amongst watch aficionados). “I had my eye on one as a result of it’s a type of items of design that I believe is iconic. Basic.”
Kravitz instructed a mixture of tales, wowing the group with just a few tales of assembly and touring with Bob Dylan and hanging with Tom Petty and Mick Jagger all through his life. “It’s a stupendous factor to dwell your life and meet your heroes and find yourself having a relationship with them,” he mentioned.
Together with timepieces, the Grammy award-winner is an avid collector of many issues. “I like lovely design, no matter it could be,” he defined, itemizing vehicles and devices as different components of his assortment.
“It’s a traditional piece,” he mentioned, because the dialog turned again to the Swiss timepiece model’s iconic watches. “It’s a pure design, pure traditional and it’ll by no means exit of fashion. And for me, you realize, the truth that it might probably actually bridge the hole between class, simplicity, however then even have an edge. So, for me, the way in which I gown — which may be, you realize, in numerous alternative ways — it suits any facet of my character. And also you simply can’t discover that with a variety of watches.”
International ambassadors Anya Taylor-Pleasure and Nicholas Hoult had been amongst those that loved the celebration, in addition to mannequin Maya Stepper, actor Aldis Hodge, DJ Brendan Fallis, actor Eric Rutherford and extra who took within the exhibition. Created by Jaeger-LeCoultre to mark the anniversary of the Reverso and as a part of its mission to increase the cultural dialog round design and watchmaking, “Reverso Tales” gives guests an immersion into the inventive and cultural universe of the icon of watch design by way of greater than 90 years since its beginning in 1931.
Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Catherine Rénier, Anya Taylor-Pleasure and Nicholas Hoult.
Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
In tribute to the origins of the Reverso on the top of the Prohibition period, and to its Artwork Deco design, the 1931 Café was remodeled right into a speakeasy for the night, with music by DJ Isaac Likes. Additionally current had been Korean artist Yiyun Kang and “World’s Greatest Pastry Chef” Nina Métayer, each of whom created tasks for the exhibition beneath Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Product of Makers program — a sequence of creative partnerships that expands the dialogue between watchmaking and different artwork varieties.
“The ‘Reverso Tales Exhibition’ is an experiential and inclusive journey within the wonders of watchmaking and artwork and it’s a tribute to the Artwork Deco interval and the enduring Reverso born in 1931,” mentioned Jaeger-LeCoultre chief government officer Catherine Rénier. “Being in New York Metropolis to have a good time that inventive time means lots for Jaeger-LeCoultre.”
“Reverso Tales” is free and runs till Nov. 22 at Iron23 at 29 West twenty third Road between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
