STYLE Edit: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s tiny Calibre 101 is a technical feat

Consider Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Calibre 101 and you will realise there’s a reason for the saying, ‘Good things come in small packages’.

Weighing less than a gram and measuring 14mm by 4.8mm and with a thickness of 3.4mm, this compact movement is one of the greatest testaments to the maison’s jewellery craftsmanship and watchmaking know-how.

With roots that stretch back to 1929, the calibre has held a long and steady position within the Jaeger-LeCoultre collection of feminine timepieces.

Two new models were added to the Joaillerie 101 collection this year: 101 Reine and 101 Feuille.

Unveiled at the ritzy Venice Film Festival, the two pink gold joaillerie watches feature similar design codes, including a silvered opalin dial with hour and minute functions. A tiny crown discretely located at the back of the case allows the wearer to make adjustments as needed. Each model comes with a pavé of sparkling diamonds.

Both are driven by the Calibre 101, which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour – an incredible feat for such a small movement.

|It is also known as the world’s smallest mechanical movement.

The 101 Reine, paved with 110 diamonds, boasts a symmetrical design. The secretive 101 Feuille, which comes studded with 167 diamonds, showcases a diamond paved lid in the shape of a leaf that can be opened to reveal the time. The lid, which takes the shape of a headdress, can be easily opened and closed, thanks to a secret mechanism.