EVENT: Australian legends at the legendary launch of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris
Felix ScholzEarlier this week, Jaeger-LeCoultre held the Australian launch of their brand new Polaris collection at Carriageworks in Sydney, and it was — to borrow Neil Patrick Harris’ line — legendary.
In watchland, the Polaris is a legend in its own right (a watch I incidentally had the pleasure of seeing in its various stages of assembly), so it was only appropriate that Jaeger-LeCoultre assembled some local legends to celebrate its arrival on our shores. Sporting legend John Eales (this guy) officiated over the launch of the sporty line, dropping surprising titbits like the fact that Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Vallée de Joux manufacture has its own rugby team (the fact that Eales politely suggested their skills were better suited to watchmaking is beside the point). Eales wasn’t the only legend in attendance; entertainment was provided not by your typically muted string quartet or jazz band, but rather by Australian rock royalty. Darren Middleton opened with a little song called My Happiness that he happened to have co-written while in legendary Brisbane band Powderfinger. Shortly after, he was joined by the equally legendary Kram (this guy) on drums, and finally by Davey Lane — guitarist for You Am I. Not a bad lineup for a watch launch.
Vying with the band for attention was the plinth in the centre of the room, dramatically lit from every angle, showing the Polaris off to full effect. From conversations I had, the Chronograph WT and the limited edition Memovox were the fan favourites, and rightly so. Obviously you can’t judge the success of a watch from its launch, but if you could, the future of the Polaris looks bright.
