Rendez-Vous Shooting Star blossoms in limited edition for Switzerland’s ‘Watchmaker of Watchmakers’ on wrist of Chinese arthouse cinema star, Zhang Ziyi
In 2022, the watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre created an intriguing and remarkable new watchmaking complication introduced for the boldly feminine Rendez-Vous collection: the Shooting Star, whose celestial indication soared across the dial at unexpected moments.
Now, in 2025, as rocked by the breakout star of Ang Lee’s 2000 classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Zhang Ziyi – a new ambassador for the ‘Grande Maison’ – a new interpretation of this romantic complication features intricately hand-painted peonies on the dial.
The Rendez-Vous Shooting Star represents 110 hours and nine lacquer shades for the pink peony, and 80 hours with twelve shades for the blue. As a canvas for the skills nurtured in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house ‘Atelier des Métiers Rares’ (‘d’Art’ clearly falling short in nomenclature), the dial is a complex structure of three superimposed discs… and that’s before you even take into consideration the 335 bits ticking beneath.
Almost 500 stars form this celestial scene – not painted, but precisely applied as transfers on the dial of the peonies’ variations, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail behind each creation. The choice of peonies – a flower that epitomises in many cultures a symbol of prosperity, abundance and enlightenment – amplifies the romance. Let alone the significance of the night sky when it comes to horology’s root.
Made of transparent sapphire glass, the uppermost of the three layers has been hand-painted in lacquer with lush peony blooms, which conceal the shooting star when it is inactive. The process begins with a delicate yet decisive step: drawing all the outlines freehand, guided by the artist’s interpretation of the design.
The intricate process of miniature painting then continues with the foliage, which is painted in mirror image on the reverse side of the disc. There are no second chances and no margin for error. Adding to the challenge, the J-LC artisans work in anti-static gowns and full protective gear to ensure the piece remains completely free of foreign particles. Even the slightest contamination means starting over.
£POA / $POA; jaeger-lecoultre.com