Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre SA was founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre in Le Sentier, Switzerland. LeCoultre was known for inventing the Millionomètre in 1844, which at the time was the world’s most precise measuring instrument and in 1847 developed a keyless system for setting and rewinding watches. He was formally recognized for his achievements at the very first World Expo in London.
Rebranding as Jaeger-LeCoultre
After accepting and succeeding in meeting a challenge issued by Paris-based watchmaker Edmond Jaeger and their subsequent collaboration, the company was eventually renamed as Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937. Today they are a fully owned subsidiary of Richemont, which also owns a number of other prominent brands such as A. Lange & Söhne, Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, and Vacheron Constantin.
Valentino Rossi
Jaeger-LeCoultre announced a partnership with seven-time 500cc/MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi in 2007, and resulted in three limited edition Master Compressor releases that same year. As an honorable mention in the Formula One camp, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also previously collaborated with Aston Martin to release their AMVOX line of watches.
References
https://www.watchprosite.com/jaeger-lecoultre/a-new-extreme-watch-from-a-world-expanding-company-that-wants-to-wake-up-the-race–/2.336912.2154247/
https://professionalwatches.com/master-compressor-extreme-alarm-valentino-rossi-edition/
https://www.watchprosite.com/jaeger-lecoultre/report-sihh-2007–jaeger-lecoultre/2.364397.2226682/
https://www.essential-watches.com/Jaeger-LeCoultre/Master-Compressor/Valentino-Rossi-Limited-Edition
https://web.archive.org/web/20140114110140/http://www.astonmartin.com/the-company/partners/jaeger-lecoultre