INSIGHT-RADAR: Industry News in Brief
Jaeger-LeCoultre, Micromilspec, Urban Jürgensen, and Le Rendez-Vous
Four stories covering brand presence, sports, architecture, and a jewelry fair: Jaeger-LeCoultre is showcasing the Reverso at international premieres, Micromilspec has signed kitesurfing world champion Liam Whaley, Urban Jürgensen is profiling Francis Kéré, and Francéclat is preparing a new platform for French jewelry in Paris.
Jaeger-LeCoultre: Three Reverso Appearances Between Comic-Con and a Movie Premiere
Jaeger-LeCoultre showcases the Reverso in three appearances by American actors. Raúl Castillo wore a stainless steel Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds at a fan screening of *The Walking Dead: Dead City* at Comic-Con in San Diego. The Duoface’s two dials combine a silver and a black face within a single case.
Also in San Diego, Lewis Pullman appeared wearing the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in rose gold and black. A few days later, at the premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in Los Angeles, Tramell Tillman chose a Monoface Small Seconds in white gold. Its silver-grained dial, Dauphine hands, and Milanese bracelet create a monochrome take on the Art Deco watch; and inside, it is powered by the hand-wound Caliber 822. While these reports do not mark a model debut, they do demonstrate how the manufacturer is currently positioning its best-known line within the film and entertainment industries.
Official Source: Jaeger-LeCoultre Pressroom
Micromilspec Signs Freestyle World Champion Liam Whaley
The Norwegian watch manufacturer Micromilspec has signed Liam Whaley as a brand ambassador. The athlete, who was born in Ibiza and lives in Tarifa, is one of the most prominent riders in big-air kitesurfing. In this discipline, jumps reach heights of more than 20 meters; success or failure is often determined not only by the execution of the jump but also by the final seconds of a timed run.
Whaley didn’t opt for a chronograph or a GMT watch from the brand, but rather for the minimalist Field Test Unit with a simple time display, an unmarked bezel, and a silver dial. Micromilspec has not yet announced either a special edition or a specific campaign. Further joint projects will not be unveiled until they take shape—for now, the focus is on the individual and his connection to the topic of timing.
Official Source: Micromilspec
Urban Jürgensen profiles Pritzker Prize laureate Francis Kéré
Urban Jürgensen dedicates the July issue of his portrait series “Time Well Spent” to architect Francis Kéré. Born in Gando, Burkina Faso, and trained in Berlin, Kéré combines local materials, community-based construction processes, and designs adapted to the local climate. His first school project in Gando was inspired by his own experiences with inadequate learning conditions and was later honored with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
In 2022, Kéré became the first architect born in Africa to receive the Pritzker Prize. Urban Jürgensen uses his work to expand his own narrative of time used meaningfully to include a social perspective. There is no new watch associated with the portrait. Rather, the monthly series accompanies the relaunch of the long-established brand, which has been developing a new collection since 2025 under CEO Alex Rosenfield and with Kari Voutilainen serving as a board member and senior strategic advisor.
Official Source: Urban Jürgensen
Le Rendez-Vous Brings French Jewelry to the Tuileries
From October 2 to 5, 2026, Francéclat will host “Le Rendez-Vous” for the first time at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris. The new trade event is designed to raise the profile of French jewelry during Fashion Week. The focus will be on 24 selected fine and fashion jewelry brands; the presentation will be complemented by talks, a photography exhibition, a bookstore, and the “Jewelry Monograph.”
For the “Jewelry Monograph,” paper artist and Artistic Director Baptiste Desjardin has created a floating landscape made of monumental paper forms. Light, shadow, and transparent surfaces form an abstract garden in which works from 15 jewelry houses and ateliers are presented—including Lydia Courteille, Poiray, Rouvenat, Vever, and Philippe Tournaire. At the same time, Francéclat is publishing an interactive map of the jewelry events taking place in Paris from September 28 to October 6.
Official Source: Le Rendez-Vous / Francéclat
