Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso changed watchmaking forever when it burst onto the scene in 1931. Sleek and perfectly proportioned, the Art Deco-era timepiece was conceived by Swiss businessman César de Trey with an ingenious reversible case made at the request of British officers in the Indian Army to protect the glass of their watches from damage during polo matches. Just over nine decades later, the Reverso remains one the most legendary tickers of all time, garnering A-list admirers who include Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale, and undergoing numerous reworkings, including this year’s beautifully enamelled and gem-set Reverso One Precious Colours variations.

Now, fans of the swivelling timepiece can look forward to more Reverso magic with an unmissable production commissioned by the Swiss watchmaker. Running from 14-17 September at the elegant, vintage-style Cinema set within London’s newly restored Battersea Power Station, the one-of-a-kind sound-and-light show is a celebration of the Golden Ratio – a common denominator of beauty and harmony shared by the natural world and man-made masterpieces, and a proportion that humans instinctively find to be the most aesthetically pleasing.

Simplified as 1.618, the Golden Ratio – sometimes referred to as the Golden Mean, Golden Section, Golden Number or Divine Proportion – represents the unique relationship within an object where the ratio of a larger part to a smaller part is the same as the ratio of the larger part to the whole. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Golden Ratio Musical Show spotlights this guiding mathematical formula with an original soundtrack by Tokio Myers, a musical multihyphenate and winner of the 2017 edition of Britain’s Got Talent. Born in London, Myers has supported a number of high-profile artists throughout his career, including Kanye West, the late Amy Winehouse, Sting, John Legend and 2Cellos, making the Royal College of Music alumni an effortless fit for the project.

Drawing inspiration from time spent at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in the Swiss Jura mountains, Myers has created an exclusive track ‘with the explicit intention of amplifying the emotional impact of the digital projection,’ he says. Indeed, Myers’ work closely mirrors that of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers, reworking tradition and craft in exciting new ways. Describing the exclusive work as ‘a short symphony in four chapters, or movements, that takes the listener on a powerful journey’, Myers reveals that he has ‘incorporated the Golden Ratio as the driving tempo throughout the piece. I’ve never written in this tempo before and it’s a wonderful tempo to write in,’ he adds.

Celebrating the watchmaker’s association with the ancient principle of beauty, the 10-minute performance, projected onto a giant screen of falling water and set against the backdrop of the River Thames, traces the journey of the Golden Ratio formula from its appearance in nature through to its influence on European cultural history, concluding with its representations within the iconic Reverso watch. As an elevated touch, refreshments will be provided via a themed 1931 café, while the outdoor cinema concept pays homage to the world’s first drive-in cinema, which opened in 1933.

On the night of 14 September, at an invitation-only gala, Myers will give a live performance of his new soundtrack, accompanied by The Bourne Orchestra, a collaboration between musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Chamber Orchestra.

Following its debut during the Shanghai International Film Festival in early June, The Golden Ratio Musical Show began its world tour in Los Angeles. For the London season, the production will be free of charge, offering a unique opportunity for watch buffs and casual audience members alike to experience haute horology in an entirely new cultural context.

jaeger-lecoultre.com