Cover British actor and producer Robert Pattinson is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest global ambassador
British actor and producer Robert Pattinson is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest global ambassador
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Robert Pattinson joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as its newest global ambassador and reflects on craftsmanship, creative risk, self-doubt, fatherhood and the changing value of time
Robert Pattinson has been named Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest global ambassador, bringing his instinct for unconventional creative choices to the Swiss watchmaker. Known for a career that has moved between auteur cinema and major productions, the British actor and producer has resisted an easily defined path—an approach that Jaeger-LeCoultre sees as reflecting its own balance of tradition and reinvention. Now, as he begins this new chapter with the manufacture, Pattinson opens up about the appeal of mechanical watchmaking, the role of risk and doubt in his work, and how becoming a father has changed his relationship with time.
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Above British actor Robert Pattinson joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as its newest global ambassador, marking a new chapter in his relationship with fine watchmaking
British actor Robert Pattinson joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as its newest global ambassador, marking a new chapter in his relationship with fine watchmaking
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What does it mean to you today to represent a maison like Jaeger-LeCoultre on a global scale?
The watch represents passion and drive across centuries. It is an honour as beautiful and rare as such an object. I’ve always been drawn to seeing what others choose to collect, as if I could backward engineer their identity and stories while also seeing what new world is created between the objects in that collection.
Jaeger-LeCoultre gives me a similar sense of history, identity and unique storytelling in all of their intricately considered and crafted timepieces. With everything moving so fast in our modern world, it’s a gentle and weighted reminder that things of beauty outlast passing modes, helping us to focus on what incredible feats humans can accomplish on any scale with time, care and attention.
Do you remember the last time you felt genuinely surprised by your own decision-making as an actor?
All the time! Certainty is elusive and only slightly makes sense as a byproduct of action. Sometimes it feels like an echo from the future, a rippling back of something as if I’ve already done the thing I’m reading in the screenplay ahead of me. Or sometimes I’ll be tricked by a certain line or phrase, the description of an action, or the possibility of a voice. When I can’t stop thinking about it I know I probably have to do it. I don’t think that reduces any surprise of some of my choices, especially in moments of recurring self-doubt, but it’s something I can’t ignore even if I can’t quite put my finger on how it comes about.
Above Robert Pattinson fronts a new campaign for Jaeger-LeCoultre following his appointment as the manufacture’s newest global ambassador
Robert Pattinson fronts a new campaign for Jaeger-LeCoultre following his appointment as the manufacture’s newest global ambassador
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Have you ever said yes to a project knowing, even slightly, that it might not work and done it anyway?
Of course! It’s always a risk. But that risk is assuaged by working with people and filmmakers you believe in, so you can hope together you might pull off a miracle. The important part is holding onto the things that urged you to do it in the first place, as if they can become polestar and anchor when navigating the inevitably inscrutable or daunting moments. The things you can cling to when charting the course through a project, drawing the map in real time and hoping by the end of it you’ve charted some territory.
What is something about acting that you only truly understood after years of doing it, something no one really warned you about?
It helps if you can fall asleep easily in random places and positions. Especially since I’ve been working on back-to-back projects and sometimes simultaneous projects as both producer and actor, it’s important to be able to get a kip in whenever possible. Also, there’s inevitably going to be long periods of waiting between setups or if you’re not needed for a scene, so seize the moment to get some sleep if you can!
Above Pattinson wears the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel, distinguished by its blue-grey dial and integrated bracelet
Pattinson wears the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel, distinguished by its blue-grey dial and integrated bracelet
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Do you think doubt is something that fades with time, or something you simply learn to operate within?
As much as a drag it can be, it’s an indispensable tool. Even at times debilitating, it is also a source of energy since I have to be always ready for battle. I like to believe there could be another way, but doubt is too much part of my tapestry at this point I’d be afraid the whole thing would unravel if I somehow excised it.
What is the most meaningful watch you’ve ever worn, and did that change how you think about objects having emotional weight?
The watch my dad gave to me. It’s a good reminder that all objects hold a story and a life. I’m fascinated by heirlooms in general and love the way Jaeger-LeCoultre captures that significance even before a specific watch has made its way through generations.
At this stage of your life and career, do you feel time is something you still try to master or something you’ve learned to stop negotiating with?
I think it’s more about succumbing to it. You can really wear yourself out trying to master it! This only becomes more apparent now that I’m a dad. It all goes so quickly and it’s all so precious, so instead of mastering it, I revel in how precious each moment is. And that, with enough rigour, the fleeting moments can last a lifetime if you carry their imprint meaningfully.
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Images: Jaeger-LeCoultre
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
