Jaeger-LeCoultre and Khalid Shafar Reimagine Time Through Art
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Khalid Shafar unveil Crescent to Crescent, a stunning art installation celebrating time, tradition, and the lunar cycle.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has introduced its latest creative collaboration under the Made of Makers programme, an exclusive art installation curated by Emirati designer Khalid Shafar. Through this project, Shafar explores the Maison’s connection to celestial movements, interpreting the lunar cycle of Ramadan in a striking artistic expression.
The Made of Makers initiative bridges the worlds of horology and art, fostering collaborations with artists, designers, and craftsmen beyond watchmaking who share Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to creativity, expertise, and precision. This programme challenges traditional perceptions of classical arts, highlighting their evolution and ongoing relevance in contemporary culture. Just as today’s artistic classics were once groundbreaking, Made of Makers seeks to reinterpret traditional techniques with modern materials and media, creating a dynamic conversation between past and present.
Like the watchmakers of La Grande Maison, these artists honour tradition while pushing creative boundaries. Their work showcases how both classical arts and watchmaking reflect cultural heritage, human creativity, and emotional resonance.
To date, Made of Makers has collaborated with leading figures in contemporary visual art, gastronomy, music, and perfumery, including Zimoun (Switzerland), Michael Murphy (USA), Guillaume Marmin (France), Alex Trochut (Spain/USA), Nina Métayer (France), Matthias Giroud (France), Yiyun Kang (Korea), TØKIO M¥ERS (UK), Brendi Wedinger (USA), Himanshu Saini (India), Roy Wang (China), and Nicolas Bonneville (France).
Now, with Khalid Shafar (UAE), the programme welcomes a fresh perspective; celebrating Middle Eastern artistry through a dialogue between contemporary design and celestial timekeeping.
Renowned for merging Emirati cultural heritage with modern design, Khalid Shafar’s work goes beyond aesthetics, creating a meaningful relationship between form and function.
Born in the UAE, Shafar initially pursued a career in business before following his true passion for design in 2005. After completing formal studies in Fine Arts with a focus on Interior Design, he honed his skills at Central Saint Martins in London and the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. His craftsmanship has since helped shape contemporary design in the UAE and earned him international recognition.
In 2011, he founded his own design studio in Dubai, followed by a dedicated showcase space in 2012. His designs are characterised by clean lines, rich textures, and the seamless fusion of cultural storytelling with contemporary aesthetics. Shafar believes every object should carry a narrative that resonates with its audience, combining innovative materials with a deep respect for tradition.
With a commitment to evolving Emirati design, he continues to push creative boundaries, ensuring the region’s artistic heritage gains global recognition.
This collaboration draws inspiration from the sacred rhythms of Ramadan, blending celestial observations with meticulous craftsmanship to reflect the intimate relationship between watchmaking and the passage of time.
During Ramadan, the precise timing of sunrise and sunset dictates daily fasting and prayer schedules, reinforcing the importance of timekeeping. This connection aligns seamlessly with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s heritage, where the movements of celestial bodies have long influenced horology.
Since its founding in 1833, the Maison has drawn inspiration from the moon, the sun, and the stars, a theme beautifully reflected in timepieces such as the Rendez-Vous and Duomètre collections. The Rendez-Vous Moon elegantly depicts the lunar cycle, while the Duomètre Quantième Lunaire demonstrates the precision of astronomical timekeeping, both paying homage to the cosmos’ enduring influence on watchmaking.
The centrepiece of this collaboration, Crescent to Crescent, is a six-metre-wide, three-metre-high art installation embodying the evolution of the moon over time. Featuring 29 intricately crafted moons, representing each day of the lunar cycle, the installation offers an immersive reflection on time’s passage throughout the month of Ramadan.
Delicate engravings within the installation mirror the guilloché decorative technique perfected in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier. Two distinct viewing experiences enhance the artwork’s depth: one side showcases a striking colour gradient reflecting the moon’s changing phases, while the other creates a dynamic play of light, illuminating each moon as visitors move through the space.
“When Jaeger-LeCoultre invited me to create an art installation in honour of this sacred time, I sought to capture the profound rhythm of time itself, drawing inspiration from the lunar cycle. I immersed myself in La Grande Maison’s enduring fascination with celestial phenomena – a passion nurtured by the enchanting night sky of La Vallée de Joux and brought to life in watchmaking masterpieces.” - Khalid Shafar
“This installation, Crescent to Crescent, is a tribute to the sacred rhythms of Ramadan, where time becomes a contemplative practice. As we track each hour, we learn to appreciate the cadence of time, encouraging reflection and mindfulness,” - Khalid Shafar
By merging artistic vision with horological expertise, this collaboration highlights the deep relationship between time, tradition, and transformation. The exclusive installation will be unveiled on 28 February at the Dubai Mall Grand Atrium, remaining in place throughout Ramadan before touring select locations across the city, engaging the art, design, and creative communities.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Emirati designer Khalid Shafar,” - Jérôme Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of Jaeger-LeCoultre
