Diane Kruger owns several Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, including her first Reverso. Here, she wears the Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin in 18k rose gold. It houses the mechanical hand-winding movement caliber 846, with 93 parts, and is set with 31 diamonds on the case, the reverse of which can be engraved ($30,600). Jaeger-LeCoultre, 9490B Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-734-0525

 
   
 
   
 

Like in her 2004 appearance opposite Nicolas Cage in the heist film National Treasure, German-born model and movie star Diane Kruger seems to always be running against the clock. “Timing is everything— in life and in work,” she says.

Kruger got her first important watch as a gift from her mother for her 18th birthday. It was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, and it began her love affair with fine timepieces that continues to this day. As Kruger’s modeling and acting careers blossomed, so did her watch collection. In a world where most collectors of exquisite timepieces are men, Kruger brings a woman’s perspective to the table: “I am a stickler for timekeeping, so a watch is essential to me. It is also something you can keep in the family as an heirloom to pass on to your children, which is incredibly important to a woman.”

When it comes to time, Kruger admits she invests a lot of in preparing for acting roles. “The more time you have to prep, the better. It’s important to take time to practice,” says the actress who picked up a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds. (Kruger also took a SAG Award home that year when the film won for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.)

Time is of the essence in Kruger’s most recent film, Special Forces, which premiered in Paris last fall. In it Kruger plays a journalist who is ab - ducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan and liberated by the Special Forces. “I love movies that transport you to another world and [let you] live in someone else’s imagination,” she says. “That is the gift of moviemaking. I love being a part of that.”

Despite her growing collection, Kruger never forgot where her first watch came from. “In 2007, I had a movie in the Venice Film Festival, and I needed a special piece of jewelry to go with my dress. I saw the Jaeger-LeCoultre Diamond 101 Joaillerie watch and absolutely fell in love with it,” she says. “My relationship with Jaeger- LeCoultre is very organic. The fit was so right. My style is classic, but always with an edge. I like taking risks and having fun with fashion—I don’t take it seriously. I love the sophistication and understatement of Jaeger-LeCoultre watches.” Kruger’s been the ambassadress of the legendary Swiss brand for almost four years, and as of last year, became the “face” of the Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin.

In June 2010, Kruger visited the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre in Le Sentier, Switzerland, which she admits changed her perception of watchmaking in general and of the brand specifically. “I had no idea how much expertise goes into making just one watch—each complication requires hours of craftsmanship,” she says. “It certainly has helped me understand the process and gave me a whole new sense of appreciation. I was impressed with their experience and knowledge, and most importantly their precision in watchmaking. Do you know more than 1,000 specialists in 40 different watchmaking skills create the collection?”

Which begs the question: After all these years, which is Kruger’s favorite watch? “I wear a few Reversos now, but I still wear the one I got for my 18th birthday—it’s very special to me.”