Category Archives: Jaeger Lecoultre

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon 3 closeup

MASTER GRANDE TRADITION GYROTOURBILLON 3 METEORITE

PRECIOUS AND COMPLEX

Fine watchmaking and craftsmanship come together in this ultra-limited edition. Each piece is embellished with the abstract patterns of a rock that has fallen from the sky.

To celebrate 180 years of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the manufacture has launched an exceptional piece which focuses its many skills. In addition to the time display in an off-center disk, the Master Grande Tradition GyroTourbillon 3 combines an impressive chronograph. What makes it so special? It indicates short time lapses using an instant jumping digital counter for the minutes and a hand for the seconds in a dedicated dial which is also offset. A day/night indicator completes the time information. There is also a gyrotourbillon, a gyroscopic regulator which serves to optimize the chronometric precision of the watch. This only varies between -1 and +1 seconds per day.

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon 3 closeupTurning the case of the Master Grande Tradition GyroTourbillon 3 over reveals the bridges and the plate of the 176 caliber adorned with the extraterrestrial rock. The irregular geometric patterns of the meteorite give each watch its own unique personality. Once wound, the manual-winding movement offers a power reserve of 45 hours.

Price: on request

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre polaris date front view

POLARIS DATE

MORE THAN AN EYEFUL OF BLUE

To paraphrase Yves Saint-Laurent, there isn’t just one blue but several blues. This stunning edition by the Grande Maison is proposing a wide range of them. Mesmerizing!

For the jubilee of Memovox in 2018, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a collection of Polaris models combining the spirit of the original editions with contemporary mechanics. One dial in black and another named ocean blue offered two attractive options. This year, with an 800-piece limited edition of the Polaris Date, the manufacture is proposing a model that is just as captivating, equipped with an exquisite azure blue face in two layers and hand-lacquered, enhanced by three distinct finishes, sunray, grained and opalescent. The different shades obtained immerse us in the marine universe varying between the light and the deep. Within this marine composition, the beige luminescent hands point to large trapezoidal-shaped index markers and extended Arabic numerals which make it easy to read even in the dark. As a genuine divers’ watch, it has a unidirectional bezel. Incorporated into the inner bezel, it can be easily adjusted using the dedicated crown.

jaeger lecoultre polaris date front viewThe rubber strap with a Clou de Paris pattern means the Polaris Date is very comfortable to wear.

Price: 8,300 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition minutes repeater perpetual movement

MASTER GRANDE TRADITION RÉPÉTITION MINUTES PERPÉTUELLE

MECHANICAL AMPLIFIER

The Grande Maison in Le Sentier is turning up the volume with this timepiece equipped with an ingenious system which clearly and qualitatively relays all the notes of its chimes.

With over 200 chiming watch calibers in its range, Jaeger-LeCoultre excels in the art of the minute repeater complication. With this wealth of knowledge, the brand is not resting on its laurels and is constantly innovating with great success. The new Master Grande Tradition Répétition Minutes Perpétuelle is a superb example. For this edition, a tone system produces the closest representation yet of the top notes and volume of old pocket watches. The acoustic quality is optimized thanks to an enlarged area in which the melodies can flourish. The thickness of the watch is around 13.72 mm.

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition minutes repeater perpetual movementTwo editions are available, each composed of 30 pieces. The first has a translucent dial in guilloched blue enamel. While the second has a silver grained finish.

Price: on request www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre reverso tribute small seconde profile

REVERSO TRIBUTE SMALL SECONDS

ELEGANT BURGUNDY

At the 2019 SIHH, the company known as the “Grande Maison” introduced a number of new watches, including a sublime Reverso dressed from the dial to the strap in a luminous burgundy red.

Of all the watches introduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre at the SIHH this year, this watch has probably been talked about least, since all our attention was focused on the mechanical prowess shown by the Vallée de Joux watchmakers in a complex model including a gyrotourbillon and a minute repeater. And yet, the discreet elegance of the burgundy red Reverso Tribute Small Seconds is well worth a closer look. Even better is when you can wear it on your wrist and savour the intensity of the colour and the comfortable feel of the iconic rectangular case.

jaeger lecoultre reverso tribute small seconde profileAnd the best is saved for last: the burgundy dial with a sunburst finish is breathtakingly beautiful. Two silver-coloured, dauphine-type hands display the hours and minutes against a series of hour markers and a minute track painted white. The seconds are shown in a sub-dial at 6 o’clock.

For the calf-leather strap, also coloured burgundy red and rounded off by a folding clasp, Jaeger-LeCoultre has again called on the craftsmanship and talent of the bootmaker Casa Fagliano. The result? Not only is the colour magnificent, but the crafted leather is incredibly soft and supple.

Price: 8,100 CHF  www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Sharmila Bertin

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon westminster perpetuel side view

MASTER GRANDE TRADITION GYROTOURBILLON WESMINSTER PERPÉTUEL

MAJOR ACCORD

This watch unveiled at the recent SIHH in Geneva sums up all the skills of the manufacture. It includes a perpetual date, a minute repeater and a multi-axial tourbillon.

The hour and minute hands on the Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel move around an off-centred dial at 12 o’clock. Three counters signal the presence of a perpetual date. The day, the date and the month, which can be reset in both directions, will not need to be corrected until 2100. This limited edition of just 18 pieces also has a new-generation, multi-axial tourbillon that you can see at 6 o’clock. The gyrotourbillon with a titanium cage has been designed on a small scale and with a low weight (just 0.4 grams). It plays the role of a chronometric amplifier, while correcting any errors in the balance wheel and balance spring pairing. It is aided by a constant-force mechanism, which acts as a second source of energy.

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon westminster perpetuel side viewThis complication is perfectly integrated into the calibre 184. The same is true of the 1,050 components that went into making this hand-wound movement (50 hours of power reserve). Many can be seen at work through the back of the 43mm-wide and 14.08mm-thick grey-gold case.

Price: 800,000 EUR www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre polaris geographic world timer with movement

POLARIS GEOGRAPHIC WT

THE WORLD WITHIN REACH OF THE WRIST

A new model has come to swell the ranks of the Polaris collection and was launched at the SIHH earlier this year. This limited edition made by the “Grande Maison“ is specially aimed at big travellers.

In 1968, Jaeger-LeCoultre marked the history of watchmaking with the launch of the Memovox Polaris, a diver’s watch equipped with a mechanical alarm and produced in almost 1,800 pieces. The design of the patented case helped to optimise the sound quality of the alarm under water. This legendary model has given rise to a sizeable collection, which was presented in January at the SIHH. Today it is joined by the Polaris Geographic WT model.

Borrowing from the design of its ancestor, but brought up to date, this watch is made for travellers or for anyone whose professional or private life calls for keeping track of several different time zones. 250 watches are available only from Jaeger-LeCoultre stores.

jaeger lecoultre polaris geographic world timer with movementRight at the heart of the elegant 42mm-wide steel case is the calibre 936A/1, an in-house self-winding movement. The mechanism runs at 4Hz and comes with a single barrel, providing a power reserve of over 38 hours. The calibre is partly visible through the sapphire crystal case back.

On the dial, Jaeger-LeCoultre has played with colours and textures. The blue at the centre of the Polaris Geographic WT turns black near the chapter ring, with a few red touches here and there. The day/night indicator is black and white. For the finishing touches, there is a sanded centre, opaline for the city disc (adjusted using a crown at 10 o’clock) and blue for the three sub-dials (a date with a hand at 2 o’clock, home hour and minute indicators at 6 o’clock and a power reserve indicator at 10 o’clock). As for the regular time information, the hours, minutes and seconds for local time are shown in the traditional way by central baton-shaped hands.

Price: 14,800 CHF www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Sharmila Bertin

jaeger lecoultre 101 feuille movement

CALIBRE 101 REINE 101 FEUILLE

THE MAKINGS OF A QUEEN

Launched at the Venice Film Festival, the two jewel watches, Reine and Feuille, are powered by the Calibre 101, the world’s smallest self-winding movement since 1929

After almost 90 years of existence, the Calibre 101 by Jaeger-LeCoultre has a truly fascinating history. It was inspired by the famous Duoplan invented in 1925 and was made up of two parts, a first level with the barrel and cogs, and a second with the escapement. At just 0.2cm³, weighing barely one gram and with its miniature dimensions (14×4.8×3.4mm), it has been the world’s smallest hand-wound movement since 1929. Elizabeth II wore a watch with the Calibre 101 at her coronation in 1953, going against the protocol of the time. This small, but accurate mechanism that is set and wound using a flat crown on the back of the case, runs at a gentle frequency of 21,600 vibrations an hour and provides a power reserve of 33 hours.

jaeger lecoultre 101 feuille movementPrice on request www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Sharmila Bertin

jaeger lecoultre reverso tribute tourbillon duo face profile

REVERSO TRIBUTE TOURBILLON DUOFACE

DOUBLE IDENTITY

For its 185th anniversary, the brand has shown off its skills by combining a flying tourbillon with its Duoface concept in a limited edition.

For the first time since its launch in 1994, the Reverso in its Duoface version has been equipped with a flying tourbillon. This regulating feature is used to compensate for the effects of gravity and is unique because of its structure with a single bridge. In this particular watch, the tourbillon is also used to control the two faces of the watch, helping to create two different atmospheres. On the front dial, at 6 o’clock, we can see its traditional shape. The elegant architecture is shown off by a sunburst blue dial, with the dauphine-type hands moving around silvered hour markers. When you slide and turn over the platinum case (45.5mm x 27.4mm), the reverse side of the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface dial is revealed. Jaeger-LeCoultre has given this side a much rawer aesthetic feel, highlighting the workings and bridges. A disc decorated with a Geneva wave pattern houses the second time zone, plus a day/night indicator set discreetly at 2 o’clock. The elements opposite the tourbillon are encircled by a minute track, transforming it into a display for the seconds.

jaeger lecoultre reverso tribute tourbillon duo face profileThis limited edition of the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface is worn with a leather strap. With only 50 watches made, it is sure to delight collectors.

Price on request www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre rendez vous tribute cinema closeup

RENDEZ-VOUS NIGHT DAY MEDIUM TRIBUTE TO CINEMA

A GOLD STAR ON THE RED CARPET

A new cinema star is born: the limited edition Rendez-Vous Night & Day by Jaeger-LeCoultre, taking inspiration from the 7th art for a harmonious blend of pink gold, fiery diamonds and a purple strap.

The love story between Jaeger-LeCoultre and cinema began over ten years ago, a passion embodied in particular by close links with two prestigious events, the Venice International Film Festival international and the Shanghai International Film Festival. In early summer, for the 21st Shanghai festival, the watchmakers launched a limited edition, the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema. With just one hundred pieces available, the watch features the distinguishing marks of the world of cinema as we generally imagine them, especially at awards ceremonies: the gold of a statuette and the flamboyant colour of the famous red carpet for the actors, directors and producers, as well as diamonds and a star symbolising glamour and success.

jaeger lecoultre rendez vous tribute cinema closeup

This new watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre is driven by the automatic calibre 898A/1 providing 38 hours of power reserve, and is worn on the wrist with a purple alligator-leather strap.

Price: 24,200 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin