Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture Tour Overview

amanico · 2022-06-10T16:07:09Z

Explore the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture with WatchProSite. An exclusive tour focusing on chiming watches, vintage marvels, and the art of watchmaking.

amanico

WPS member · Jaeger-LeCoultre forum

198 replies46855 views13 photos

WatchProSite's 'Manufacture Tour' series offers an exclusive look inside the world's most revered watchmakers. In this installment, original author amanico details a long-awaited visit to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, focusing on the intricate world of chiming watches. This article provides a unique, insider perspective on the brand's heritage and horological mastery, making it a valuable resource for both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts.

For many years we wanted to organize a Manufacture Tour with Jaeger Lecoultre. Because Jaeger Lecoultre is one the most interesting watchmakers, because our site celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, because our relations with the brand are long and friendly.

We wanted to make it happen in 2018 and in 2019 we were on to make it, it was in the tube and... The Covid came. With Jaeger Lecoultre, we decided that once we have a " time target ", we'll do it.

Which happened on the 9th of June. Alas, some friends couldn't come, for professional or sanitary reasons, but we managed to be 12 ( of 14 ) to be able to honor this visit. 12 coming from France, Germany, England and, special dedicace to them, from California!

For such a special event, we wanted a very special theme, and chiming watches are among the most interesting. Needless to say that from the second half of the 19th Century to our days, Lecoultre and Jaeger Lecoultre are among the best. Keep in mind that chiming watches are Grande Sonnerie, Minute Repeaters and... Alarm watches.

So we decided to arrive one day early to spend some time together. The new Hotel des Horlogers was the perfect place, for the rooms, the location and the food.

Do you recognize the Hotel Des Horlogers? Honestly I didn't.

After a great dinner with some great wines from Bourgogne, a bottle of Macallan ( Thanks, Patrick Y ) it was time to have a 4 hours sleep before D Day.

The visit was organized around two parts: A session about Chiming watches and a visit of different workshops and places at the Manufacture.

The Chiming session:

For three hours, we had many technical explanations from Eduardo, one of Jaeger Lecoultre engineers.

Eduardo explained to us that on the 5 million watches made every year, only 200 or 300 were minute repeaters, all brands included.

Most probably the technical challenge represented by minute repeaters is the reason for their scarcity.

Matthieu came with some vintage marvels, showing all the skill of the Manufacture.

From ... 1895:

Or another one which is out of topic, but beauty is never out of topic. A vintage pocket Chrongraphe, signed Jaeger, from the early 1900's.

We had the pleasure to see the lovely Reverso Minute Repeater from the 90's, too:

Don Justino was there... He felt like at home, with his Portable Coffee:

After all these technical explanations, Eduardo showed us that making a good minute repeater, I mean one which will sound well, requires minutia and expertise. It is all about tenths of millimeters, for a perfect sound tuning.

He brought with him one instruments of torture:

With these tools, we tried to find the perfect length for the gongs. It was all but evident, believe me. But we managed to find an acceptable outcome...

Eduardo explained to us the different innovations for JLC minute repeaters, such as the welded gongs to the sapphire, the Trebuchets, the helicoidal gongs... We were like children in front of a candy store...

Then we had a lunch at the Manufacture Restaurant,

My friend Francis, the designer of the Amvox II ( but not only ) joined us for the lunch. It was a real pleasure to meet him again, after all these years.

Before attending the second part of the visit, some workshops, like prototypage, where we could see how much work required the finishings of some parts, like a hammer, the beveled bridges, the perlage, côtes soleillées and so on.

The next workshop is my favorite, the Spécialités Horlogères, where we could see some masterpieces from Jaeger Lecoultre. Laurent, the watchmaker, pleased us as he made them chime.

The Hybris Mechanica 11,

The Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication first generation,

And second generation:

The Gyrotourbillon Five:

The Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar:

And the Reverso Minute Repeater in rose gold, from last year:

A dizzy experience...

Then we ended with a too short visit of the Heritage Gallery with Matthieu, with the monumental Wall of Movements:

It was sadly time to take the shuttle back to Geneva.

Laughs for some, endless discussions for others, and well, one was totally dead...

Or maybe he was dreaming about his next visit to the Manufacture!

I can only recommend to everybody to contact the Manufacture for a visit. It is an unforgettable experience...

Best,

Nicolas

PS: Special Thanks to my contacts and friends at Jaeger Lecoultre, Dorothée and Natassja. They worked a lot on the organization, the logistics, and they really made it possible.

About the Jaeger LeCoultre Amvox2 Ref. AMVOX2

The Amvox2 represents Jaeger LeCoultre's approach to contemporary sports timing, offered here in the Steel Black series configuration. This 44mm reference positions itself as a substantial automatic chronograph within the Amvox2 collection, distinguished by its monochromatic steel and black dial treatment.

The 44mm steel case houses an automatic movement and features a black dial beneath sapphire crystal protection. Water resistance extends to 100 meters, while a fixed bezel completes the case architecture. The steel construction and automatic movement provide the mechanical foundation for this chronograph reference.

This Steel Black series Amvox2 appeals to collectors seeking a modern Jaeger LeCoultre sports chronograph with substantial wrist presence. The 44mm case diameter and black dial configuration offer a contemporary alternative within the Amvox2 range, providing automatic chronograph functionality in a steel sports watch format. The combination of size, materials, and dial treatment positions this reference for collectors focused on modern Jaeger LeCoultre sports complications.

Specifications

Caliber: Cal.751

Case: Steel

Diameter: 44 mm

Dial: Black

Water Resist.: 100m

Crystal: Sapphire crystal

Key Points from the Discussion

The community experience and interaction among attendees was as impactful as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture tour itself, highlighting the value of shared passion among collectors.
Many Jaeger-LeCoultre employees wear Reversos, showcasing the brand's iconic model as a daily choice even for those who craft them.
The Manufacture is truly enormous, with dedicated glass-partitioned spaces for assembling regular pieces and complex complications, including movement finishing for ladies' Reversos.
A highlight of the visit for many was the immaculately preserved vintage pocket watches from the 1920s and 1930s, alongside the Grand Sonneries and Gyrotourbillons, demonstrating Jaeger-LeCoultre's enduring legacy in horology.
The Hotel des Horlogers, with its stunning design and exceptional hospitality, served as an ideal pre-tour gathering point, enhancing the overall experience for the visiting collectors.
The tour included a 'noise vs. sound' workshop, providing a deeper understanding of the acoustic intricacies of chiming watches, a core focus of the visit.

The Discussion

chris7509

Jun 10, 2022

But is it a PP 5960A i see on the restaurant picture right in the front ?:p

brauner

Jun 10, 2022

It was absolutely great in the factory buildings. And the fondue in the evening as well. Thanks for your report.

jp884

Jun 10, 2022

Thanks for sharing Nico!

Clueless_Collector

Jun 10, 2022

That last photo was precious and timeless....no words needed to describe such pleasure.

Jay (Eire)

Jun 10, 2022

Looks like a fantastic little trip. One day, hopefully I can join something similar.

cazalea

Jun 10, 2022

Who could imagine that 17 years could go by so fast, and the experience of fine horology "up front and personal" would remain so compelling. But I suppose 17 years is just a "drop in the bucket" in the timeline of a manufacture like JLC! Thank you Nicolas Cazalea

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About the Jaeger LeCoultre Amvox2 Ref. AMVOX2

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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