JLC Master Grande Tradition: Tourbillon vs. Repeater

The more I see these Master Grande Tradition ( MGT ), the more I appreciate them.

The last test was at the Manufacture, where I asked to see them, once again.

I wanted to enhance the differences between the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon and the Minute Repeater cases, a detail I didn't take in pic when I was in Geneva, at the beginning of this year.

As you know, the MGT Perpetual calendar Tourbillon case is 42 mm big, while the Minute Repeater and the Grande Complication are 44 mm.

On this pic, it is hardly noticeable:



Nor on this one:



In fact, the more noticeable difference is not about the size, but about the thickness.

While the Minute Repeater is 15, 8 mm, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is between 2 and 3 mm thinner!

That detail completely changes the profile of these 2 watches:





The difference in size can be explained by the complications housed in the 2 watches.

On the Minute Repeater, the Cal 947 ( R, in this case, for Regulator ) associates the Minute Repeater ( of course ) to the 15 ( ! ) Days of povver reserve.

So, the thickness is necessarily more important than on the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon which is therefore an automatic movement with a normal power reserve ( Cal 987 ).

Another interesting point is that the 2 YG versions of the MGT receive a silicium escapement, while the platinum Perpetual Tourbillon " stays " with the classic escapement.

Which one do you prefer, between the Platinum and the YG Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon?







I must confess a certain weakness for the platinum version.

The silver dial is really a summit of elegance and class.

But in both cases, being the Minute Repeater or the 2 versions of the Perpetual Calendar tourbillon, you have an awesome dial, with the " Clous de Paris " and smooth parts, and 2 nice movements.

Manual or automatic, YG or Platinum, Minute Repeater or Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, this is really a matter of taste, in complications, and aesthetics.

I have a light preference for the 42 mm case of the Perpetual Tourbillon, too, with its well centered crown, and its thinner lugs.

My only regrets are:

- There is no white metal version of this Minute Repeater.

- The platinum Perpetual Tourbillon doesn't house this new ( borrowed to the Extrem Lab ) silicium escapement.

My Dream would be:

- A thinner Minute Repeater in the Case of the Perpetual Tourbillon, not necessarily with a 15 Days power reserve movement which forces to use a thicker case.

- A plain enamel grand feu dial.

- A skeleted movement, visible through the sapphire case back.

But I have a certain tenderness for this MGT Minute Repeater, as it is...

I just can't wait to see it in a white metal case, as I was very impressed by the difference of personality of the platinum Perpetual Tourbillon.

Another Temptation I couldn't resist was to compare the MMR titanium with the MGT Minute Repeater.

Here, we are, through this last comparison, 2 different faces:

The expression of an obvious classicism, on the MGT Minute Repeater, with this elegant dial, enhanced by the choice to use Yellow Gold for the case and the regulator display of the hours and minutes, powered by a touch of modernity ( the new Silicium escapment ).

A " wilde ", totally unexpected design of the dial, which is open and whose parts are blackened, and choice of material for the Titanium MMR, which makes it look more like a concept watch, or at least, an original presentation of such a traditional complication.

A picture is worth a thousand approximative words to fully get the differences between these Beauties:



It is not only a matter of dial and material, as there also are some differences while comparing the cases of these 2 pieces...



On The Titanium MMR, the lugs are thicker, more " Brutal " maybe, which looks coherent with the personality of the watch, while, on the MGT Minute Repeater, the lugs are sweater, and thinner, too, playing another partition, obviously.

Definitely, this new family of watches leads us to a question

The philosophy of the MGT watches is to associate in a noble metal case 2 ( or more, like on the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication ) complications.

Now that we already have the Perpetual and the Tourbillon, the Minute Repeater with an unusually long power reserve, and the Celestial / Minute Repeater / Flying Tourbillon, which complications would you like to see, in the future?

It's up to you!

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-04-19 14:51:15 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-04-19 21:38:37 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-04-24 23:55:31