In 2003, I began to pay some interest to the Minute Repeater Complication.
There were some watches in the market, as, for example, the classic and gorgeous IWC
Portuguese, still "affordable", I mean, when you compare it to others, like the Patek or Vacheron Constantin, but also Parmigiani, Breguet etc...
So, I decide to jump, and finally bought one.







I was very happy with this one, till I crossed the way of the MMR JLC.

The 1st MMR I saw in the flesh was, of course, the platinum version, here, in Paris, in December 2005.
During the visit of the Manufacture, in April 2006, I was lucky enough to see the Watchmakers, or should I say the WatchMasters, working on this MMR platinum.

Till this moment, I never heard such a cristalline, melodic and, at the same time, loud sound!
So, coming back to Paris, I fell in love with it, putting this MMR high, at the highest place on my demential Dream Watches List, as I was only able to consider it as an abstractrion, a phantasm ( is it serious, Doctor?...LOL) till the 29th of November 2006.
This day, I was at the JLC Paris Boutique.
Here standed the Titanium MMR, an incredible piece, just in front of my eyes.
Worst, the Team let me play with it, hearing it...I was completely stuck on such a scuptural beauty.
Yes, this is not only a watch, this is 1st of all, a Masterpiece, a true piece of Art.

Since this day, I knew that the IWC Portuguese was dead, and that I'll have to do all my possible to get one,and I finally did it, as you all know.

Here are the 2 Press Files Pics of the Titanium and the Platinum Versions:





Please, note that aslo exists a Sincere Haute Horlogerie mosel, which is a Platinum MMR with the dial of the Titanium.I have a photo of the monster, but I'm not sure of its origin, so I won't post it. It's a Limited Edition for Sincere, limited to 10 pieces.

I do love the esthetic of the MMR platinum, the treatment of this watch, the fact that, for me, this is a nice compromise between the modernity of the design and the evocation of one of the oldest and more beautifum and romantic complication, a kind of actual reintepretation, a new youth!
I love even more the MMR Titanium, probably because this version goes farer in the design and the idea of this modern reinterpretation of the Minute Repeater, adding that the open dial ( not skeletized, but open) gives an artistic touch that the Platinum lacks, IMHO.

This Titanium configuration allows you to see some of the components of the movement, like the wheels, the bridges, and, 1st of all, ...the HAMMERS.
Push the trigger, and see, listen the hammers playing their partition!
Compared to other Minute Repeaters, these 2 are acoustically above the Parmigiani, the Breguet, the AP even in Titanium, and the IWC ( Well, I didn't test the Patek nor the Vacheron Constantin, so I won't be firm in my statement regarding these 2 last one, but they are not in the same kind of price....)
Here are the macros of the Platinum and Titanium Versions:

Platinum:









Titanium:











The sound is clear, cristalline, even aerian, and loud enough to be heard while the crowd is speaking, in restaurants, trains, planes, even in Courts of Justice..., which is not the case with the IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater,( Yes, I did it! LOL )

As you maybe know, the technical solution used by JLC on this watch is innovative and different, as JLC understood that the best sound tranmitter was not Gold, Platinum (one of the worst...By the way), nor SS or Titanium, but the glass!
I invite you to read, joined to this review, the Press File about this watch, you will learn a lot.

As we speak about technical matters, let's go on the 2 other complications, the 15 Days Power Reserve, and the Torquemeter.

15 days of power reserve in a watch, this is quite rare, Patek is 10, IWC is 8, but these are not Minute Repeaters.
Olny Lange, with its 31 days, does better, and Jacob with its 30 days, but they aren't Minute Repeater...
So, AFAIK, The JLC MMR is unique!
This long power reserve in a such complicated watch is, IMHO, something very clever, as it allows you to not wear your watch during several days without having to set it or rewind it.
I' ll also say that winding this watch is not something fastidious, as the crown is pleasant to use, and you'll only need something around 80 turns off crown to have your watch fully wound!

With a long power reserve, I think that the torquemeter is useful, as you are able to check that your watch works with regularity.
See on the dial the part dedicated to the Torquemeter, you will see a graduation.Above "5", all is ok, if you go under 5, give the crown a turn or 2 and the indicator will go above 5...



Esthetic is not enough, precision also is important!

Back to Esthestic, the contrast between the open dial and the quite closed case back is another interesting and pleasant thing.
The Case Back, although a bit massive with this big plate is nicely finished in a "Cotes Soleillées" way, which all join the escapement.

Platinum:



Titanium:



Wearing this piece is an ultimate pleasure.It perfectly and comfortably sits on the wrist, and with the lack of weight of the Titanium, you don't even feel it!
Stuuning, amazing, strange!
But, at every moment, you can have a glance to the dial, and you're immediately lost in fornt of this beauty.

See here the different levels, angles of the open dial:



And here, the strengh of this beauty:



With the macros I previously posted, the beauty suddenly and quite violently appears.
But, there is another more subtile beauty, which consists to " dive " into the dial, in search of understanding its scultpural beauty.
Take the wathc in your hands, turn it wirth different angles and lights, and it will be a perment game of changing colors, relief,consistance....
You really need some time to get it, to understand the true level of art and horology of this masterpiece.

The contrast between the blue screws, the red jewels, the darkness of the plate and the bridges, all is like in a Picture of Modern Art..., and more, I'd say a mix between a Picture and a Sculpture.
That's the strong point of the titanium version, against the Platinum.

Another specificity of the Titanium version is the finish of the titanium.
A titanium Grade 5, but polished.
I never saw this before.
This light dark titanium is perfectly matching with the main color of the dial and of the case back.

Here are other pics I took under different angles.

Titanium:













Here, in a nice ambiant...



Some pics of the platinum version to get all the difference between the 2;













It comes in a complete packaging, with a big wooden box( no difference between the titanium and the platinum ), sober, maybe too, compared with the beautiful laqued box of the some platinum Reversos, a loop, to admire all the little and fine details, a,d the papers, including the acoustical measures (in decibels) of your own watch!







As each (good) thing has an end, I will conclude by saying this:
This piece is IMHO one of the nicest piece ever made..I have the chance and the privilege to own it since May 2007.And since the beginnig, it's love at first sight, again!
This piece is, fro me, the biggest evidence that JLC has began for some years now its revolution, as also the Gyro ( a chance I don't own it, you'd have to read 10 more pages! LOL), the Triptyque, the Extrem Lab and some more treasures to come...
This is just the beginning of what I think and hope as a big revolution.
Good Luck, JLC, and Thanks for bringing us such pieces of dream.
Nicolas.
NB: Here I join the Press Files of the MMR, please read it, it's very instructive!


added to Editor's Pick
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-01-18 05:52:58