Jaeger-LeCoultre

A visit at the Jaeger-Lecoultre boutique in Rome

It is much more than a habit, it is for me a kind of tradition! Every year, when I'm in Rome, I don't miss the opportunity to visit the Jaeger-Lecoultre boutique located on the Piazza di Spagna. First of all, because it is a pleasure to meet Claudia and her team and secondly, because this visit allows me to get a good overview of the current collection of the brand. Actually, the choice of the watches I shoot depends on my mood and doesn't reflect any particular logic. With Jaeger-Lecoultre, the range of styles and of complications is so wide that it is better to have such behaviour! If not, I would have to shoot the full boutique to depict with precision what the brand has to offer to its customers!

Let's enter the boutique to discover the watches I shot. Some are novelties and some others are, I would say, pillars of the catalogue.

I don't have any other option than to start with the Geophysic Universal Time. It is a watch I highly appreciate for its design and its consistency. I don't know why but I find that the dead-beat second hand matches perfectly the UT complication. This watch is actually an inivtation to take a journey through the world. The large map projection nicely decorates the dial and I even tend to forget the two ungainly screws. The watch is large (41,6mm) but due to the complication and the busy dial, it is not a problem because the Geophysic UT remains balanced. And obviously, this size is a good point to enjoy the central map.

The decoration style of the caliber 772 is sober and highlighted by the gold winding mass and the blued screws. The transverse balance bridge is also a nice feature. My only concern about this movement is its rather short power reserve (40 hours).

The Geophysic Universal Time on the wrist. I'm totally seduced by its dial and by the behaviour of the second hand which reinforces the concept of measuring instrument of the watch.

The Master Ultra Thin Squelette in Pink Gold is of course a very refined and delicate watch. It takes advantage of the small diameter of the movement 849A SQ to design a wonderful artistic peripheral ring.

Mother of Pearl and diamonds are perfect companions for this watch which can be worn by men or women. The work on the movement is really impressive and thanks to the outer ring, the small size of the movement doesn't spoil the overall balance.

The finishes of the back side meet the quality criteria of the front. This movement looks like lace!

The Master Ultra Thin Squelette on the wrist. Due to its very high diameter/thickness ration, the watch looks a bit bigger than it is actually.

I told you that the movement looks like lace!

What I like the most at Jaeger-Lecoultre is the ability of the manufacture to explore a lot of different territories. Can you imagine that the previous watch and this one come from the same brand? Ultra Thin and decoration with a very traditional style from one hand, very contemporary design and an innovative approach from the other, the skills and capacities of the manufacture are underlined by these two pieces.

The Master Minute Repeater is not only an aesthetic achievement. The sound quality is also excellent thanks to the perfect combo of the 3 key elements: volume - purety - rhythm. One of the tricks is to use the front crystal to improve the sound vibration without altering its quality. The piece with the notes at the bottom of the dial connects the crystal with the gong heel.

The movement 947 offers a large power reserve of 15 days. It is the reason why the power reserve is displayed dial side but also the torque which is a good indicator of the need to wind the watch even if the power reserve is not running low.

The 44mm diameter and the high thickness of the case (more than 15mm) make the Master Minute Repeater rather bulky but it remains comfortable on the wrist. I like this strong presence on the wrist for such technical piece.

The Master Grande Tradition Perpetual Calendar 8 days SQ may have a very large name but if we forget this detail, is for me, one of the most beautiful perpetual calendar watch of the high end segment.

It is at the same time appealing, charming, legible and technically attractive. I love the way the movement 876SQ is decorated, the discreet power reserve and night&day indicators on the top and the harmonious integration of the movement parts in the overall design.

The dial (better said: the front side) is really mesmerizing...

...like the back side! The bridges shapes create a kind of web which is eye-catching.

The 42mm diameter is generous but the short and curved lugs make the watch very easy to wear. One of my fav Jaeger-Lecoultre pieces!

This Reverso with meteorite dial is part of the Atelier Reverso concept. It is very difficult to catch the beauty of this dial.

To be frank with you, I find the size of the Classic Large Duoface a bit too... large.

Another masterpiece is the Duomètre Spherotourbillon. The time display is located on the right what is logical when you wear the watch on the left wrist... but our eyes are automatically attracted by the incredible show on the left.

We could write hundred of sentences about the magic of this tourbillon. But for me, the key point of its successful behaviour is its speed. Sometimes I wonder how this Duomètre manages to concentrate the energy for such speed!

Despite this 3D effect, the case height is quite controlled with a thickness of 14,1mm.

We don't have to forget that this Duomètre is also a travel watch thanks to its second timezone display! I like the way the date is displayed, it nicely wraps the time display.

The finishes and the two brains of the movement 382:

When I have one of the most beautiful and impressive dial animations of the watch industry on the wrist... in this context, I find the 42mm diameter fine.

The Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic is in mind a field on which I don't expect Jaeger-Lecoultre. But I have to confess that the watch is nicely made with a very interesting case and some nice details. Sadly, the watch is for me too large (46mm) and despite the flange, the dial is a bit unbalanced (look at the position of the date window).

The watch is on the other hand very practical since it offers a second timezone display in addition to the chronograph. I like the discreet way of the night&day indicator between the two subdials.

The movement 757 is of course hidden by a solid caseback what is logic in the context of this watch.

The Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic is nice to wear despite its size thanks to the ceramic case. The colors used on this watch are harmonious and even if this piece is not my cup of tea, I have to consider that Jaeger-Lecoultre did a great job.

Let's come back to the Reverso world with these two wristshots of the Reverso Tribute Calendar. Again, I tend to find the case size too large but the dials, on both side, are very seducing. The full calendar, the spectacular moonphase and the grained effect on one side, the lovely grey and the Clou de Paris guillochage on the other... this Reverso gathers two opposite ways to tell the time what make it fascinating.

Actually, I love this contrast.

This dial looks classic:

And this one, despite all its classic features, looks more contemporary! The focus is made on the day&night display what is a good idea. Usually Jaeger-Lecoultre chooses a very shy way to display it and this time, it creates a very graphic approach of the dial design.

I would like to end the report with this wristshot of the Master Geographic in steel and black dial which is available now with a bracelet. The watch is less formal with such bracelet and maybe more compatible with the summer heat of Rome!

I would like to warmly thank Claudia and her team. As always it was a great pleasure for me to spend time with them at the Jaeger-Lecoultre boutique! Despite its small size, the boutique offers a comprehensive selection of the catalogue and it is the reason why I recommend its visit when you are in Rome. And well, if you visit it during the Summer, it is also a good way to enjoy fresh air in a refined and friendly atmosphere!

Fr.Xavier

This message has been edited by foversta on 2016-08-28 04:14:36