hs111
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A visit to the Vallée de Joux - Or how to enjoy a great day at JLC - Part 2
Friends, if you have visited my Part -1 from my recent visit to
the "Mothership", the Manufacture of LGM in Le Sentier,
here the story of Part -2 continues.
Here now the Entrance to Part 2
Had a great companion on my wrist: Geophysic UT - Then a quick cup of coffee
Our group gets the Labcoats & Badges
Here the Team of JLC, which will take perfect care for us
great JLC visit & guide Team - all a pleasure to meet & listen to
What was different, yet really unexpected was the rather new strict
rule of No photography, in all workng areas and Ateliers, Nothing, Nada !
This new policy has been introduced for various security & safety aspects,
we were told.
Now, as much as I can understand this, it limits me here to only a rather comprehensive
report, and no pics from inside the Métiers des arts; especially no details
of most processes for creating, composing, compiling, emailing,
painting and assemblng these small wonders.
What has been successfully done however,is to coordinate all groups working
for a common goal, let's say Grandes Complications, but also on more
mundane watch types into "Ateliers". These are circumvented by glass walls, with
controlled pressure system, to keep dust out.
What is nice that within a major section, visitors will find a central goass walled island, with
seatings and a large, really large round table encasing a screen in the middle.
From there a very sophisticated tv-circuit system, rh by a tablet is connected
to the working spaces of different work-steps, with the microscopes;
and the observer can now see with the eye of the watchmaker,
the painter etc. This obviously has helped JLC to canalize but also improve
the visual experience for the guests. More importantly it also prevents
disturbance of the artist.
Furthermore, one of these obvervation islands/ sections houses a special
auto-focus electronic microscope, also connected by a video link to
a big tv screen on the wall of one the "cockpit" areas, where visitors can sur & see,
talk & also ask questions to the Master
The guide, mostly one of the Master Watchmakers,can take a given watch,
magnifies it via electronic Microscope, connected to TV camera for
optimal enlargement and can introduce & explain step-by-step.
This all to be enabled to pinpoint at very small parts of movements, case or dial details, or
ways of decorum , such as Côtes des Geneve & de soleil, Perlage & Anglage or Cloisonné
even often are not that clear with a regular standard loupe. - That system therefore is also
a great teaching & demonstration tool.
We were also shown ateliers, where some of these fine pieces are created or compiled.
Miniature work, often done by female specialists: the glueing of anchors with "Shellack"
Back to the watches:
We were shown several from the Master & Reverso series but - big luck for us - quite
many in the collection were from the Duométre family, which was absolutely stunning,
when explained and demonstrated by the Master watchmakers.
- Actually in the end of the day, we then were given ample opportunity to see,
touch & handle some ofthese fascinating pieces.
Finally, just wanted to mention, that there is a big department with metal work, melting,
turning, drilling and generating larger, even complex parts, steered by CAD driven
precision machines. Also there are still several, old, traditional machinery devices,
hand-designed for very specialized steps of work, still doing great duty.
It also is important, that all the time, at many, many intermediate steps
of the process quality control steps are performed, followed in the end with
the encased movement by the well known JLC 1000 hour control test.
Ok, guess that this is enough of my lengthy general dwellings, but you have to take these
descriptions for the actual work areas & departments.
The following imagery part will then highlight & illustrate, the partial demonstration out of
the 2016 collection, but also some stunnng Haute Horlogerie pieces, mostly
seen for the first time.
It also contains one or two elements of humble personal interest,
but that might well be another little story here in the future..
A new sporty contender: Master Compressor Home Time PVD
Tribute Duo - often seen temptation
Verso side with Jour e Nuit in Blue
Grande Duoface: A classic Recto with Joyr e Nuit
Interesting Verso side: with Clous de Paris and central white rays & central turning movement disc
And now, my dear friend Nico, the next couple pics are specially for you,
although the Duométre á Chrongraphe was not presented there..
UTT in WG with the special chiselled artwork, which I like a lot, and with the great red cntrast of the hometime part.
Great travel companion, setting world times to the minute
Although no goldguy, this RG UTT can be an emotional exception
An elegant, yet functional face. - Really like the digital hour & time
Rare Duo: not 1 but 2 Spherotourbillons, the right a Q Lunaire with the staircase to the Tourbillon window
Duométre Quantieme Spherotourbillon
Q Lunaire in WG & Email Grand Feu: that dial is an amazing piece with a smooth & soft appearing shine
Esoteric & cosmic view onto a stellar sky with regular & sidereal time - A mesmerizing appeal
UTT in WG with the special chiselled artwork, which I like a lot, and with the great red cntrast of the hometime part.
Great travel companion, setting world times to the minute
Although no goldguy, this RG UTT can be an emotional exception
An elegant, yet functional face. - Really like the digital hour & time
indication of the hometime
Rare Duo: not 1 but 2 Spherotourbillons, the right a Q Lunaire with the staircase to the Tourbillon window
Duométre Quantieme Spherotourbillon
Q Lunaire in WG & Email Grand Feu: that dial is an amazing piece with a smooth & soft appearing shine
Esoteric & cosmic view onto a stellar sky with regular & sidereal time - A mesmerizing appeal
1st time ever seen & touched, handled and worn.. Quite an experience..
Maybe another temptation: Classic Large Duoface with blue Aventurine & starry sky & moving center
Friends, guess that was it; hope you liked the report & the pics a bit
I can only recommend a visit to the manfacture to everyone,
and I truly enjoyed the time there a lot.
Also seeing & enjoying this location, has increased not only my
understanding for watchmaking but also deepened my appreciation
towards La Grande Maison.
Cheers & Best,
hs 
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A visit to the Vallée de Joux - Or how to enjoy a great day at JLC - Part 2
Friends, if you have visited my Part -1 from my recent visit to the "Mothership", the Manufacture of LGM in Le Sentier, here the story of Part -2 continues. Here now the Entrance to Part 2 Had a great companion on my wrist: Geophysic UT - Then a quick cup...
Thanks for bringing us in the virtual visit, my friend.
I know this place by heart, and yes, it is quite bewitching. I see that you visited the rare crafts workshop, as I did some three weeks ago. A pity you couldn't take more pictures. Did you visit the Spécialités Horlogères workshop, as well? And did you li...
Yes, bewitching is the right word !.. Yes, visited the Spécialités WS, absolutely amazing !..
.. Only listened to the Grande Sonnerie but not yet the MGT GC.. Maybe for next time, as the Heritage Gallery, I mean the Patrimony Museum is renovated & redesigned. So I truly have to go there again !.. Cheers & Best, my friend hs
Thank you for sharing with us your visit at the JLC manufacture.
I will go there in the future to see, if possible, all these beauties (2 spherotourbillon yum-yum). Best wishes Alkiro
You saw some very nice watches, HS! :)
Thank you for sharing your trip here with us! Best Blomman
Thanks for sharing...
I love the Duométre's family altough they play in another league for me. Those dials are awesome! Regards Fernando
Thank you so much for your kind comments.. Although the Duométres really are " big stuff" & definitely beyond..
.. for most of us, the experience of seeing, touching and wearing them for some short time was hilarious ! Best, hs
Very, very cool!
And well worth the additional day of waiting Looks like you had an excellent time and your description of the visitors\' experience is very intriguing. Simply well designed, I\'d say. Thanks for this extensive report!
Thx for your kind looking, KMII !.. Your nice words are really encouraging.. glad you liked the report.. Was a great experience !
My very Best for your week ! Best, hs
Wonderful report hs, it brings some great memories back to me
From a trip to La Grande Maison a few years back. Btw, the strict no picture rule was already in place then, back in 2012. Thanks a lot for sharing, I can understand your feelings after this trip. Best Stefan