Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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JLC Titanium Master Minute Repeater: 3rd Anniversary.

                                                                                       - INTRODUCTION -

There are a few watches which can be considered as " watches for Life " when a Collector thinks about his collection.

Some Time Keepers are getting old faster than we thought, as they loose their original appeal, hence, their power of attraction

Others grown on us, with years passing, and resist to Time.

The Master Minute Repeater ( MMR ) undisputably belongs to this last category.

The first " meeting in real " was " Fatale " for me.

It was during a dinner with some friends, in Paris, in November 2006.

The fascination was so intense that it quickly turned into Obsession.

I tried all to stay far from it: I took pictures of it, I received some official photos, and looked at them maybe 10 times a day, each day, there was nothing to do... Any resistance was futile!

The first meeting in real ( Credit picture: POY ) :



The Press Files picture:



After such an intense treatment, it was even worst than at the beginning: I knew I had to get it.

What had to happen finally happened... After a big " reorganization " in my collection, there was only one question to solve: The Metal.

Platinum or Titanium?

A Pure " Head scratcher ", if you allow me to quote our Dear Thomas.



I first discovered the Platinum model, one year before the Titanium, and it was like a Revelation, for me.



Both the Titanium and the Platinum MMR can be seen as a compelling and modern interpretation of a classical complication, which received a vigorous " Cure of Youth ", but the Titanium goes a step further, in the audacity.

In my opinion, and this is the main reason which drove me to choose it, the Titanium is not only a Master Minute Repeater, it is, ALSO, and maybe first of all, a Concept Watch.

So, since June 2007, there is no doubts, no hesitations, no moments of weakness nor less intense Passion, but a total, always growing admiration for this creation.

How many watches cam make us feel the same unbroken passion?

Let's offer it a pictorial homage, as to fully appreciate its TRUE value.

- The PICTORIAL HOMAGE -

The MMR, especially in Titanium, needs time to be fully appreciated, like any other Masterpiece.

The first feeling, the first reaction is generated by its spectacular " allure " and can be summed in 3 instinctive and almost instinctive letters: " WOW ".

Let's try to discover and understand what is hiding behind this " WOW ", in the details.

1/ A spectacular and unusual look:



Here, the Titanium is an entire open dial, while the Platinum is partially open at 4, 8 and 12 o' clock.

The choice of an open dial is ( almost ) unique for a Minute Repeater, as the other brands opted for plain or skeleton dials ( As Far As I Know ).

The open dial cannot be considered as a cheap or easy way to get a kind of " Sub Skeleton ".

In my opinion, it represents the same risks than a skeleton: Being obsolete, too old or busy looking.

Every selection is the reflect of the poster's own taste, but a skeleton like this one is hard to beat:



While the Vacheron Constantin Minute Repeater plays the card of the Classic Top Elegance, the JLC Ti MMR plays a much more modern " partition ", with great style:



There is a lot to discover on this dial, and a detailled review will reveal its impressive complexity and richness.

Play with Light, move it under different angles, and its beauty will " jump " into your eyes.

- Some sensual curves:



- A visible care in the decoration, and finish. Did you notice, on the picture above, the 3 stylized JL Logo just on the top of the regulator?

Perlages, anglages, brushed parts, all is here:



- A chromatic Symphony in grey, from Darkness to Light, enhanced by some heated blue screws and red / purple jewels, because Life is a Feast.



- A sculptural beauty, organized in a nicely balanced way.

All is thought from the 2 power reserve and torquemeter arches, at the bottom of the dial.

The bridges, and all the parts of the watch are almost chiseled, on several levels.



This " decorum " is really light catcher, and while playing with the watch, you will notice some unexpected reflections, enhancing some brushed finishes, and perlages.





On these last pictures, you can admire the two hammers just under the skeleted torquemeter hand, which sum the aesthetical qualities of this masterpeice: the surface is brushed, the anglages on the sides, the perlages at the base of the hammers.

Even the hands are well chosen.

They are skeleted to not loose anything of the show provided by the dial, and complement the modern design of this watch:



- A well thought see through case back less spectacular than the dial, but not ininteresting:

Compared to the dial, the case back is indeed less surprising, less spectacular, simpler, but it reveals some interesting details.

The " Cotes Soleillées " receive a ruthenium finish, matching with the dark allure of the dial, converging to the small balance wheel, and playing with light, too.

Darth Vader in action...



The darkened movement is another evidence that the watch is well thought and designed.

I wouldn't have liked to see the Maillechort ( German Silver ) finish taken from the Platinum MMR for the Titanium.

The Platinum case back:



The MMR Titanium dark dial is envouting, so has to be its movement!





- As for the case, how can we guess that it is made in Titanium Grade 5?

It is totally polished, to give it this unusual brillance.

Tough, it is a bit darker than the Stainless Steel or the Platinum.

A few Manufactures dare to use this metal for such a prestigious complication: Audemars Piguet, and Jaeger-LeCoultre did it, and, in my opinion, they did well, on an aesthetical , and also on an acoustical point of view, as Titanium plays an important role on this matter.



Some will say that the case is too thick for a Minute Repeater.

Thick, it is, but too thick?

I don' know.

I also learnt to appreciate its generous dimensions ( 44 mm big / 15, 8 mm thick ), even if, to be honest, I would have appreciated a thinner case, let's say 2 or 3 mm less thick.

BUT, is it technically possible?

Let's not forget that this watch offers a very long power reserve, which may explain the important thickness.

Is it really an issue?

As for the Ti MMR, I don't think so.

As previously said, I see the Ti MMR like a Concpet Watch, so it can stand unusual proportions, in coherence with its unusual look.

Therefore, I also believe that it is something we can live with, we can get used too.

3 years after, this is not something I even notice.

A picture is worth a thousand words...



2/ An unique combination of complications.

This watch doesn't only have an outstanding aesthetics, it also associates a stunning series of complications and functions, as I don't know if I can classify the Torquemeter as a complication: The Minute Repeater, of course, but also the 15 Days Power Reserve, and the Torquemeter.

- The Minute Repeater is certainly the loudest I've ever heard.

It was an important criteria for me when I decided to go on the JLC MMR, because a too low sound is not really enjoyable.

The other important criteria is that the sound has to be musical, rich.

I heard more musical Minute Repeaters, like the Vacheron Constantin ( once again ), or the JLC Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie, the JLC Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication, where the richness of the sound is at the top of the category, but, to me, the MMR is an excellent compromise between musicality and strength.

Here is a sound file to allow you to judge the level and the quality of the MMR:



The gongs are welded to the sapphire glass, as the sapphire has been tested as one of the best material for the sound transmission.

This construction allows you to hear your timekeeper chiming in a lot of current noisy places, such as a plane, a train, a restaurant... Without having to stick your watch on your ear to listen to it!

- The 15 Days power reserve:

Let's think about it: How many watches use a long power reserve?

Most of the long power reserve are about 7 or 8 days, exceptionally 10, like on the Patek Philippe 5100, but 15?

Of course, you will tell me that this is not the longer power reserve, as Lange released the 31 days, but it is quite unique!

I, for one, appreciate a lot the long power reserve watches.

It is really amazing to see that your watch is living its own life without needing to be wound every day, nor to be worn on your wrist.

You will aprreciate this " autonomy " even more if you own several watches.

The pleasure of winding your favourite timekeeper on a daily basis can become fastidious if you have to do it, each day, on several watches.

With the MMR, you give around 100 turns to the crown and you're done for 2 weeks!

- The Torquemeter:

This function is far from having to be considered as a gadget.

When you enjoy such a long power reserve, it is always good to be sure that your watch works with regularity, rather than having to notice that it runs too fast or too slow.

The rule is simple: If the hand is above " 5 " all works perfectly.

If under " 5 ", you just have to wind the crown till the hands goes over this repere ( which generally consists in giving one, two or three turns.

So, the Torquemeter can be seen as a nice, useful complement to the long power reserve, as Power is always better if you can control it, for a biggest accuracy .



The MMR is not only original because of its aesthetics, but also due to its amazing and perfectly  integrated complications .

                                                                                            - CONCLUSION -

This 3 years love story is the best of the Tests, as Time, like for everything, can be mercyless, and may enhance the flaws of a watch.

In this case, the flaws are nothing compared to the qualities of the MMR.

The only flaw, to my eyes, was the thickness of the case, but on this titanium version, it can also be seen as a coherent detail of a watch which is designed like a concept watch.





In regard of its thickness, the weight is incredibly light, due to the titanium case, which contributes to the comfort of the MMR, once on the wrist.

What I appreciated the most is, certainly, that such a complicated and sophisticated watch is a timekeeper you can live with, on a daily basis, while it could, instinctively, be perceived as a watch to take care for, to let it mainly in the safe and to put it only on some rare occasions.

Indeed, during these 3 last years, the MMR is the watch I wore the most, which shared, on my wrist, some good and bad moments of a current and intense life.

It accompanied me everywhere in the world, even in some unexpected places such as a Moroccan Desert on a stellar night, enhancing the poetry of the moment, or on the frontgrill of a car...



The Lord of the Rings:



I played with the Minute Repeater several thousand of times, it never failed.

I often monitered it, as I need an accurate watch for my real job, and it always worked flawlessly ( a bit less than one minute slow each 15 days is really tolerable, IMO ).

Here, no deception nor worries...Only an increasing pleasure, a true piece of Art and Poetry for the Real Life.

I wish I will have many other Anniversaries to live with this MMR!

Hoping you will have pleasure to read this post,

Best to All.

Nicolas