Jaw
6177
Exclusive! - A very special JLC-Singapore Airlines Master Compressor Geographic
Thursday, 3rd. June 2004, Jaw reported from Kuala Lumpur.
(The JLC Compressor Geographic SIA Limited Edition. Shown here is the Platinum dial, probably the first time JLC has co-branded a watch with another business entity.)
On June 28th, 2004, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will inaugurate the world?s first non-stop flight between Singapore and New York on their new A340-500 super long range aircraft.
To mark this occasion, SIA will celebrate with a very exclusive limited edition of Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) Master Compressor Geographic. (For the idea behind the Compressor Key Concept, please read our previous discussion here at
http://www.thepurists.com/watch/features/jaw/jlcmastercomp/index.html and regarding the regular version of Compressor Geographic here at http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=234648&messageid=1072852163 )
(The case-back engraving of Regular Compressor Geographic on the left, and on the right, a special engraving on the SIA Limited Edition watch)
The exciting idea of this Limited Edition was first mooted on July 8th, 2003 between 3 unnamed individuals. With sheer enthusiasm and the result of close co-operation between the 2 hardworking teams of people - one from the best Airline in the world and another from a true blue pedigree watch manufacturer ? a very memorable watch was born.
(One of the original ideas was to include the SIA logo only at the city disc, but it was not to be in the final product.)
(The finalized version of the city disc, with the word Singapore spelled out in full instead of Hong Kong.)
This limited edition of Compressor Geographic comes in only 10 Platinum and 50 Stainless Steel pieces and will be offered exclusively to Singapore Airlines PPS Club members. Each watch will be serialized and will bear the logo of Singapore Airlines on the dial, the city of Singapore on the time zone dial (instead of Hong Kong in the regular version) and a special engraving and seal of the case-back commemorating the launch. Each watch will also be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity personally signed by Jerome Lambert, the Chief Executive Officer of JLC.
(Montage of some of the work in progress drawn by JLC designer, Magali Metrailler, under constant and mutual discussion. Calls from her direct to the JLC Singapore team and/or the SIA team led to some welcome changes along the way.)
This Limited Edition watch bears several notable firsts:
1. Jaeger-LeCoultre has manufactured several watches historically for other fine brands; this model marks the closest ever JLC has been willing to co-brand a watch with any other business entity. In terms of the prominence of the JLC and SIA logos side-by-side on the watch dial, this is unprecedented.
2. This also marks the first time, SIA has commissioned a fine watch to commemorate any SIA event.
3. As a goodwill gesture to SIA, JLC has told me verbally that no Platinum version of the regular Compressor Geographic has been produced and neither will it ever be produced.
(The SIA logo and the number fonts ? Magali?s play with the designs.)
Certainly, both parties have been very kind to us PuristS and having been privy to the product development process means that I cannot remain objective and am now in love with this watch.
(The Stainless Steel Case. Note the prominent SIA logo and the city ?Singapore? on the city disc, 50 pieces only.)
This watch will be launched on July 2nd. 2004 in Singapore and I sincerely congratulate anyone who will be amongst the lucky 60.
(The stunning Platinum version, 10 pieces only. JLC will not produce the Platinum Compressor Geographic, even for the regular version.)
My conclusion - A significant and meaningful commemorative limited edition watch!
Specifications:
Functions:
Main Time Zone
- Hour, minute, centre seconds
- Date
- Luminescent numerals and hour markers
Second Time Zone
- Hour and minute
- 24-city disc including Singapore, a first for JLC Compressor Geographic
- AM/PM indicator
- Water resistance to 100M
- Patented compression key at 2 and 4 o?clock position
Case:
- Diameter of 41.5mm
- Cambered Sapphire Crystal hardness #9
- 1000 hour control tested
Seal on case-back:
- Singapore Airline logo
- Seal in 18k gold for Stainless Steel and in Platinum for Platinum version
Movement:
- Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 923
- Mechanical automatic movement, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand
- 281 parts
- 28,800 vph
- Power-reserve of approximately 45 hours
Jaw
