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Thanks! That was the idea behind the article - to bring
to light the difficulties with such a movement. And true, there is one person with the required skills. Hence production numbers being so low. I found it heartening that JLC still preserve so much of the skills required despite the cost.
Thanks again
Andrew H
A Gem of a Watch for a Diamond Year – the Jaeger 101.
[The Queen and her watch: notice the slim bracelet on the wrist of the Monarch] On May 13th this year Jaeger LeCoultre was chosen as the timekeeper of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubillee. A short presentation and ceremony took place at Windsor Castle. The...
Thank you very much for this review...
absolutely fascinating. I find it so bizarre that JLC is not mentioned in the same breath as the other "big 3", surely it is more innovative and certainly has designed and manufactured more movements in more forms than all the other 3 put together. Bravo ...
Could not agree more. I always wondered the same
myself. Here is the crux that I cannot get my head around. For years, JLC movements were the base ebauche behind some of the big 3, and only because of the endless posturing on finishing did the big 3 reputation remain. The horological brains behind it la...
Great presentation!
Thank you, Andrew! Awesome photos and write up. Thank you for sharing! :) Best Blomman
Really a GREAT post, Andrew...
and it gives JLC just one more reason to shine in the horological universe. Though I doubt we'll ever see wristwatches using such small dials, I can foresee pendant watches, ring watches making occasional re-issues for those who don't want to "wear" a wri...
Still the same way. A couple of watchmakers are
qualified enough to work on the 101. There are some pieces at Boutiques, but otherwise, it is by order only. Something of an unsung heroine for the JLC line up. Must be one of the longest running series in near continuous production. Pre-dates Reverso and...
Thank you Andrew!
Hi Andrew, Thank you for this very interesting read about a so much under rated marvel! I'd love to offer a 101 to my wife someday (and the extreme opposite Atmos Newson to myself). Best Dje
You and your wife have very similar tastes to my wife and myself...
would go with the same choices! :) Andrew H
Thank you Andrew
for this very informative post. One gets to know so many new things everyday from this forum. I couldn't imagine that there is only one person with one set of tool making the balance spring and wheel for the Gyro2 and 101. The next time I get to see a 101...
Thanks! That was the idea behind the article - to bring
to light the difficulties with such a movement. And true, there is one person with the required skills. Hence production numbers being so low. I found it heartening that JLC still preserve so much of the skills required despite the cost. Thanks again Andr...
Superb post.Thank you...
for this galore of info on smallest movement ever Kudos to you and JLC Best regards Damjan
Yes, this article had certain personal costs in terms of
my better half.... :) Andrew H
Superb presentation Andrew!
This is a major reason why I frequent PuristPro; the incredible wealth of knowledge and research. Thank you sir!
Thanks for this interesting report...
I saw some of these movements at JLC and just imagining working on something this small gives me a headache. But it is marvelous. Don
Imagine! The camera had trouble with the autofocus the parts
were so small! Did marvel at the special spectacle attachments! Looked like the toy restoration guy out of Toy Story 2! Andrew H
Great post on a small movement
Thank for your great post. Probably a very underrated movement amongst the all the powerhouses discussed here. Unbelievable how such a small piece can function. Although not for my wrist I'm very much in love with the Reverso 101. It really sets the case ...
The Reverso 101 really did stand out for design and
the work on the movement. The work on the movement was from Sylvain Golay's design when he produced a skeleton movement. Sylvain has since retired, but lives near by the manufacture. A character for all those who met him at JLC. Shows how 'old' skills can...
Cool aren't they! From a time when discretion and
concealment were lauded rather than the necessity to wear the biggest and/or the brightest! Would love to find a pair at auction. Andrew H
Actually, those cufflinks have a caliber 104, not cal 101
The platinum cufflinks pictured in your post once belonged to me and were sold a few years ago to the JLC Heritage Gallery. The watch inside the cufflink was actually an unmarked caliber 104..... much rarer than the caliber 101 and only a fraction larger....
Great to read you, Greg! It was an eternity. Thanks for the information, my friend.
Nothing is better than the source! ;) Best, Nicolas
Try again.....
a picture of the caliber 104 movement inside the cufflinks another picture of the platinum cufflinks ...
Superb presentation of a wonderful artifact...
very well done in both text and images. I did not know that the same specialists work on the 101 as well as on the Gyrotourbillon. This stresses the fact that miniaturisation is an often overlooked complication. Again, thanks for taking the time to presen...
Thanks Magnus - much appreciated. If you look on the
watchmakers bench, you can see part of the Gyrotourbillon dial. He was working on both at the same time! Also on the bench is his own design of cover for the 101 movement as others did not fit over the special vice to hold the movement! It really is that ...
Great piece
Thanks Andrew - a great piece on one of my favorite movements. Amazing how rare they are in the used market. Have kept my eye out for the Reverso 101 - but have failed to see one yet. And those cufflinks are amazing. Where did you come across the cufflink...
In the MJLC Museum! They allowed me special access
with the Curator. I was allowed to see designs/watches/movements. Fascinating stuff. Andrew H
Thanks for the post about an amazing calibre Andrew
I had the pleasure of seeing a pair of 101 cufflinks (possibly the same ones) in person a few years back. They're fantastic. Of course with a 101 movement inside how could they be anything else. Last year I almost bid on a platinum women's watch just for ...
I think JLC should give the cufflinks some thought...
something out of the ordinary. Perhaps for 2014 for the 85th anniversary of the movement! Start lobbying now! Would take that long just to get a special edition of (say) 25 into the market because of the production possibilities on the movement!! Andrew H...
A jewel of an article, Andrew.
The Cal 101 deserved such a post. I was thinking about working on it, you made it, in a brilliant way. And to include a picture of a modern Reverso displaying this movement should lead JLC to think about a non jewelled version, in an " Ultra Thin " case. ...
Thanks Nicolas. Given QEII involvement with the watch
and this being the Diamond jubilee - it seemed fitting to write to celebrate the watch and movement now. Thanks for the kind words and hope to see you soon. Andrew H
Brilliant post Andrew
We sometimes let the small things slip by in awe of the next multi-axis/quintuple complication. The watchmakers behind the 101 and the production numbers are quite a revelation. The men's cuff links are very nice. With a good designer, and I'm afraid the ...
Thanks Damien. Always thought the 101 was a bit of
an unsung hero(ine). Appreciate the kind words. Andrew H
Another 101
Pity I cannot see behind the Queen's watch to see any writings or marks behind the casing. I have a feeling this was an early prototype model 101, EJ licensed to some other jeweler. I would love to compare to a watch I have here. This one has no markings ...