peregrino
211
Thanks for your response!
The everlasting discussion about what qualifies as an inhouse movement, or not, is always interesting, especially today as it is even more important when it comes to the buyers perception of the brand and its competence, technically speaking. I am certainly not a certified watchmovement historian so I prefer to quote (regarding the above mentioned movement);
"... Designed and manufactured (but not finished) by Jaeger LeCoultre as the caliber 920, JLC has, itself, never used the movement in a watch of its own. First available in 1967, the 920 is used to this day by Audemars (calibers 2120/2121/2122) and Vacheron (1120/1121/1122). Patek Philippe, while attempting to produce a reliable, flat automatic design of its own, introduced the Nautilus in 1970 with the 920 (Patek caliber 28-255), and kept the watch in production for 10 years (then switching to the caliber 335SC)..." (Walt Odets, an other watch fora).
I recently bought the new Volvo S60 T5 with a very advanced doubleclutch gearbox and Volvo of course makes the most of this in marketing situations, but of course there is nowhere to read in their information brouchures that the gearbox is actually designed and made by Getrag, a german gearbox specialist company...
So... is the buyer aware of who actually is the brains behind the product? And the story of how the product was conceived?
Thanks for your clarification, tick-talk!
Best,
Rob.
Ps.
You are correct, by the way, I am a huge JLC fan (and owner) but I actually have nothing against buying a Vacheron (as long as it comes with a good, and well designed movement of course...) ;-)
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The Caliber 1120
In writing about the Historiques Ultra-fine 1968 and in thinking about the idea of an ultra thin movement being its own complication, I concluded that there is an inherent desirability to the caliber 1120 and thus the watches in which Vacheron Constantin ...
Which watch with the 1120?
This is a very tough question, Bill... Between the QP Skeleton and the Mercator, I'm waving... Both? Great article, Bill. Now, I have to hunt my first VC... Best, Nicolas.
Like eating potato chips....
it's hard to stop at just one when it comes to Vacheron Constantin! Bill
I'm a simple guy
and so this is my little beauty with cal 1120. It is a ref. 7592 from 1978. It is 33.5mm in diameter - which is fine for my skinny wrist. My collection centers around some of the best, most noteworthy, VC movements. So cal 1120 had to be a part of it. But...
well, it might be coming out of my watch fund...
but for my better half! Did you get a chance to see the newest offering?
I will be photographing the new Patrimony Contemporaine
ref 81530 this week. It is gorgeous! There is also a new ladies Malte model with caliber 1400 that I like. Bill
What a post, Bill!
Thank you for this survey. You know how unoriginal I am in my admiration for this movement. I feel fortunate to have its sister 2121 in my Royal Oak, and my experience with the caliber is outstanding. I would love to have another piece in my collection eq...
The 1120 was in the original as well as the Hisrorques 1968.
Sorry for the lack of clarity in my article. Bill
Wow! That really makes the Historiques 1968 even more special
At least as far as I am concerned. It is amazing to me that a model in the Historiques line uses the same caliber as in the original reference. Wonderful! Thanks for clarifying, Bill
Jaeger-LeCoultre certainly made a fantastic movement! / Rob. [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by peregrino on 2011-09-30 15:01:10
Credit Where It’s Due… / Rob. [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by peregrino on 2011-10-01 01:46:25
Credit Georges Ketterer
I certainly admire the pride, even smugness, that JLC fans have for their reputation as the watchmaker's watchmaker. However, the development of the caliber 1120 ultra-thin movement didn't spring independently from JLC, nor did they develop the movement t...
Subcontractor. There is nothing like a little history lesson to put things in perspective!
I always enjoy your history lessons, Dean. Everybody and his brother already knows who manufactured the 1120 (2120), but many are not aware or forget the "context" under which this amazing caliber came to be. I'd like to think that the cal. 1120 is what i...
What I wonder...
I still wonder about the arrangement that brought PP briefly into the project. Was it in exchange for their patent rights to the Gyromax balance?
Thanks for your response!
The everlasting discussion about what qualifies as an inhouse movement, or not, is always interesting, especially today as it is even more important when it comes to the buyers perception of the brand and its competence, technically speaking. I am certain...
I am not aware of any car manufacturer that is vertically integrated
I am not aware of any car manufacturer that is vertically integrated but it is an interesting parallelism. I guess making a car just requires too many components (sub-components) so that sub-contractors are always in the picture regardless of the brand. H...
Hi Bill, great article, thanks for all the pictures too,
most appreciated all around. Best, Tim
Super caliber, exquisite watches...
Thanks for another great read, Bill. I love the cal. 1120 in the skeleton perpetual calendars and I also have a soft spot for the Saltarello (yes, the one that looks like a bathroom scale). I especially like the way the rotor is embellished in these watch...
Nothing wrong with the Royal Oak.....
I even owned a vintage Jumbo at one point. I'm still enthralled with the black dial Boutique 81180 like you have. But that is a different caliber... Bill
The latest RG QP for me, please: what a handsome boy!
Certainly, the openworked QP in p would be madness, but if I want to be a bit more "realistic": the RG current QP is a dream. I LOVE these simple, nearly archaic looking sticks like hands. Gives this watch a credible "historical" look, that VC always refe...
just one? it would be the limited edition Excellence Platine Patirmony Contemporatine
just gorgeous--and one that really highlights the virtues of this movement. thx for sharing these! J