Jaeger-LeCoultre

The Gyrotourbillon is a phenomenon born in 2004, at the Jaeger Lecoultre Manufacture. At that time, indeed, and as far as I know, there were not such multi axis tourbillons in the market. Greubel Forsey comes to mind, the same year, if my memory serves me well, and I wonder if Franck Muller didn't make one a bit before... 

We could think that the Gyrotourbillon would be unique, would start and end with the One, but it was just the beginning of a saga which I invite you to discover or re discover, now. 

-> 2004: MASTER GYROTOURBILLON ONE: 

A mad creation to be credited to Magali Metrailler for the design, and Eric Coudray for the movement.

So came the Master Gyrotourbillon One, A tourbillon turning on 2 axis, in a different timing: One turn in one minute for the external axis, twenty four seconds for the internal axis.

Jaeger Lecoultre opted for aluminium, for the tourbillon cage, because it is a very light material. 

Of course, the Tourbillon is the king here, as it is the most spectacular part of the watch, with its perpetual ballet, but we should not forget that it is the most complicated Gyrtourbillon made to this day. 

Indeed, it also offers a retrograde Perpetual Calendar ( day, date, month, leap year ), a superb Equation of Time, and a power reserve of eight days. 

The movement is the Cal 177, made of 679 parts, 117 jewels, 2 barrels, beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour. 

The case is in platinum, the original one, limited to 75 pieces, but it also came in white gold and in rose gold, with different dials.

And I don't mention the jeweled versions which came through the years... Or the Hybris Artistica version, unveiled in 2014, in a limited edition of 3 pieces.

The Hybris Artistica:

One detail to mention, the dimensions of the case: 43 mm big / 14,9 mm high, which is reasonable for such a watch. The only weak part of this watch, its case, which I find a bit outdated, now that we are used to the Master Grande Tradition, Master Ultra Thin and Duometre cases... 

-> 2008: REVERSO GYROTOURBILLON TWO: 

With the second opus of the Gyrotourbillon, we enter a different universe. An universe which belongs to Jaeger Lecoultre, of course, since the case is borrowed to an iconic model, the Reverso, but testosteronized. The dimensions of the " old lady " exploded... 55 x 36mm for 15, 8mm high.  Big, huge, and heavy, since the case is made of platinum ( or rose gold, too ), at the point that Jaeger Lecoultre opted for a locking system to avoid the case to accidentally flip. 

The Reverso Gyrotourbillon Two goes very far in one domain, which was unusual for Jaeger Lecoultre in the modern era, the decoration of the movement.

Anglage, perlage, Cotes De Genève, even Clous de Paris, Jaeger Lecoultre went very far in this domain. The Gyrotourbillon One is made with less care. A new milestone, even if the Gyrotourbillon Two is less complicated than the " One ". Indeed, it " only " offers a GMT and and Reserve De Marche on the back side, the time being in the dial side. And here, no 8 Days power reserve, but 50 hours.

Yes, the raison d'être of the Gyrotourbillon Two is... The Gyrotourbillon. Not a combination of super complications. 

The Calibre 174 is made of 373 pieces, 58 jewels, 1 barrel, and is the only Gyrotourbillon to beat at the pace of 28, 800 alternances per hour.

The external cage makes one revolution per minute, while the internal cage goes 3, 3 times faster. 

The big difference with the Gyrotourbillon One? The Cylindrical spiral, the One having a Breguet Spiral. 

The Gyrotourbillon Two is a magnificent watch, with one issue... Its dimensions require a big wrist. It is limited to 75 pieces in platinum, and unlimited in rose gold. 

-> 2013: MASTER GRANDE TRADITION GYROTOURBILLON THREE: 

Another opus, another universe... With the Gyrotourbillon Three, we have a great case, borrowed to the Master Grande Tradition line. 

The lugs are superb, the overall case is very elegant. The platinum version is limited to 75 pieces. We have to add the Hybris Artistica, with a superb tantalum case and black enamel dial, but this is a " piece unique ". 

The Hybris Artistica Gyrourbillon 3: 

The dimensions are 43, 5 mm big, 15, 5 mm high. But in the metal, the watch is very well proportioned, less big and high than the figures suggest. 

The Gyrotourbillon Three associates an instantaneous digital chronograph ( for the minutes, as the seconds are displayed by a conventional hand ) and a different multi axis tourbillon, which is a flying one, and which has a spherical heated blue spiral with two terminal curves. Anecdotal is the presence of a night and day disc, which is more an element of design. 

Different tourbillon, different complication, but also, a different decoration. With the Gyrotourbillon Three, the dial and the plate are hammered. As well as the night and day disc. The level of decoration is very high, as it should be. 

Its movement, the Cal 176 is made of 592 pieces, 82 jewels, has 2 barrels and beats at 21, 600 alternances per hour. The power reserve is 48 hours.

The external cage of the Gyrotourbillon Three makes one rotation per minute, while the internal cage makes 2, 5 turns per minute.

It is a true masterpiece, and truth to be told, a dream piece. The only detail which disturbs me a bit is the presence of this night and day indicator. I would have preferred a GMT, something more friendly, more useful, or nothing. 

-> 2016: REVERSO TRIBUTE TO GYROTOURBILLON:

Don't even think the Reverso Tribute to Gyrotourbillon is a kind of small Reverso à Gyrotourbillon Two. These two watches are too different, in many ways. 

Yes, they share some common points, such as the platinum case, the two axis tourbillon, and even a second time zone + 24 hours. It also has a night and day indicator, while the " Two " has a power reserve. 

The main difference between these two Gyrotourbilloning Reversos is the size. While the " Two " is huge and thick, the Tribute to Gyrotourbillon is much easier to wear on a normally sized wrist, even under a sleeve. Try to wear a " Two ", you will have big trouble... Unless you have an impressive wrist.

The Tribute to Gyrotourbillon case is 51 x 31 mm big, 12, 4 mm high. And this is the TRUE challenge of this watch. Installing a Gyrotourbillon in such a ( relatively ) thin case. 

For that purpose, you have to know that the Cal 179 is only 6, 85 mm high. 

This movement is made of 385 part, 52 jewels, 2 barrels, and beats at 21, 600 alternances per hour. The power reserve is a bit short, with only 38 hours. 

The other big difference is about the Gyrotourbillon in itself. It is a flying tourbillon, using an original balance wheel, called Gyro Lab, used for the first time in the Master Compressor Extreme Lab One, in 2007. 

The second difference is the heated blue hemispherical spring. 

The last difference is that for the Tribute to Gyrotourbillon, Jaeger Lecoultre opted for an external driving mechanism. 

The Gyrotourbillon is very light, almost aerial, in this configuration. 

The speed rotation of the 2 cages is one turn per minute for the first ( internal ), and one turn in 12, 4 seconds for the second ( external ). 

The movement receives its own decoration, soleillé on the recto, hand engraved and skeletonised on the verso. 

To be complete, it is available in platinum, only, and in a limited edition of 75 pieces.

So, each Gyrotourbillon tells its own story. The One is all about complications, the Two is an homage to the Gyrotourbillon with an exceptional decoration, the Three is about Chronography, the Four is a challenge to proportions. Each of them revisits traditional decorations, too. Each of them has its own raison d'être in a collection.  

I cannot resist to the pleasure to share a picture I took with you, featuring the 4 Gyrotourbillons side by side...

My favorite remains the One. I am deeply in love with its original translucent dial, and the combination of complications. 

The Three is my second and close favorite. The digital chronograph is something to be seen in the metal. And its case is superb, which is not the case with the Gyrotourbillon One. 

While I was very impressed by the Gyrotourbillon Two when I discovered it in October 2007, I will rank it at the last place, because I would not be able to wear it. 

The Tribute is less spectacular than the Two, but at least you can wear it. And its tourbillon is aerial, light, very pleasant to see. 

Well, the best should be to own the four of them...

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,

Best.

Nicolas

More posts: Ballon BleuDuometreFlying TourbillonFranck MullerGreubel ForseyJaeger LeCoultreMaster CompressorMaster Ultra Thin

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