Jaeger-LeCoultre

The Gyrotourbillon 1, Magali's Triumph.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that Magali created alone the Gyrotourbillon 1, as it's the work of a team composed by 5 people: Eric Coudray, Thierry Grenier- Boley, André Reymond, Jacques Coulet, and...Magali Métrailler, who was in charge of the design of this unbelievable watch.

I have to admit that I misunderstood and underated this watch, while JLC presented it, as at the same time JLC launched the Minute Repeater who litteraly ate my mind.

I thought, "Ok, that's a nice version and conception of the Tourbillon, but, obsessed by the MMR, I just didn't care about it...That's the truth, a stupid truth, but the truth.

My purpose and my ambition here is not to make another review of this Masterpiece, it has been already done, and I won't do better.

I just want to give my view on this watch I saw another time, quite by surprise, yesterday, at the Paris Boutique.

It was a big shock, as it rarely happened to me, with suddenly this thought...How was I at this point stupid to have not appreciated this piece of art before?

All in this watch is beautiful, all.

The volume of the case, 43mm of platinum, gives weight, and a great allure.Yes, it is a bit heigh, but hey, there is a Gyrotourbillon inside the case, and I don't see how it can turn under a 10mm case.



I really don't know what is the more spectacular, the front or the case back.

The front has something subtle, with this game of transparency, this grey on the inferior part of the dial, and this transparent light grey around the hour and the "equation du temps" counter.
Some again subtle parts of blue with the retrograde hands of the Perpetual Calendar, and all is designed as if JLC wanted to concentrate people's attention on the Gyro, in a balanced way.







Do you want a closer look at this special dial?

Here you are!





The case back is wowowowowow, my english is not that good to find the good words to traduce the feeling I had while contemplating this spectacle.
Note the perfectly decorated parts of the movement, the " Anglages, perlages, polissages", all is very well and artisticly hand finished.





Some more pics in macro style? Ok:





Do you want more life than with these pics? Here is the link:



Yes, Magali made a perfect job on this piece, and all her talent is here evident.
Congrats to her, and to the whole JLC team, for this masterpiece of dream ( yes, the biggest problem is the price) who locates JLC in the Heights of Horology.

Hope that you had a lot of pleasure to see these pics, as I had while taking them.
Best.
Nicolas
PS, this watch is worth a little teasing, no?

added to Editor's Pick

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-01-23 07:51:29

Have to add this to my " Grail " list .

WOW that watch is spectacular.  consider traind the MMR for this watch?? hahaah

When I first saw the MC Memovox in person ,I knew right away that I just had to have one !

Her design influence puts a bold ,modern look to a Manufacturer more known for their classical and elegant looks.

The next piece I'm looking forward to seeing in person is the Extreme Lab .

Hi Nicolas,

It was love at first sight for me with this one and I forgot the MMR, teh exact contrary as yours once again! 

To look at it working is the greatest horological pleasure I've had.

It also helps in the fact that after looking at this one a "normal" tourbillon has a hard time catching your eye, so you're saved.

The Gyrotourbillon 1 is one of my unreachable "complicated" dreams with the Vacheron Constantin perpetual calendar minute repeater with tear drop lugs, the Patek Philippe 3939, 5101 and 5959, the Grande Sonnerie  by  Philippe Dufour, François-Paul Journe and Audemars Piguet.

For sure we'll see a Gyrotourbillon 2 someday!

Thanks for your great work and intense involvement.

Cheers

Dje

And soon, please!
Totally agree, this piece is at the higher place in my Dream List...
I was voiceless in front of it, and Philippe, of the Boutique was amused to see me like that!
I partially agree about the fact tha the Gyro kils the others...Yes, it's evident that this is the most particular and nicest tourbi I ever saw , and I saw many...
But, another one is still alive, after seeing the Gyro I...
The Reverso Platinum skeleton....
Yes, Jerome...Less spectacular, of course, less complicated too, but very refined too, and pefect finish...That matters a lot, for us, watchnuts...
Best.
Nicolas

Hi,

But sorry you should not get it, because if you wear it at work....

Yes the Reverso Tourbillon skeletton is as nice, in a different way.

Cheers

Dje

When looking at the back, there's a wolf-tooth wheel at 4 o'clock....what's it do?

More importantly, when are you going to get one?
-a

1st, for the wheel, I have honestly no idea, I was so lost in the movement and in front of such a beauty that I didn't count even my fingers...LOL
But I'll ask.
When I get it???
Never, I'm afraid!
But if I had the money....
Best.
Nicolas

Hi Aaron,

I suspect that this wheel is the date wheel that acts on the months wheel of the back.

You have the exact same wheel at ten on the dial side.

Cheers

Dje

I thought you were more focused when we visited the Gyro workshop 2 years ago, obviously not... lol

Not many can understand the genius of this piece and it was not surprising to see it is built in a small atelier outside of the MJLC complex. If I remember correctly, 2 people work on each piece and production takes 2-3 weeks per piece.

 Great pics mon ami, well done!

Asi

 

You didn't remeber that I was asking each five minutes for the MMR????LOL
Where is it?
Can I see it?
May I play with it?
Pleaaase! LMAO
When we saw the Gyro I, I was asking again for the MMR...
You know me, I'm like that!
Best.
Nicolas

Nicolas,

Excellent report as always.  Magali is one superStar we hope to see even more of.

Bill

Thanks a lot, Bill, it was my pleasure to share all these pics with you, or maybe a therapy, as the visual shock was intense!

Indeed technically a brilliant watch. An Magalies contribution to the looks of it

could defy a probe by PROPER, no doubt, but: The exception proves the rule!

The majority of Magalies designs are not that symmetrical and balanced.

Great shots and that one looks good on your wrist too! I am surprised that

you did not realise that earlier!

Cheers Christian

The fact is that she created a pure masterpiece of design with the gyro I...That's the evidence...And the Amvox I is very classic, and nice, isn't it?
So what remains? The A II?
Matter of taste, I think that's this is a brilliant watch, IMHO.
The Master Compressor...Not that ugly!
Well , finally, the case is not that difficult to plead! LOLOL
Yes, I was very obessed by the MMR, and I didn't even noticed at this time ( 2 years ago) this other masterpiece...I have a litle brain and littles capacities! LOL
Best.
Nicolas

But I have to say I was thinking from your teasing it was the Extreme LAB...!!!

Little question on the back of the Gyro...there are 2 indicators, one goes J 1 2 3 - D which I assume is the months, the other is a long hand which points to 1 2 3 B which I assume is the leap years.  Isn't the month also shown on the front..??  So is this second one just to save you turning the watch over to set the leap year and month..??

Stunning piece - I find myself every now and again looking at it work on You Tube..!!!

Andy.

Hi Andy,

I suppose that having the months in the back too helps to prevent errors when you set the calendar for the good year in the leap year cycle.

You can hardly see both sides at the same time. Once the year is settled you turn the watch and settle the month, then the date and day.

But to be honest I've not the owner's manual yet! 

Dje

That's exactly what you wrote, I just checked this morning.
Yep, Andy, there was the other solution of the Extrem lab...
Another stunning piece, but I'll reserve my final obseravtion,s and thoughts till the moment I see it again..Now I'm prudent!
LOL
As for the Extrem Lab, my 1st impression is...WOW, that watch is stunning, a real innovative piece, a bit like the U.N Innovision.
These 2 watches are the most innovative I know, and are far above all the others are they give a radical and extrem solution
to the problem od lubrification.
The ultimate concept watches, in a certain way.
But the Gyro is not a Laboratory watch, it's more artistic than the Extrem Lab...IMHO.

... for teasing us with this one, it was worth it.
And it's a petty the price is a little bit high.

Filip

LOL
It definitvely makes this iece a Dream Watch, not affordable, so thinking to get it is a futility.LOL
If the price was 4 time less expensive, I'd really be in trouble.
Thanks for the nice words, Filip!
Nicolas

fantastic report and piece ..... why I was not born as sheik :0((

More than many watches, surely JLC left the door open for a sequel by naming this first creation Gyrotourbillon I.

 

I wonder what JLC could possibly have in mind for us? A triple axis rotary tourbillon? More astronomical complications to compliment the rotating spheres?

 

What would you like to see?

 

Great overview, Nicolas; can’t be reminded of this marvellous creation too often.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

I thought like you that we may have a Gyro II. But I didn't see nothing in 2006, nor in 2007...
I'd like a very sophisiticated pîece, with the maximum level of finish for the dial and the movement, the kind of piece that kills all the others...
Gyro I was launched in 2005, so, now that we are in 2008, it means nothing, maybe this year, maybe next year, or ...never...BOUUUUUUU!LOL
Who knows, God apart?

Thanks Nicolas,

 

I imagine there would be quite a long gestation for a watch that adds something progressive and new to the already amazing Gyro I.

 

Happy to wait and see what JLC have in store.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

 

God=Jérôme Lambert?  Norbert Platt?  I guess someone knows!

I took this one last summer through a microscope that JLC had set-up for us.

http://media.putfile.com/Gyrotourbillon

Enjoy!

Al