Jaeger-LeCoultre

A bit more than 10 years ago, while I began to be seriously interested in watches, I was in a watch shop where I saw a Master Geographique...
I was amazed by this time keeper, as the guy explained to me how it worked, the "officer" case back, and so on...
I remember very well taking this watch in my hands, and shivering when trying to put it on my wrist...
A bit like i was the king of the world...
Well, I ended with a Rolex GMT, but I never forgot this piece, and this stunning brand...JLC.

Here's a bad pic of the beast...



Please share with us your first dream, your first love with a JLC watch...
What was it?
Did you buy it?
What happened?
Best.
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-02-28 08:22:26

While being a watch enthusiast since eight years old, I just had the opportunity to buy my first mechanical watch in 2005, at 35, in Antwerp, Belgium – a TAG Heuer Carrera Tachy Chrono. The watch ignited the fire and I began to collect catalogues from all brands – I have more than 50 – and search the Internet looking for detailed info about the most prestige brands.

 

In the end of 2006 I decided my next piece would be a dress-watch, and I narrowed my options to Glashütte Original, Zenith and JLC. Thanks to the research I’ve made and insights from experts on the field, I decided for the JLC RDM.

 

Last November I had the chance of making a wonderful holiday trip to Europe with my wife. From Brazil and prior to the trip I located a piece at and AD in Porto, Portugal, but, when I arrived there, I noticed the piece has been overly manipulated. Besides, it was equipped with the 928 and not the 938 movement.

 

I was lucky enough to locate a 938 one at an AD in Vienna, four days after!

 

Here is a picture of this beauty:

 

And a macro of the RDM hand:

 

I hope you like it!

 

Marcelo

Wow, really lovely, this RDM.
The thin case, the ideal proportions, the relative simplicity of the dial, with some depth, and contrast...
Very nice.
Thanks for sharing your intimate story! LOL
Best.Nicolas

And sorry for the bad English... I intended to say “experts in the field”.

 

Marcelo

Although I had a Rolex at the time, I consider the MM my first serious watch purchase.  I fell in love with the proportions of the watch and the classic styling - I still prefer it to the Master Calendar actually.

I still have it and still love it.  Other watches have come and some have gone (like the Rolex) but this one is certainly a "keeper" in my mind.

Cheers, Al

But in OUR mind!
This is a beautiful pic ofd a mavellous example of classiscism, this Master Moon!
A keeper, for sure, and thanks for sharing, Al.
Best.
Nicolas

That is a great photo of it, too.  I love the Master Moon.  One detail I like about this watch is the handling of the transition between the last day of the month and the first day of the next month at 12 o'clock. Too often (even on some of the JLCs) it looks like "311" instad of a clearly defined "31" and "1".  It is very nicely handled on this model. 

respo

I remember when I was in college - what feels like a million years ago - I saw a full-page ad of a Master Geographic on the back of a Dutch magazine called "Elsevier" (something like "Time" magazine).

I was impressed - or should I say obsessed ? - by the beauty of this watch. At that time I was not into watches at all. I typically purchased a Swatch every year or so because I'd loose or break one.

I remember calling the phone number at the bottom to inquire about the price. I honestly had no idea how much it would be and was dissapointed to hear the amount was much more than I could possibly afford at that time. This was a period I tried to make end's meet by working all sorts of different jobs, from playing bass in a jazz-trio to working in a ticket booth of a national park. No room for JLC in my budget.

I finally ended up buying a RDM about 10 years later; the week after our oldest son was born. Needless to say the RDM is a keeper. Well; at least until my son turns 18

Perhaps, when my son gets the RDM, I'll add a vintage Master Geographic to my humble collection to replace the void the RDM will leave.  

Regards

Mark

I must have been given a catalogue by a dealer at some time and the Master Moon just stood out as stunning.  I kept getting new catalogues and it was still there, then finally I decided to go for it and went down to my dealer and asked if he could order me one......off he went to speak with JLC and came back and said....."I'm sorry they have just discontinued this model and they have no more SS left.....but it's replacement (master Calendar) should be out next year....!!!!!!"

I was gutted.......but kept following the models.  Finally saw the replacement the master Calendar but it was huge compared to the slender Master Moon.  It was the Moon phase i wanted then eventually I saw the Grande Sun Moon and was in love again....ordered it and had to wait 6 months before I even saw one - which was mine....and it's gorgeous..!!!!!

Andy.

 

Not easy to (re ) touch such a classic model as the Master Moon, whiwh has a perfect balanced dial...
Your Grande Sun Moon is obviously a nice and very good choice!
Thanks to you for sharing this story.
Best.
Nicolas

my first JLC was a Reverso "classique" that I bought about ten years ago.

I remember I was wearing it when my first son was born...

I have sold it after a while because it was too small, but someday I will fall again for the new XLarge size.

As for everyone who approaches the wolrd of watches, JLC=Reverso...
I, as like everyone, thuoght maybe 15 years ago that JLC only made Reversos, " Le chic du Chic"...
And I fell in love with the Géo...
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-02-28 13:03:15

I walked into what was to become my AD, and a great, enthusiatic salesperson took about two hours showing me different watches and introducing me to a number of brands during a special event they were holding. He was good about respecting my price range (we did not spend much time at the PP counter as a result - THAT DAY, anyway) and really talking about the movements inside the watches.  He did a particularly good job of explaining what makes JLC special. The first JLC he showed me was the Master Geographic because it had some of the features I was really looking for. It was and is an amazing, beautiful execution of the second timezone complication.  But I also caught a glimpse of several of the Master Compressor watches and the Amovx2 in the case.  The latter was beyond what I wanted to pay at the time.  Then I went home and did a lot of reading and research (including lurking about on this site), and pretty quickly I moved to thinking seriously first about the MC Geographic (which offered up a somewhat sportier version of the Master Geo) and then about the MC EWC and AMVOX2, with the last two way beyond what I wanted to pay.  Those three models are what really made me fall for JLC, and I ended up within 6 weeks of my first visit to the AD getting the EWC.  My interest has extended to a couple of other brands, G.O. and PP, but I still find that JLC produces the most models that make my heart beat just a little bit faster.  They also produce what are for me the grail watches that I will probably never attain, but that is part of the fun, after all. 

Sorry I do not have a good photo of my EWC to post, but you know what they look like.  ;-)

respo

Respo, you may take your camera and posty some pics, you lazy guy! LOL.
Nice answer, BTW...
Seems that these 4 past years JLC was very active on offering us some nice and interesting watches.
And at the same time, embarassing us at the moment of the choice...
Best.
Nicolas

 

Cheers,

~Asi~

The Memovox is true JLC DNA...
Maybe one day you'll get another Memovox?
Maybe this year? LOL
Best.
Nicolas

But a 1995 Citroen Xantia Speedometer!

on the wrong side of the bed....the first JLC i handled was the Sincere MMR!...still haunts me..

 

sh

Come on , jump on it!
Best.
Nicolas

Perfect size for me and the dial is a work of art.

I really like thet MC Geographic.....

is the dial black or slate ?

The SS version has a glossy black dial.  My pictures do not capture the true beauty of the glossy black.  I am not sure if it is still available, but a few years ago JLC offered Compressor models in white gold.  The White Gold models had a slate dial.

Would you lease post some more pics?
Congrats!
Best.
Nicolas

Actually the avalanche.  I haven't  looked back since.  I also made a good friend; actually a few friends.  Basically this whole community have become friends.

To cut a long story short.  I had been a one Rolex 24/7 man for about 15 years.  Never took it off.  The, I upgraded to the Rolex President Platinum as my daily for 5 years.  I liked the look because it was discreet but I knew it was much more but I did not want any attention.  The missus got fed up and got me off my toosh to start looking for a new watch.

Somehow the Amvox I really spoke to me.  This was merely just over two years ago. Any way here are some pix.

I never get rid of this A I!
Best, my friend!
Nicolas