Jaeger-LeCoultre

JLC launched a few years ago some watches as an Hommage to Antoine Lecoultre, housing some nice complications, the 8 days Power Reserve, the Perpetual Calendar, and the....Minute Repeater, all made in a platinum case.

All these watches have in common a long Power Reserve: 8 or 15 Days, in the case of the Minute Repeater, and a very good level of finish, 41,5mm case, and 44mm for the MMR), and a platinum case.

If at the moment of the launch, there was the choice between the Platinum and the Rose Gold,
nowadays you can only go on the Rose Gold, as the platinum versions are sold out, except for the more recent Minute Repeater.

Please note that the rose gold versions of these 2 watches, as the Titanium Version of the MMR are not A.LECOULTRE, which are only platinum, and with the signature of A.LECOULTRE on the movement...

But, these share quite the same dial, with th exception of the MMR in Titanium, which receives a special open dial.

Here they are:

1/The Master A.Lecoultre 8 Days:

First, the platinum version





This was a LE of 200 pieces, sober, maybe a bit cold, but magnificient!

Then the non limited edition, in rose gold:





Indeed warmer, due to the contrast between the silver dial and the Rose Gold case, in this combo, this is IMHO, the most interesting of the A.Lecoultre 8 days....

This watch is borrowing the tradition of the old - time pocket watches with its small seconds, the presentation is interesting ,and the balance of the dial is respected...

I really love the hand of the Day/Night indicator.
I appreciate less the painted blue hands of the power reserve and of the small second, I'd rather prefer a heated blue hand....

But the case has nice proportions, the thickness is reasonnable,well this is really a watch to consider for those who want to get higher than the normal Master 8 days...Even if the boutique edition, with its stunning ruthenium dial, is also to consider as a more economic, but not less desirable alternative...



2/ The Master 8 Days Perpetual A.Lecoultre:

Here's a HIT...One of the most elegant Perpetual Calendar I know ...

The platinum version is simply gorgeous, and in this case, the combo silver dial/platinum case works very well, even if the presentation is very sober, this is a top class watch!

The dial is perfectly balanced, the legibility is perfect, the calendar is complete, for me it's a 0 default, if only these bloody painted blue hands could be changed for heated ones...

Look at it:



And to add to the perfection of this watch, the navy blue coroc strap matches very nicely with the blue hands...A Hit, sadly limited to 200 pieces, and sold out for a long time ago!

The Rose Gold version has a lot of appeal too.

It has a more warmer look, as for the 8 days non perpetual, the same perfect balanced dial, just a question of taste...







And here a poor macro due to the hard light of the boutique...



But one thing is sure,I really appreciate the combination of a 8 Days Movement to a Perpetual Calendar, and useful too, as it allows you not to wind your watch all day, and not to set the date if you don't wear it for some days...
The Day Night indication is on a Perpetual Calendar very helpful as it provides you a danger zone indication, in which you won't set the date...

I had the chance to see both 8 Days and Perpetual in rose gold, and I have to say that even if I'm not a colored gold guy, in this case , the rose gold gives a kind of charm to these watches, and as an hommage they are, it's a clever combo, maybe the charm of the past?

Here are some pics I took of both watches:







Here are the Wrist Shots...or the ultimate evidence that these JLC are dressy, elegant and very elegant to wear...





One of the very important and positive point of the MMR is to put the light on this little series, very underated, but very desirable too.
It was time to come back to them...

As for a conclusion, the summit of the A.Lecoultre, the MMR, just one pic, as a review was made...



Hope you took some pleasure to re discover these beauties.
Best.
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-03-10 13:34:07 This message has been edited by Dje on 2008-03-11 06:20:31 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-03-14 15:14:25

beautiful JLCs ... and only you have good watches but shirts as well LOL This message has been edited by Ares501 on 2008-03-10 13:43:25

Nice shirts, nice watches, nice people...Wow, that must be Heaven!
Hope to see you there, one of these days...
I have to admit that I re discovered these pieces, but with JLC, there are so many watches, that you never end discovering or rediscovering...
Best, my friend.Nicolas

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Un vrai plaisir de pouvoir shooter ces tres belles montres.
Paris est une meilleure ville pour ça.
Peut etre qu'on n'a pas de soleil, mais on a de tres belles pieces...LOL
Nicolas

Wonderful review and pictures May I ask what you mean by heated blue hands vs. painted blue hands? I also am not normally a fan of rose and yellow gold watches, but I must admit the Master 8 day does look nice in the colored gold. Thank you

The Blue of the hands is traditionnally obtained when you warm them with a flame...
Another simpler solution is to paint them in blue, which is the case, here...Sadly.
But yes, I'm not a big fan of colored gold watches, but in this case...
Best, and thnaks for the nice words.
Nicolas

Hello Nicolas!

 

Your comments on the blue hands made me curious: are the seconds, date and power reserve hands of the RDM heated or painted?

 

Regards,

Marcelo

Hi,

It is more and more the case on Master models unfortunately!

While they are heat blued on the Reverso models!

Dje
This message has been edited by Dje on 2008-03-11 03:38:41

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Marcelo, I believe the blue hands in the RDM (small second, reserve meter and date) are heat blued steel hands, not painted.

-marty.

I wish they are painted

 

Anyone else got an opinion about it?

 

Marcelo

Great report of some magnificent watches!!

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The rose gold models look so radiant that they seem to be glowing. 

Best Regards 

A Retro Look, which perfectly goes on these watches, indeed!

Go and try one, you will be defitinively conquested!

Best.

Nicolas

Appreciate the review and the emphasis on the nuances (eg. painted vs. heat-blued hands).  Thanks for the presentation.

tempusfugit

And this is a wonderful hobby, to make these reviews...

I re discover some of the JLC treasures, at the same time.

Thanks for the nice words, tempusfugit, much appreciated!

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas,

I only have one but looking at this post I am thinking that I may be missing one.

You are truly the pipe piper!!!!

Thanks for the great report.

Bill

The Duo will be a HIT!

Each of these are complementary, as they each own their proper personnality.

I often think lke this.

That's my problem! LOL

Best.

Nicolas

and the way the collection is going I do seem to favour JLC..!!  Outstanding little review again Nicolas.

Just waiting for that golden ticket by E-mail...;o)  Hopefully soon.

Best my friend,

Andy

Not sure you'll have to wait 4 years...
The normal years are even more spectacular as the change of the date begins the 28th of february, instead of the 29th...
LOL
As for the golden ticket, you'll know very soon, at the end of this week!
Best, my impatient friend...
Nicolas

as like you say it has more days to cover to the first of March......so maybe less than a year to find one..!!!

Your little impatient but happy friend..:o)

Andy.

Thanks for sharing, Nicolas.

I adore the Cotes Soleillees decoration on the 8 Days Perp. The best finish, IMHO.

And course, Antoine's signature, nicely and subtely placed.

Amazing.

Pana

Yes, I re thought about this piece, and comparing it to the rest of the production, it's one of the nicest and of the more elegant PCs...
Best.
Nicolas

as a manufacturer and the enamel work Reverso's but never really fancied their other offerings. But that boutique edition, with the ruthenium dial is a winner would love to see it in the metal will stop by the HK boutique to see if they have it. Nice comparison photos by the way  

You may see one in the flesh, but it was a very short run...
Keep us informed...Please!
Best.
Nicolas

Nicolas, thanks for the reminder. One of these days I need to try on the M8D to see will it be too big for me. Otherwise I really like the complication on this watch. The fine finish on the movement is amazing too. Thanks for the pictures.

-marty.

I can't say why, but the 8 Days movements always fascinated me...

I Love the idea that you don't have to wind your watch eveery day, even if you don't wear it...

A bit like if the watch has its own life...LOL

Best.

Nicolas

once again a very brilliant post! I enjoy reading and updating my knowledge on JLC. Just one question...can you describe the visual difference between the heated and painted blue hands? Thanks in advance...

cheers!

sh