Jaeger-LeCoultre

My dear fellow purists,

A few months ago some of you might remember me choosing between the RDM and the Amvox I. One of you guys adviced me to look for a Master Reveil, which is a good combination of the two watches you mentioned. Well of course this watch is out of production for some time now, so I went for the RDM and am very pleased with it. Still I couldn't help searching for a Master Reveil and just a few weeks after purchasing the RDM I found one of the latest produced Reveils on sale on the internet. I'm not much of a gambler, but well you have to take some risks don't you (you don't find a lot of these birds for sale these days), so I paid the money and waited for FedEx to arrive just a few days later.

At first WOW what a watch, but then HORROR; the hands weren't alligned correctly. Luckily there were a few weeks of warranty left, so I brought my new toy to my AD and it was send to JLC right away. Now I hear a lot of stories about bad service at JLC, but not for me. After seven weeks I got a note from my AD that I could collect my revised watch with new brown strap (short, because the strap it came on was to big for my wrist). So yesterday evening I rushed to town to get my precious back and here it is guys. The seller had it polished, so no scratches and dents visible. It looks pristine I would say.

 

So what about this watch. The case size with its 38,7 mm (according to the 2004/2005 catalogue I was lucky to acquire on the internet) is just perfect for me. Not to big, and not to small. The size also suits the watch very well. It’s quite chunky due to the thick case. This is a feature that goes very well with the Master Reveil. The bezel seems quite prone to denting so have to be carefull for that. And the dial; just fine I would say. Very clean with this great inner ring for setting the alarm. Oh yes the alarm what a charm. I heard a lot of you JLC fans describing the sound of it. It’s fantastic. I never thought such a piece of delicate machinery could produce such a sound. Wonderful!

 

 

 

Well I don’t think we have to discuss the movement here. Calibre 918 in this watch still with the 22-carat oscillating weight segment (for what that’s worth). The rotor makes a hell of a noise though. Quite different from the RDM but still noise. I suppose this is just one of those things that makes JLC watches different and special. I’m a happy fellow.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

Best,

Starman

One of those, Starman.

Think a bit about it, my friend.

For over 55 years, JLC produced Alarm Watches!

And the Master Reveil is,n as you said, the last Alarm Time keeper ( well, let's precise in a dressy watch ), which is the heir of this great tradition, of the first Memovox.

If one watch deserves the title of Cult Watch, it may be the Memovox, and this evolution, the Master Reveil.

Now that we got the Polaris, and the Navy Seals alarm, I strongly believe that it is time to see the release of a New Memovox.

Big congrats, my friend.

you did well!

Best,

Nicolas

Thanks Nicolas, not only for your kind reply, but also for the fact that you started the Memovox fire burning in me. A new Memovox? They should probably do it but not for me anymore; I have my holy grail.

Cheers,

Starman

Hi,

Congratulations on getting (back) such a marvel!

I love this Master Reveil and I definitely lack it in my Memovox collection!

My four black dial babies need a silver lady to join them!

Cheers

Dje

Well quite a fat one and it sings too (LOL). You know; I've always been more into black dials over silver ones, but these JLC silver treasures can't be beaten IMO. Still, if I run into a black dialed Memovox (or any JLC for that matter)....

Best,

Starman

I am a bit interested in this rotor noise as I have read others describe it as well. As I have understood it is also present in the newest incarnation of alarm watches with the calibre 956 (polaris re-edition, navy seal alarm ... and possibly the new Amvox Racing???). Does anyone have any further info? Does the resonance of the case amplify the rotor noise because of the alarm feature?

Your watch is a beaut!

All the best,

Rick

Due to the ceramic balls of the rotor.

Nothing to worry about.

Best.

Nicolas

can feel the smooth winding. It is the matter of production in different decade.

You are indeed in deep trouble my friend (LOL).

Best,

Starman

I talked about a hell of a noise but lets say it is noticable pretty much. With the RDM it is clearly rotor noise. Maybe with the Reveil it is more due to the alarm function.

Best,

Starman

There may be two soucres which generate sound

1) the hammer for alarm function.

2) or the noise in question that from the rotor you mean

 

For 1), the hammer will be free if no power in the alram mainspring, it may hit the gong. However, once the alarm mainspring is with a bit winded, the hammer will be engaged. The sound in this (1) will be disappear, or it trigger the alram if it is on the pre-set alarm  time .

 

For 2), cal 918, I do not notice the rotor noise at all when compared wit hthe movement housed in the tribute to Polaris.

 

Hope yours are defect free. LOL

LOL LOL LOL

Well, the wizards at JLC just serviced the poor thing, and it performs outstanding, so I am not worried a bit. Lets say that every time I hear my watch I know it works. Now you again. By the way the Polaris houses the 956 movement no? I don't thinks you can compare it to the 918. Maybe it's the same with watches as it is with people; those who complain the most will die last.

Best,

Starman

It great to hear yours returned watches is up to your happiness while I have no problem of my watches as  they are normal and as expected.

 

Hope to see more photo on your nice Master Reveil. Have the colour of luminous dots on yours turned yellowish?

Cheers

Well I am very happy to hear that your watches run trouble free and I hope you wear them in good health. Lets hope that will be the case for all of us, with or without rotor or other noises.

Cheers,

Starman

Forgot to answer; no they did not turn yellow. I saw some earlier examples that did; maybe they started to use other stuff later?

Best,

Starman

While The later ccame with luminova indexes, like yours.

Best.

Nicolas

thnks so much gent for your post. a pleasure, such a nice pix!
cheers. olivier

No message body

you have good tastes my friend!...

A really nice watch with lot of History behind... a great hunt.

Hope you enjoy it in the best of health.

Best

Emilio

…the RDM? I would love to see your pictures of it!

 

BTW, the salesman who sold me my RDM had a Master Reveil

 

Marcelo

Please check out an earlier post with some pictures of my RDM. For being such a great RDM fan I missed your reply on my post last December

I will take some pictures of the RDM and Reveil together. They are a great couple; the RDM being a bit more dressy than the Reveil IMO.

Best,

Starman

Looks great, Starman! Now, as you said, we need to see this beautiful couple side by side

 

Have a nice week! 

Marcelo

Wow! That is really a beauty!   I love the new strap you have on it.  The MR is quite dressy looking to me, and it is a shame that JLC no longer produces a dressy alarm watch such as this.  Congratulationson finding it.  Let it ring!

respo

Hi all!

Congratulations for your watch!

I got one like yours (circa 2003) 2 months ago but I've just realized this weekend that the manual winding operated by the 4-hour crown just don't work! I was trying to start it last saturday and it didn't started till I operated the position 2 of the crown to set the hour....

I suspected it a week ago when I winded it at night and the next morning it had stopped.

By the other hand:

-It has a constant deviation of -20 seconds/day on the wrist and all other positions except crowns up (-15 s/d). It seems to need a little adjustment, doesn't it?

-The alarm rings for around 10 seconds at its best, Is it normal? Starman, what about yours?  I've read that it should be ringing for 20 seconds more or less...

So, is it time to get it serviced? Anyone knows how much will it cost more or less?

I've got it guaranteed by the seller but it's not an JLC AD so I don't know what to do about the problem with the manual winding: the automatic winding works perfectly, with a power reserve of about 50 hours, so the fail doesn't "hurt" so much on the funtionality, but I would prefer my Master Rèveil at its 100%.

Apart from this, it is nearly pristine. Here it is:

Any help will be appreciatted. Thanks and sorry, Starman, for this interferences in your post!

Yours,

José Miguel.

PS. I'll try to search that catalogue too!

I've got mine also a few months ago and guess what; it also came from Spain! Maybe you Spanish guys are fed up with this watch and put them for sale on the internet . I didn't see yours though; was it for sale a long time?  Anyway mine is operating great now. I don't know if the winding is alright; I winded it manually yesterday morning and this morning it stopped. Probably didn't wind it enough then? As you probably read my watch was serviced at JLC, so it should run problem free now.

A question to you José; what sound does it make when you wind manually with the 4h positioned crown? Mine makes a zzzzzz like sound. Completely different from my RDM which doesn't make any sound whilst winding it manually. Just another caliber I guess?

Many congrats on this beauty José and may you wear it trouble free in the best of health.

Best,

Starman

Hi my friend!

Mine was too little time for sale! Let me tell you the story: By December I saw a Master Revèil at the dealer's internet webpage; My heart started beating fast but my head told me to take a cold strategy: I should wait to see Christmas over to open the door to a possible negotiation with the dealer. So, at January the 12th, I took some vacation (2 days), took the money in cash in order to improve the possible final price and then I went home to sharp my knives...Only one day left to haunt my watch. 'Let's do it tomorrow morning' I thought. So, as I was doing everyday, I sat on my sofa and connected to the internet to see my victim in the dealer's catalogue for the last time but....OH MY GOD! IT HAD BEEN SOLD!

What a pity! My heart was flooded with a rare sadness!

So I thought; 'OK, I've lost my train; So let's cheer up and wait for another prey....I can't do anything more...'

I suspect that it was your MR! (I'll send you the link by PM)

But, a few weeks after, there was another one for sale!! I coudn't wait more and went for it!  So it was for sale for 2/3 days. Here it is now!

So, let's see:

-The sound of the manual winding by the crown at 4: Yes, its like zzzz, but with a periodical slight "clic" every half turn that can be heard if you put the ear very near. But I think mine doesn't work, because I tried to start the movement using the crown. Hope to be wrong!

-What about the ringing time in yours? Mine are 9 seconds of angel's harps, but I wonder if it's less than it shold be.

-and precission? Mine are 15-19 seconds/day.

Best,

 

J.Miguel.

Maybe he has a small factory making only Master Reveil watches. This is almost to much coincidence Well my dear friend welcome aboard on the Reveil team. Let us be happy to have found our gems. It seems a lot of our friends are still looking for these rare birds. I haven't counted the dure of my alarm ringing. 9 - 10 seconds isn't that bad now is it? I will try some time later and let you know my findings.

One advice; just send your watch to JLC. Okay, it will cost you but first you'll be sure the problem is well fixed and your watch is cleaned and services. They can also adjust it, cause I think yours is running a little to fast (nothing much to worry about though. It should be services aprox every 4-6 years anyway. And second there will be a year guarantee on the repairment, so if it isn't fixed sufficiently JLC will try again without you pulling the old wallet again.

Good luck!

Best,

Starman

Thanks my friend! That's what I'll do!