A new Extreme watch from a World expanding company that wants to wake up the race...

Feb 13, 2007,03:52 AM
 

Here is coming the first sight of the spring. This is not SIHH yet but a first preview is always a pleasure.

Please take some time to discover the new Master Compressor Extreme, the second model in the heavy duty range from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

You can’t live just with love and fresh water, or GCT and black dial Master Hometimes. You have to go out hunting, worldwide and early.

In France we say that the world belongs to those that wake up early (that may even be a title for a James Bond Movie). smile

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm (standing for World Alarm) is here:


Pink gold and titanium Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm “46”

This is not just a strong design. This is a strong design that you can get used to. At first sight to be honest I didn’t like it but then after a few days it grew up on me.

This is not just a large watch. This is a large watch at 46.3mm, a size necessitated by the shock-absorbing and interchangeable wristband system case already seen in the EWC.

This is not just a new movement. The JLC caliber 912 brings us two useful functions. The first is the instant reading of the 24 time zones on the outside city disc and the rotating 24 hour ring, like already seen in the Master World Geographic.


Titanium Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm “46”

The second function is the heir of the Memovox, the new version of the alarm function by Jaeger-LeCoultre. The new movement is more than just a revamped version of the former automatic alarm calibers by JLC. This is a 36.2mm movement, 7.8mm thick, regulated at 28 800 vph, with a 45 hour power reserve. It is quite obviously free-sprung, with a variable-inertia balance. It has an unidirectional winding through an oscillating weight on ceramic ball-bearings. This is the standard “autotractorization” of the Master range of the last years.

But you get more this time. Instead of the traditional case back fixed gong you get a special secret alloy gong that surrounds the whole movement and is fixed by two pins to the case middle.

When the use of the alarm function of the former Memovox calibers was sometimes unvoluntary, you now get a start/stop button. A double push piece located at ten around the city crown allows the bearer to decide whether to start or stop the alarm function. Press on the lower part (under the crown) and the alarm is prevented from striking. Push the upper part and the alarm is activated, waiting for the wake up time.

Wake up / alarm time is settled through two juxtaposed discs visible through a window at 9. Alarm time can be selected in 5 minutes intervals.

Finally you also get a fast adjustment date at 3. Adjustment is made through the alarm function crown, making disappear what was IMO the main weakness of the former automatic alarm caliber.


The “46”, a limited series dedicated to the famous motorbike racer Valentino Rossi

The watch will be available in different versions, the standard steel and titanium with two leather and rubber straps or a steel bracelet and a rubber strap, or limited series of 946 “46” full titanium with two leather and rubber straps or 246 “46” pink gold and titanium with a leather strap and a rubber strap.

The “46” limited models dedicated to the famous motorbike racer Valentino Rossi get a black-laquered engraved number “46” and engraved Valentino Rossi signature on the case-back and a special coloured 24 hour ring. The “46” full titanium model also gets a yellow transferred luminescent 46 number in the dial centre.

Standard steel and titanium models will show a two-tone red/grey 24 hour ring.

Wait and see

Dje


This message has been edited by Dje on 2007-02-20 09:29:43 This message has been edited by Dje on 2007-02-26 08:57:26


More posts: Master CompressorMaster World GeographicMemovox

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WOW !!

 
 By: P@trick@Belgium : February 13th, 2007-04:40
I couldn't resist the EWC, and this one is even better !! thx for sharing this preview !! Patrick

I love the new movement features as much as I hate the watch look...

 
 By: Clavi : February 13th, 2007-05:04
Great news that JLC has finally updated its memovox movement (roughly unchanged over ~30 years and which had several very perfectible functionnal flaws). It seems that all the improvements I have always wanted to see (i.e. the possibility to match the old... 

Yes, Clavi...

 
 By: shari : February 20th, 2007-10:16
...I couldn't agree with you more. The over-sized watch-on-steroids is out of control. This watch looks so busy I dont even know where to look for the actual time. It gives me a headache. I'm saddened that JLC even got into the large watch race, along wit... 

I am so pleased to see... >>

 
 By: Velociphile - No longer in the building : February 13th, 2007-06:18
.. this on ThePuristS you have no idea. Bravo Jerome. The geo-vox combo has been a long time coming and I thought it was cancelled last year; well at least delayed then. Anyhow, I hope this movement gets exploited in a more -ahem- classic set of clothes. ... 

Nice improvement! Thanks Jerome! But ...

 
 By: HerrK : February 13th, 2007-06:43
... though this watch is a nice improvement technologically and with respect to the dial design (the alarm aperture should have been much smaller for the sake of the balance of the dial and as there is no reason to make ist such big) it definitely is a sp... 

Thank you very much for your support Christian

 
 By: Dje : February 13th, 2007-06:48
Thanks for your support. I see what you mean with sport watches and suits, for me that’s like sneakers and suits. But the problem is not the watch but the wearer. Cheers Dje

Interesting SE's... the carbon-dialed version is funky, but honestly (more >>>)

 
 By: Art44 : February 13th, 2007-07:19
What are they doing? Too busy of a look. Seems out of character for them. I truly think the original EWC "Rossi" is the best looking out of all of these... (Picture borrowed from Asi) No "46" on the dial - very tasteful and the combination of functions wo...  

Oh, DJE where it's going to stop?!

 
 By: Doc : February 13th, 2007-08:21
I have said that my Master Compressor Chrongraph was big when I got it, no not the Extreme, just the Chronograph. As time pass on, and it has had a good deal of it's time on my wrist, it keeps getting smaller... But anyhow it's a big watch, in mine and so... 

Hey Doc don't ask me

 
 By: Dje : February 13th, 2007-09:14
Hi Doc my friend, Don?t ask me I don?t know. You know VC does the same IMO with the 40 mm and more Patrimony new models (at least they keep more normal/smaller sizes). As you point we get used to some larger watches (I?m just wearing a 43 mm Ikepod Hemipo... 

Lol !!

 
 By: Doc : February 13th, 2007-12:10

Amazing and definately a good companion

 
 By: Asimut : February 13th, 2007-09:34
to the EWC Rossi,,,,,one being the sports and the other a perfect travel watch,,,, Order already placed BIG SCORE for JLC Cheers, Asi

Thanks for posting this info, Dje...

 
 By: India Whiskey Charlie : February 13th, 2007-10:58
Any pics of the standard "non-limited" steel/titanium version?

Finally! Answered prayers...

 
 By: watchme : February 13th, 2007-14:02
I have longed for a Geographique with alarm, this takes it one step further! -Dean

But do you like it?

 
 By: Dje : February 24th, 2007-01:14

Racetrack names

 
 By: Gary G : February 13th, 2007-22:21
Great fun that on the city disc, many of the locations (Mugello, Donington, my home track at Laguna Seca, etc.) are famous race tracks! I love the appearance of the GR version, and have long wanted a JLC alarm watch, but this one is too big for me. Like m... 

i missed the post. duh!!!

 
 By: Nick664 : February 14th, 2007-02:08
i god i was ofline 2 days and coming back i read that there was some news on JLC (probably EWC related)....gosh... i´m waiting on my EWC to come back from the Factory (24h ring play problem) and would really love to hear the news....(whers the "cry" smile... 

I actually quite like the piece, bith looks and concept.

 
 By: Thomas M : February 20th, 2007-10:49
more comments later, when I have REAL net access. tap tap tap'ing on virtual PDA keyboard - AAARGH!!!! nice one, MJLC!

Yes Thomas,

 
 By: Dje : February 24th, 2007-01:19

Looks cool, but doesn't make a lot of sense to me...

 
 By: Anthony Kosky : February 20th, 2007-13:48
It looks like an amazing piece of engineering, but, to me, a chronograph makes more sense for an "extreme" sports watch. An alarm is something I'd use to remind me of appointments, or perhaps that the opera is about to start. i.e. a watch to be worn with ... 

Titanium/Stainless Steel Version.(nt)

 
 By: Casey : February 20th, 2007-17:37
g...  

Thanks Casey. nt

 
 By: Dje : February 24th, 2007-01:19

Geographigue with alarm is a most sensible combi

 
 By: JoeyJLC : February 21st, 2007-18:24
Maybe I'm too old school but I'd love the original Master Geographigue with an alarm as when one is travelling , a worldtime as well as an alarm is most practical in a watch that can be worn for official functions in a suit. However having said that anoth... 

I share your point...

 
 By: Dje : February 24th, 2007-01:22

I DO really hope...

 
 By: parazzini : February 22nd, 2007-14:10
Well, I just hope there is a transparent back.

Phillip Island on the city dial!

 
 By: tony p : February 23rd, 2007-13:23
The pygmy penguins will be pleased......