Jaeger Lecoultre Master Minute Repeater Titanium: 13th anniversary.

Aug 01, 2020,00:17 AM
 

When the Master Minute Repeater was first unveiled, in 2005, it was the platinum version. 



It was such an instant love that I almost forgot that one year before, Jaeger Lecoultre gave birth to one of their most extraordinary watches, the Master Gyotourbillon One. 

I was starting to dream, checked the list price, and I was pretty convinced that it would tay in the " dream watch " category. 

One year after, in 2006, they introduced the Titanium ( polished ) version with its awesome open dial, and immediately, I forgot the platinum version to fall in love in a stronger way. 

My first encounter with the Master Minute Repeater in titanium, at the Paris Boutique, at the end of 2006, during a meeting with... Jerome Lambert!


Still, the price was out of my reach, but I started to think about a way to get it. I sold a strong piece from my collection, saved a bit, and the stars aligned themselves in a perfect way. The dream could turn into reality. 

The second step was to give some calls, see how I could do it, and here again, green light! 

So, I made a quick trip to Belgium to grab it, on the 31th of July... 2007. 

My first picture: 


You can imagine how I felt, when strapping it on my wrist for the very first time. Few watches moved and thrilled me at this point. I knew I managed to own something really exceptional, crazy, awesome. 

The emotion was so big that it took me a long time to fully analyze this watch in the details. 

I remember every moment of the adventure in Belgium, on my way back to Paris in the train, playing with the minute repeater, making it chime many times, my eyes literally stuck in the dial.  

I remember having spent my first nights with it, playing all night long with it... All these moments are engraved in my brain for eternity. 

Then I started to enjoy the open dial, this living sculpture, the sunray decoration of the darkened ( ruthenium ) movement, the combination of complications. 

That was the minute repeater I didn't even dare thinking about: Young, mad, crazy, daring, revolutionary in aesthetics, but also mechanically speaking. 

Indeed,Jaeger Lecoultre revisited this prestigious complication, reinvented it. First with the gongs, welded in the sapphire glass, the by adding some original complications, the 15 Days Power Reserve and the Torquemeter, to check that the torque is at its maximum during the 15 days. Who else can make that, other than Jaeger Lecoultre?

If a traditional minute repeater can be compared to Mozart, this Master Minute can be associated to a Rock Band. Its chime is louder and still rich, with some awesome figures... 





... And an incredible design:


Without forgetting the polished Titanium Grade 5 case. 

Since then, Jaeger Lecoultre did better, with a certain Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication which is one of the best sounding minute repeater I've ever heard, in all simplicity. 

BUT the Master Minute Repeater in Titanium will remain special, always.

I remember very well having waved a lot between this one and the platinum version, but after all these years, I don't regret my choice. The platinum doesn't have aged as well as the Titanium. 


All along these 13 years, I brought it with me everywhere in the world, it shared my life, the good and the bad moments, it is intimately linked to me at the point it has become a part of me. 






And we are still writing the pages of our common book! 

Here are a few fresh pictures to celebrate this moment.



Not easy to capture its dial, when the sun is here...





Long life to her! 

Best,

Nicolas


More posts: Jaeger LeCoultre

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

What a fantastic read! Thank you very much. The moment you picked it up and how you remember that day..

 
 By: Reuven Malter : August 1st, 2020-00:50
.... i know exactly what you mean! Great story.

Merci, Reuven. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 1st, 2020-00:54

For her 13th she has nothing to do in Paris

 
 By: PoyFR : August 1st, 2020-00:57
Allez fait lui faire un tour à Marseille ;-)

Yes! [nt]

 
 By: PoyFR : August 1st, 2020-03:12

Come on we had plenty memorable times there

 
 By: PoyFR : August 1st, 2020-03:43
this one and plenty more, there and in Suisse-Air-Land ;-) *Unforgettable*

You moved? ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 1st, 2020-04:25

I still remember

 
 By: Quan : August 1st, 2020-01:34
you posted this beauty

Bravo! What a romantic story

 
 By: JTCL : August 1st, 2020-01:47
Also happy to see the watch and yourself in HK

Happy anniversary!

 
 By: fernando : August 1st, 2020-02:04
The ultimate complication IMO. I remember going to the boutique with a friend to check it out. The Ti was also my favourite and the sound from it exceeded all expectations. Both of us wanted one badly but alas, there were other priorities.

I listen to it. ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 1st, 2020-05:11

That is a super super grail..

 
 By: K-Lo : August 1st, 2020-03:39
The pic of the watch on top of the cigarette lighter made me nervous!!!!!!!

I had noticed this watch in some of your other post, wow, what a special one!

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : August 1st, 2020-04:17
Does not look like it aged at all?

Great story!

 
 By: jlux : August 1st, 2020-05:09
Hard to believe that this watch has already 13 years. The design has aged very well and it looks absolutely modern and contemporary.

Merci, Amicu. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 1st, 2020-07:44

Amazing piece, and still looks so fresh today.

 
 By: vitalsigns : August 1st, 2020-07:29
Made in the era of JLC's Renaissance. This one and its platinum perpetual calendar cousin (skeletonized, ruthenium movement) are some of my favorites from the mid-00s. Is this a 41.5mm case? Big on the wrist, but probably not too weighty with its Ti case.... 

So nice. Love that perpetual as well.

 
 By: vitalsigns : August 1st, 2020-10:26
Cheers, John

A love supreme.

 
 By: Gwai : August 1st, 2020-11:54
I don't know you personally, sir, and yet I am moved. This is what true passion reads and looks like. Thank you very much, Nico. Cheers Marc

A great post...

 
 By: p.boxster : August 1st, 2020-13:17
... thank you for such an emotional post!! The MMR is a great piece and surely a joy to behold!! I was also looking for exact this piece but my search ended with another JLC - also a repeater but a different one - not less special. A story will follow... ... 

You are so right ;) [nt]

 
 By: p.boxster : August 1st, 2020-13:59

That‘s it...

 
 By: p.boxster : August 20th, 2020-10:01
... not the right strap yet, but already chiming well ...  

Looks great! And I love the computer screen photo!

 
 By: patrick_y : August 1st, 2020-18:17
This is one of those truly great minute repeaters! Congrats on being able to own such a work of art!

I've got to visit the manufacture with you someday!

 
 By: patrick_y : August 2nd, 2020-11:23
I've still never visited the JLC Manufacture!

We'll arrange that! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 2nd, 2020-11:24

I can't wait!

 
 By: patrick_y : August 3rd, 2020-09:41
I hear that restaurant near the factory is great for lunch!

+1, I'm in 😉 [nt]

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 3rd, 2020-11:24

Noted. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 3rd, 2020-15:12

👍🙏😉😁 [nt]

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 3rd, 2020-15:34

;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 3rd, 2020-16:16

OMG !.. What a piece, what a read. What splendid pics.. What thrilling feel, when you so kindly let me strap it on on a great Paris afternoon

 
 By: hs111 : August 2nd, 2020-06:31
This is one of my fondest memories, spending quality time also with your lovely family, once on one of my many visits to Paris.. I vividly see and FEEL that happy encounter and understood a bit why this great piece can distract, no how it catches people‘s... 

Merci, H. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 3rd, 2020-15:13

😉👍 [nt]

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 3rd, 2020-11:22

Nico!!

 
 By: MTR : August 7th, 2020-09:41
I just saw your post and I am speechless. There is so much passion in your post which includes for me everything this wonderful site is about. You described your way to and with "her" ... heart warming. The fourth from last photo shows how beautiful this ... 

Fantastic JLC

 
 By: Juliusotto : August 20th, 2020-13:28
must be difficult for you to wear something else