In this insightful retrospective, WatchProSite contributor amanico shares his curated selection of favorite Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces released over the past six years. His personal ranking, divided into 'doable' and 'dream' categories, offers a unique perspective on the brand's diverse offerings, from innovative complications to haute horlogerie masterpieces. This article provides a valuable lens through which to appreciate JLC's recent horological journey and its enduring appeal to collectors.
There are watches which are still doable, and watches which belong to the dream category here.
In the doable category, these are the ones:
First place for the Geophysic Universal Time, for its look, its original complication ( world time + dead second ), and for its new movement ( Cal 772 ) :
The second place goes to the Reverso Tribute Duo Steel, from 2016, for its exquisite proportions ( just a tad bigger than a GT case ), its grainy dial, and of course, its complication ( second time zone ) :
The third place goes to the Polaris. A tie between the 50th Anniversary from 2018 and last year Polaris Memovox Mariner:
The fifth place is for the Polaris Geographique, for its uber cool dial and complications ( World Time and Geographique ). A nice fiction for a Polaris!
The sixth place is given to the Memovox Timer, for its see through case back and the original timer, a reminder of the Memovox Parking Time ( 2020 ) :
The dream category, now:
Here, it is hard for me to rank them.
The " easiest " to grab could well be the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Celeste. I am a big fan of Celestial watches and would love to add one in my collection. This one, with its luminous sky chart, is on the top of my list.
At the second place, but it could be my number one if money was not a problem, could well be the Gyrotourbillon 5, for its spectacular tourbillon, its perpetual calendar and its sublime Westminster Minute Repeater!
At the third place, the Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater and Perpetual Calendar. Because Minute Repeaters are among my favorite complications, and, here, because it houses one of the most exquisite automatic movement!
At the fourth place, the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon. Because it is such a challenge to house a multi axis tourbillon in a limited height ( 12, 4 mm from memory ). And I must say it is an exquisite watch, too!
Of course, there are many others which may be mentioned, here, but this is my personal selection.
Jaeger Lecoultre made some great watches, and not only one or two, from these last 6 years.
I just wish they made more in the relatively affordable range, blending tradition, innovation and modernity. And more Duometres, too. Without forgetting an hypothetical Extreme Lab 3!
Go, Jaeger Lecoultre, make us dream with high end watches, but also with some more " affordable " and daring ones, for us, " mere mortals "!
Feel free to share your favorites, from these last 6 years!
Best,
Nicolas
