There are 4 important dates in the modern history of the JLC Minute Repeaters:
- 2005, which was the birth of the first Master Minute Repeater " A. Lecoultre " in platinum.
- 2006, with the release of the titanium version, with a spectacular open dial.
- 2009, with the birth of the Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater Regulateur, and, of course, the Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie.
- And this year, with 2 ( I don't include the release of the enameled MMR ), Minute Repeaters, one rectangular, the famous and long awaited Reverso Minute Repeater, and a surprising Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater.
This is this last one we''ll see here.
Obviously, JLC took their inspiration from the MMR titanium, here.
The MMR Ti:
Or, even closer, the MMR WG Boutique Edition:
And ... The MGT Minute Repeater:
1/ Let's first have a look on the modern JLC Minute Repeater specificities.
- Hammers or Trebuchets?
Both have been used, with a anteriority for the hammers ( MMRs ) till 2009 and the birth of the Hibrys Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie, which had the priviledge to receive the Trebuchets.
In 2010, the second watch to house the Trebuchets was the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication, and, in 2011, the Reverso Minute Repeater.
The hammers:
The Trebuchet:
The difference between the hammer and the Trebuchet is that, on the first one, all ( the head and the arm ) is fixed, while on the second one, the arm is fixed, while the head is articulated, mobile.
On the Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater, JLC opted for the Hammers, rather than the Trebuchets.
The volume being satisfactory, yet, was it useful to enhance this factor with the use of this latest technology?
With the Trebuchets, won't the volume ruin the quality of the sound, its homogeneity?
Please keep in mind that the use of Ti Van for the case is also an important detail, on the MGT Minute Repeater, as this material is an excellent " sound transmitter ", a detail you can easily hear when comparing a platinum and a titanium or Ti Van example: The platinum will have a " matter " or " flatter " sound, and that JLC also welds the gong to the sapphire.
- The heel of the gong is welded to the sapphire:
At the exception of the latest Reverso Minute Repeater, all the JLC Minute Repeaters use what I can call a specificity, as shown below:
Why such a solution?
A gong vibrates, rather than ringing.
As the gong ( whose end is square shaped ) is in stainless steel in order to transmit the vibrations in the best possible way, you have to choose a material which will not compromise their speed .
What is speeder than stainless steel?
Quartz, sapphire, beryllium and diamond are.
Hence, the choice of the sapphire was a natural and logical one.
With all these technical choices, the Minute Repeaters from JLC enjoy a sound which is able to go over 60 Decibels.
2/ The newcomer: The Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater.
As you can see, a few things are changing, here.
- The dial, which receives a full circle crossing the half circles of the power reserve and torquemeter.
This full circle doubles the minute indexes and hour markers, so we can feel it as an element of style rather than a functional part of the watch, even if it can be seen as a way to get an easier reading of Time, on the watch.
The hour markers on the ring are triangular and gilt, now, as well as the 4 skeleted dauphine hands ( Hour, Minute, Power Reserve and Torquemeter ).
You will find with pleasure the same ruthenium finished plates and bridges of the MMR Titanium.
- The case, which adopts the same diameter than the MMR ( 44 mm ), slightly less thick ( 15, 63 mm thick, which is 0, 17 mm less than the MMR ), and whose lugs are more curved, sweeter than on the MMR, as you can see below:
First introduced in 2010 with the Extreme Lab 2, the TiVan is an alloy of Titanium and Vanadium, exclusively used by Jaeger Lecoultre, and which has the virtuous particularity to be 15 % more resistant than Titanium Grade 5.
I asked if this material has also been chosen for its acoustical virtues, I was answered that it was not the case, and that the goal was to go a step further, in terms of resistance, commpared to the MMR Titanium.
And, to be complete, the MGT Minute Repeater houses the same movement than its sister, the Cal 947.
Here are two additonal pictures, to admire the new striking beast:
This Master Grande Tradition will be limited to 100 pieces, and the retail is around 134 000 Euros, which is not too far from the retail of the MMR Ti in 2006 ( 119 000 Euros ).
An excellent news for those who missed the Titanium sister, and who want to get this futurist look combined to a traditional and prestigious complication, the whole in a very light and more curved case.
Looking forward to reading your comments,
Best.
Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-12-05 02:00:42 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-12-05 02:01:11 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-12-08 07:48:13 
