Amanico's 2012 post offers a historical perspective on Jaeger-LeCoultre's tourbillon watches, tracing their evolution from the 1993 Reverso Tourbillon to the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon unveiled at SIHH 2012. He highlights JLC's commitment to the complication, including the brand's bold move to introduce an 'affordable' stainless steel tourbillon and its subsequent Chronometry Contest win. This article provides valuable context for understanding JLC's enduring legacy in high horology.
It seems that JLC has a soft spot for the Tourbillon, or should I say Tourbillons?
Since 1993 and the birth of the Reverso Tourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre has shown many different expressions of this " sophisticatiion in Time ".
The Reverso Tourbillon:
We can say that since 2004, La Grande Maison, regularly, created something around the Tourbillon.
In 2004, we had two extraodinary watches, the Reverso Platinum Nr Two, and the exclusive Gyrotourbillon one:
The interesting date for the novelty we're speaking about, here, is 2006, the year JLC unveiled the Master Tourbillon.
It was a risky challenge, for the brand and for the Tourbillon.
Why? Simple. JLC released an " affordable " Tourbillon in Stainless Steel, around 30 000 Euros, at this time.
Who else made a serious Tourbillon in this category of price???
OK, the finish could be better, as well as the decoration, but it was and still is a very serious Tourbillon, so serious that it won the Chronometry Contest in December 2009!
The evidence by the picture: The winner on the document which proves that it won the award:
A view on the Cal 982:
Since 2006, JLC introduced several iterations of the Master Tourbillon, all sharing the same case, but in different diameters ( from 41, 5 mm to 43 mm, and last year, a downsize to 39 mm ) and the same principle ( Tourbillon + Date ).
The Master Grand Tourbillon ( 43 mm ) :
The Master Date Tourbillon ( 39 mm ) :
Only one came without the date, but it is another story: The Master Tourbillon " Continents, with its awesome enamel dial:
That being said and reminded, let's see the new " opus " unveiled this year...
Here is the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon!
" Ultra Thin ", I wouldn't say that, as the case is 11, 3 mm high for a diameter of 40 mm.
11, 3 mm cannot be qualified as an Ultra Thin case, for sure, but the case is borrowed to the Master Grande Ultra Thin, which explains the denomination.
BUT elegant yes.
Here we go a step toward elegance, with some delicously profiled lugs, and a pure dial, with nothing else than applied indexes and the tourbillon cage, which will be available in Rose Gold, only, even if we can expect some further developments in noble white metal cases.
An sober ode to the Tourbillon, which remains as reliable and accurate as its predecessor. the Cal 978 ( Cal 982, in for the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon, to be complete ).
One more evidence that JLC is going down in size, which is not anymore a tendance, but a reality.
You know what?
I love that!
Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,
Best.
Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-03-01 00:11:38 This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-03-03 05:36:36 
