Amanico's post offers a rare and intimate glimpse into Jaeger-LeCoultre's Grandes Complications Workshop, focusing on the captivating world of minute repeaters. His account of hearing multiple minute repeaters in action provides a privileged perspective on one of horology's most enchanting complications, underscoring the artistry and acoustic mastery involved.
" Do you want to hear some Minute Repeaters ? There are some which are available at the Grandes Complications Workshop "...
This is the kind of proposition you can't refuse, even if the program during my visit was more than busy.
So, you take the lift to Heaven, a kind of horological version of " Stairway to Heaven ", just the time to psychologically prepare yourself to the acoustical shock, and here you are...
Christian Laurent, the Master Watchmaker is waiting for me with a big smile on his face, as he well knows my unconditional love for striking watches.
Indeed, a few years ago, he set my Master Minute Repeater Titanium according to my desires, and we had many discussions about Minute Repeaters.
He prepared a breathtaking selection of watches:
- A Master Minute Repeater in platinum, black dial, Boutique Edition. It has been years I didn't see one!
- A Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater ( MGT MR ) in Titanium:
- A Master Grande Tradition Minute Repeater in Rose Gold:
- A Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication ( MGT GC ) :
- The Hybris Mechanica ( HM ) à Grande Sonnerie:
- And last but not least, the all new Hybris Mechanica 11:
The one who " plays " in the loudest way ( 70 Db! ) is the Master Minute Repeater in platinum. I must say that this is the best MMR in platinum I've ever heard.
The tone is matte, due to the platinum case, the richness of the hours and minutes is 5 and 5, and the duration is 197 milliseconds.
All the others are reaching a lower volume, circa 60 Db with different levels of duration and richness.
The MGT MR in titanium has a level of duration of 156 milliseconds, with a richness of... 5 and 10 ( ! ).
The MGT MR in rose gold has a duration of 213 milliseconds, with a richness of 5 and 7.
The MGT Grande Complication has a duration of 158 milliseconds, with a richness of 9 and 7.
I will update these datas once the Hybris Mechanica 11 and the Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie are totally adjusted, of course, but I had the pleasure to listen to them.
The HM à Grande Sonnerie is unbelievable, playing on 4 notes. An unforgettable experience. Things have to be set, as the watchmaker still has to spend several months to adjust it and to check it before the delivery of the watch to the client.
The volume is maybe a tad lower than the others, but the richness is here.
As for the HM 11, JLC has still some time before finalizing the watch. For example, the time out between the hours, quarters and minutes is not supressed, already, but strongly reduced.
The quality of the sound, on the " 11 " is amazing, and the " music " is not polluted by the regulator which is very quiet. Promising!
You can truly hear the acoustical differences between them.
If you have the opportunity to listen to them, when you are at the Manufacture, don't miss it, it is an unforgettable experience.
Best,
Nicolas.
