Jaeger-LeCoultre SIHH 2014 Melbourne Collection

AndrewD reports on the Jaeger-LeCoultre SIHH 2014 collection viewing in Melbourne, offering a detailed look at new releases. His comprehensive coverage, complete with personal impressions and photography, provides valuable insights for collectors interested in JLC's annual novelties. The article highlights key models and community engagement at such events.

Last year’s viewing of the 2013 JLC SIHH collection [click here] was so successful that Richemont Australia and the Australasian Managing Director for JLC, Alexis de Laporte, were excited to share the 2014 collection with a dining room full of watch enthusiasts.

I will let the watches speak for themselves. My thanks to Theobold for the generous use of his light tent as the lighting conditions in The Botanical restaurant were challenging.

Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic

The Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic was very cool. This watch is contained in a 46mm ceramic case but actually felt very comfortable on my small wrist. The crown is lockable using the trademark JLC compression key. You can make out the day night indicator under the logo. The watch also has a GMT function with the additional hour hand identifiable without lume. Limited to 500 pieces.

Grande Reverso 1931 Chocolate

The soft supple stitched strap was a highlight. I think I would get tired of the brown dial, but it is a lovely comfortable Reverso to wear.

Master Ultra Thin Automatic

The Master Ultra Thin (MUT) has been re-imagined in this 38.5mm automatic version. The thickness is 7.58mm (every hundredth of a mm is clearly important in the world of ultrathin watches) but the watch has quite a presence on the wrist due to the long tapering hands, the elongated (at least compared with the MGUT 40) matching pointed indices and the large subseconds at the 6 o’clock position.

Master Ultra Thin Date

The Master Ultra Thin Date is housed in a 40mm rose gold case and is 7.4mm thick. Again it is a rather understated but elegant watch and the addition of the date makes it a practical daily wearer for the office.

Master Grande Tradition Cylindric Tourbillon Quantieme Perpetual

I loved this one on my wrist, as I hope you can tell. You may expect me to get lost in that flying tourbillon with its cylindrical balance spring, but it was actually the snowflake textured stepped dial and the romantic moonphase in a very wearable 42 x 13mm size that I loved. And the perpetual displays are quite easy to read.

Duometre Unique Travel Time

This one had done the rounds of the shows and was a little worse for wear, but the idea is very clear and sensibly executed. The second time zone can be set to the minute, getting around those issues of 30 minute differences. The jumping hour display can be forwarded or reversed at a press of the buttons on the left side of the case. The case measures 42 x 13.7mm and the world map adds some colour to the dial. This is the white gold version and the Unique Travel Time is also available in rose gold.

Master Ultra Thin 1907

The Master Ultra Thin 1907 in rose gold was a delight. Just 4.05 mm thin and 39mm in diameter. It just melts into your wrist and feels warm in gold but very traditional.

Tribute to Geophysic in steel

This is the Tribute to the Geophysic (a mock-up without movement) in steel. Limited edition to 800 pieces. It is a watch that harkens back to an earlier period and has an important place because it reminds modern watch buyers about the look and comfort of wearing a smaller watch (in this case 38.5 mm). There are some delicate design touches like the lume dots around the inner bezel. My favourite tribute dial is on the platinum Geophysic, but the steel tribute was great to see.

Ladies Collection

There was a strong showing in ladies watches from JLC this year. My favourite was this Rendez-Vous Night & Day with a sectored mother of pearl dial and subtle diamonds to set off the watch, blued florale hands and a day-night indicator. There are many different versions and combinations of this watch available (why do the ladies have all the fun) but this one (Ref. 3468490) is subtle and versatile. The case measures 29 x 8.7mm.

Rendez-Vous Date

The Rendez-Vous Date is rather petite with a diameter of only 27.5mm and one of the smallest automatic movements available. Rose gold case with a guilloche dial and a beige crocodile strap.

Reverso Squadra Lady Duetto

The Squadra men’s range never captured my imagination as much as the traditional rectangular cased Reverso’s. They were just a little too large for my wrist. But these ladies versions work much better. The day-night disc, the deep radial guilloche, and the contrasting black dial on the reverse create a beautiful and versatile watch.

Dinner …

My thanks to Alexis de Laporte, Sam Kan and Pierre-Etienne Durand from Richemont and to the Melbourne WatchBand members for a great evening of watches, conversation and food.

Andrew