219's report captures the excitement of Jaeger-LeCoultre's 'SIHH Around the World' event in London, bringing the latest novelties directly to collectors. This article highlights the intimate atmosphere at the MJLC Boutique on Old Bond Street, offering a firsthand look at the Celestial Sonnerie and the Extreme Lab 2, and reflecting on the community's shared passion for horological artistry.
It may have been a glacial temperature in London that evening, but the atmosphere inside the MJLC Boutique at 1A Old Bond Street was nothing but warm and cordial. In cooperation with PuristsPro, MJLC had organized for SIHH to come to the collectors (given that most of the collectors cannot go to SIHH).
The MJLC Boutique sits at the very entrance to Old Bond Street (just where it meets Piccadilly). Old Bond Street, for the last three hundred years, is where the jewelry trade to royalty has stood in London. And we were all entertained royally, both with the gems of the MJLC collection, and the hospitality of the MJLC London office.
We gathered in the Boutique and while we arrived, champagne and other libations were on offer. As ever at these events, the conversation was about watches, and about Jaeger LeCoultre in particular. There were some notable pieces on the wrists of some of the collectors there, and as this particular collector remarked: âI loved this piece the first time I saw it; this was what watchmaking was truly about and only a firm like Jaeger can pull this off!â He has a point.
Once we had all arrived, Simon (the Boutique Manager) welcomed us and one by one, in the display cases, kept under wraps until that moment with the black cloth, were this yearâs SIHH stars. Despite all our efforts on PuristsPro, and magazines (John Goodall from 00/24 Magazine was in attendance), nothing replaces the actually handling of the watches in person. And for that, we were all very grateful to MJLC London for bringing the exhibition to us.
First up: the new Celestial Sonnerie. A by-product of the Hybris research (and showing how the benefits of celestial scale research filter into the more terrestrial pieces), the face was an incandescent blue with the celestial chart, the flying tourbillon shown on the watch face, and the hour and minute hands. The chimes from the sonnerie were clear and audible. As the night sky moved (with the passage of time displayed with the minutes and hours), the flying tourbillon follows the constellations around the night sky. It is an ingenious piece and provides a true rival to Patekâs celestial 5102.
Second was a piece that was actually more appealing to my tastes: the Extreme Lab 2. Following on from the research of the initial Extreme Lab, the second iteration was both a more affordable form (in titanium) and one that had already proved its worth in the Mont Antoine LeCoultre expedition. Perhaps because of the learning process, the construction of the Extreme Lab 2 was more innovative in that a movement with the necessary prerequisites was started on a blank sheet, rather than taking an existing movement and swaping out parts one by one (as with the first Extreme Lab). At the price point, and for such an innovative extreme elements movement, this is a difficult watch to beat. I have to say that I liked the pushers, the selector mechanism (similar to ones used in other watches by other brands) worked well, and the time was very legible. Loved the radial power reserve. The watch was comfortable on the wrist, and worked well with my wearing French cuffs and a suit â just in case I choose to go on a spot of mountaineering during my lunch break. Seriously, with the red accents on case and strap, the watch is very stylish as well as built for extreme conditions.
Third were some of the other watches, but with the demand from others in the room, had little time with these pieces.
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After we had finished examining and playing with the new watches, MJLC London were kind enough to take us to dinner at a near by restaurant. Conversation about watches and other matters was lively, and a grand time was had by all. It was a wonderful evening and I would like to extend my thanks to all at Jaeger LeCoultre London for their hospitality and kindness.
Hope everyone that was there can extend their thanks to the Manufacture and all at the London office (in particular, Guillain.Maspetiol, Marie Lagesse and Caroline.Hengesse) for helping organize such a great event.
Andrew H
This message has been edited by 219 on 2010-02-17 14:01:40 This message has been edited by 219 on 2010-02-17 14:09:29 This message has been edited by 219 on 2010-02-17 14:10:11 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-02-21 06:42:16 
