Each part of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is worth a visit.
The problem is that you'll always be short of Time.
You can spend a whole week, I'm sure you'll have something you didn't see, something to discover, again and again.
One year and a half ago, I wrote something about the " fondations " of our watches, about all these gentlemen living in the shadow of the Watchmakers, Designers, Research and Development Team, whose work is mandatory, in a true manufacture.
I highly suggest a visit, it will allow you to understand how tough is their work, and to value the watch you have on the wrist.
Here is the link to this virtual visit:
jlc.watchprosite.com
At the other extremity of the watchmaking processus, you have the Spécialités Horlogères Workshop.
A few words, if you allow me, about the " Spécialités Horlogères " denomination, rather than " Complications ".
I prefer " Spécialités Horlogères " as it sounds more historical, it is strongly linked to the Past of the Manufacture.
Indeed, " Spécialités Horlogères " was a Company founded by Cesar de Trey and Jacques-David LeCoultre in November 1931, company whose purpose was to insure the distribution of all the Jaeger and Lecoultre watches, at this moment.
" Complications " sounds less particular, less specific to Jaeger-LeCoultre.
This short historical parenthesis being closed, let's come back to this workshop, now.
Here, you're lucky enough to not have to " fight " against the metal, you have to assemble all the copmlications such as the Duometres, the Minute Repeaters and Grande Sonnerie, the Gyrotourbillon I, II, the Triptyque, the Master Grande Traditions, the Extrem Lab I and II and so on...
Or to disassemble them, if there is a problem, to re assemble till they work flawessly.
In this part of the Manufacture is reigning a religious silent, which reflects the extrem concentration this kind of work requires.
The only noise you can hear, from time to time, is the melody of a Minute Repeater which is tested by one of the watchmakers.
If you want to have a conversation, there is a room dedicated for this, a kind of airlock where you can see some of these extraordinary finished pieces and have a discussion about them.
I started this post by saying that you're always short on time, during these visits. That is exactly what happened to me, once again.
Why did I fall in the trap? I was warned, it was my 5th visit to the Manufacture, after all...
The thing is that, even if warned, you are systematically caught by the marvels you see AND the Passion of these amazing magicians who are working on them.
Let me now share with you some pictures of what I saw there, you will better understand.
First of all, an old love, the Master Minute Repeater in platinum:
It was not the only Master Minute Repeater present, this day, as I brought mine, and there was also a Rose Gold example.
So it was the ideal opportunity to make a comparison test about their respective acoustic qualities and personalities, and to check, once again, that the platinum was not the best material for a striking watch, while the rose gold was smooth, and the titanium had a very performant sound.
While discussing with one of the Master Watch maker about the MMR, he kindly offered me to test mine.
The test consists in:
- Putting the MMR in a box, fitted with a micro.
- Then, to measure with a computer the different acoutic values of your watch, such as those featuring in its documents: The volume in dBA, the reverberation in ms, the richness ( partials ), and the Pitch - Tuning - Interval.
So I could learn that the best sounding Minute Repeater is the one which reaches the best compromise between the volume, the reverberation and the richness.
A too high / strong volume, and it may ruin the balance of your sound. It is better to get a lower MR, with a more important reverberation and richness.
The test pointed out that mine, after 4 years, lost a bit of its volume, but gained a lot in reverberation and richness ( - a bit more than 10% in volume / + a bit ore than 20% in reverberation and it gained almost 100% in richness! )
We also spent a long time discussing about the Duometre à Quantième Lunaire, a discussion I will report on the dedicated post about the White Gold version, released this year, in a few days, now.
Then, that let a few minutes to see all the other very exciting watches which were there...
A Triptyque?
It was a long time I didn't see it... I could notice that the definitive Triptyque had a better Recto dial, though, than the on the prototype, as featuring on the press file pictures.
The Press File pictures:
The definitive watch:
What to say?
Thick, big, but fascinating, especially when you look at the verso dials.
The Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication:
When I first saw it in Geneva during the 2010 SIHH, I was puzzled.
Though, I thought it could do better in terms of acoustics, which was logical as it was a prototype.
Due to its technical improvements ( Trebuchet Hammers + Cathedral gong ), the sound is richer / rounder, the notes are longer, and the harmonics are more consistant.
We almost have the sound, the melody of a big pocket watch. Stunning, captivating, as well as the dial and its flying tourbillon which turns all around the celestial dial.
The Extreme Lab II:
Good news for all the fans of this watch, the first E.L II have been delivered, after a too long wait!
An evidence?
Another amazing watch from the Grande Maison: Strong and technical at the same time.
To close my report, I couldn't find better than this Gyrotourbillon 1.
This watch alone justifies my title... " Horological dizzyness ".
An unaffordable dream, but isn't it the definition of a Grail?
Hoping that you had pleasure to see these masterpieces, and looking forward to reading your thoughts and reactions,
Best.
Nicolas, completely ... dizzy.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-10-24 01:22:21 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-10-24 21:28:44 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-10-27 07:58:55 
