If you have the opportunity to visit the Heritage Gallery, and to dive into the rich Patrimony of our beloved brand, don't miss it.
You will admire old movements, pocket watches, clocks and wristwatches from all eras.
Some are Legends, such as The 1928 Grande Complication pocket watch, the Reverso, the Ultra Thin pocket watch, the Cal 170, the Reverso and the Polaris, to mention only a few of them.
1928 Grande Complication pocket watch:
Others are beautiful, like the Triple Dates, Moonphase, Memovoxes, or / and original, like the Futurematic.
Without forgetting the Historical ( Pilot watches, Torpedo Boat, Geophysic... )
The iconic Mark 11:
The Torpedo Boat, made, circa 1895, by Edmond Jaeger, housing the Lecoultre Cal 21 RV:
We could indeed mention hundreds of deserving examples...
Since 2006, JLC agreed to revisit their Patrimony.
2008 saw the birth of one of the most known of them, the Polaris.
In 2010, the Atmos 1930 was re issued in the very faithful, respectful way:
In 2011, two " sisters " saw the light, along with the Tribute To Reverso 1931 and the Tributes to Deep Sea Alarm.
The white and red newcomers:
Now the question is to try to guess if there is a Future for the Tribute Family, or if it only a parenthesis in the JLC Catalog.
Tribute / Homage / Re Edition...
These are very close concepts.
In fact, I don't make a distinction between a Tribute and and Homage, while I can easily differenciate them from a Re Edition.
A Re edition MUST be strictly faithful to the original, in its volumes, technicity, aesthetics.
The Tribute To Polaris, for example, is very very close to the Re edition:
Aesthetically, yes, it can be seen as a re edition, as well as its volumes, but mechanically, it is not, as it houses the latest Cal 956, not the oiginal Cal 825.
The Homage / Tribute has to keep the spirit of the original, but it can take some distances from it.
So are these JLC Tributes.
The Tribute To Geophysic raised a passionate debate, due to the fact that JLC opted for an automatic movement, while the original had a manual winding one. ( 2014 ).
To answer to the original question- Do we have to see a Future to the Tribute Family or is it only a parenthesis- I believe we have to think about what watches would make a good Homage.
The size is not always an issue, as you can " adapt " the considered iconic piece to current standards as long as you don't ruin its spirit.
A negative example: Can you imagine a Tribute To Mark 11 which would be 44 mm big and 15 mm thick?
A positive example: The Tribute To 1931, which is to me the perfect example of a superbly solved equation.
The real, main, most important point seems to be the spirit of the " Tributed " piece, then.
So, now the crucial question: What are these watches which could and which would deserve to be " Tributed "?
Of course, we all have in mind an immediate contender, but besides this one I don't have to name again, what else?
Here are several options...
1/ A last watch, to definitely close the Vintage Diving thema: the Master Mariner Deep Dea.
It would be an exciting adventure, in my opinion.
The watch is a tad small for our current standards, but it has a real personality and in a certain way, it is a lovely witness of this era ( End Sixties ) :
Making it bigger without loosing its charm... That may be an interesting defy.
2/ The Mark 11.
The easy choice, and somewhat, it would also be a logical choice.
While IWC, G.O and some others introduced re issues of their Pilot watches, we have no alternative from JLC.
Astonishing silence.
Here again, the 35 mm case will certainly have to increase, but I guess there is a compromise to find, IF JLC decides to work on an all new manual movement, as the original had a great one... Which doesn't seem to be in the tube, since the introduction of the Tribute to Geophysic and its automatic movement...
3/ The Futurematic.
A great contender for a new " Tribute " .
A look of a great purity, the originality of the crown located on the back side, a timeless piece, which could easily adopt the MUT 39 mm case... which is just sublime.
Tempting...
4/ A Triple Date.
Here, I have serious doubts.
Not that the original is lacking of interest, it is just one of the most sublime JLC watch.
The case, the lugs, the dial, all is awesome on this watch:
But, we already have a Master Moon, and if you want to rework its case ( Master Ultra Thin, for example ) a bit, you may well have a superb watch...
No need for a Tribute, in my point of view.
5/ A Mystery.
Clearly the " off the beaten paths " solution.
The Mystery is a magic watch, and, it its simpler version, its beauty is breathaking ( The E 334, on the catalog posted below ) :
A 35 mm case which could easily be 38 mm big without compromising its aesthetical virtues.
A great way to read the Time, definitely.
6/ AND / OR ... Some nice clocks or instruments.
The impressive expression of Diversity, and some great and original timekeepers.
Here, I think about the Clock which was shaped like a Sputnik or a Flying Saucer, I don't know how to call it, or the terrestrian globe, the " Rue de la Paix Lampadaire ", the Barometer, the famous rear view mirror, an amazing camera, big as a cigarettes pack...
The expression of a kind of poetry, imagination, adventure, humour.. The expression of an era.
Here are some interesting examples:
( Most of the pictures have to be credited to Artcurial ).
And I didn't mention the lovely Travel Clocks you will find on the Memovox Reference post.
Do you imagine a set of 2 or 3 of them?
Me yes, definitely.
7/ The " Fiction " option:
Here, I mean watches which didn't exist, but which are so close to the Vintage spirit that they would have been released.
The Deep Sea Vintage Chronograph is the only example I know, to this day, if we consider Jaeger-Lecoultre watches:
So, now, it is up to you, please share with us your thoughts, dreams, ideas ...
Looking forward to reading you,
Best,
Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-05-17 00:07:31
This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-05-17 21:24:07 This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-05-21 14:01:56 
