WPS member · Jaeger-LeCoultre forum
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Alfihar's journey to acquire a Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire for a significant milestone birthday is a testament to the emotional connection collectors form with their timepieces. This article delves into his deeply personal selection process, the initial joy of ownership, and the unexpected challenges that followed, offering a candid look at the realities of luxury watch acquisition and after-sales service. His experience provides valuable insights for anyone considering a high-complication JLC.
As Amanico had announced it... I crossed the milestone of 1 / 20th of a millennium this Sunday ...
And I thought for a long time to know what would be the watch that I would offer to myself for this event.
The range of possibilities was enormous ... Vintage or modern, , sports or dress watch, chrono or Wortdtime or get or alarm or quantième...
Patek, AP, Zenith, Blancpain, Rolex, A. L&S, ...
It has been a long road, but there was evidence :
- It was going to be a Jaeger-Lecoultre because this brand resonates with me and reminds me of some beautiful childhood memories ...
- It was going to be a lunar calendar or a moon phase because I find this complication poetic, not to mention that I did not have one in my collection...
- It was going to be a black dial because I love black dials ...
I searched a lot to find something that synthesized my wishes, without looking too much at the duometers line because I already had a black dial chronograph and then ...
And, thanks to Amanico, I had the opportunity to review a Lunar Calendar Duomètre A ... and I fell in love with it.
I loved this model when it came out and then, not having cracked at the time, I forgot it ... what a mistake!
In addition to meeting my criteria, the watch presented was in new condition and bore the number 3 ...
It was a sign ... I was born on October 3rd!
Without hesitation, I took it in June, worn it for a few hours to be sure I wasn't wrong about my choice, and put it in the safe.
In July, I took it out to bring it to Jaeger Lecoultre in Paris so that it could be checked because it dates from 2011 ... I didn't want to have any bad surprises when the time came ...
After being checked by the watchmakers in Place Vendôme who reassured me, it returned to the safe.
This watch which I dreamed of for several years, I was going to have to wait for it a few more months ...
But Feud did say that envy creates desire!
The pleasure of wearing it should therefore be increased tenfold ...
Last Friday, I went to my bank to retrieve it and store it at home out of sight ... and away from possible crashes and thieves ...
After an improvised party with friends on Saturday evening (I had planned to organize a big big party later), it was Sunday, with my family, that I had decided to offer it to myself.
The stars seemed aligned ...
Without consulting each other, the moon was very present in my gifts: My friends had offered me a copy of the Petit Prince signed by each of them ... my mother had prepared a card for me with a beautiful, very moving text and a collage of me, young, as a Petit Prince ... my daughters had found a luminous moon in suspension ...
The Lunar Calendar duometer therefore fell perfectly!
At the end of the meal and after all the gifts, I opened my own package with a child's soul.
What a high point of happiness to end this day during which I had received a lot of testimony of love and friendships.
Pure happiness
Of course, this morning I wanted to prolong this pleasure ...
So I took back my watch that I had taken care to put down delicately to wind it ...
It must be said that winding a Duometer constitutes a particular ceremony since it is necessary to turn - and this is unusual - the crown in one direction then in the other and start again while watching the hands of the power reserve move gradually towards the +
While I was reveling in this moment, the power reserve hand suddenly went from + to 0, the seconds hand stopped, as did the Diablotine ...
I immediately understood that there was a big problem.
After taking some pictures of the movement to enlarge them and see what was happening, I quickly noticed that the screw of the regulator barrel was unscrewed and that the barrel was out of its housing ....
So I took my x10 magnifying glass to take a closer look at the possible damages and with infinite care, tapping gently on the case, I succeeded in replacing the barrel in its housing.
It was confirmed, the barrel screw unscrewed on its own:
Before calling Jaeger Lecoultre when the store opened, I searched my photos to find those I had taken the day the Vendôme store had checked the watch ...
Here they are...
The screw was therefore present and correctly screwed ...
The mystery is therefore complete: How to explain that the screw of the barrel must be unscrewed, while the watch has remained in the safe since it was checked and it was only worn a few hours yesterday? Is it just unscrewed or has it broken?
The appointment was made for Thursday, so I would know more ...
Probably it will have to go to Switzerland because not all the watchmakers of the Grande Maison are authorized to work on a Duometer ...
I have had Jaeger Lecoultre for years and I have never known a problem with this brand that I particularly like because it masters the technique while having a poetic dimension.
Problems can always arise, but I admit that I have a bitter taste ...
This may be the second theme of my gifts ... Since I was also offered a book called "Ci-gît l'Amer"
After looking at during years, waiting for it during months ... I'm going to have to wait again ...
Even though it's just a watch, it makes me sad in a way ....
I hope from the bottom of my heart that, as the Customer Service Manager told me, everything will be done by Jaeger Lecoultre to remedy this crazy situation as quickly as possible and that I can take full advantage of this Wonderfull watch ... before my 60 years...
In the meantime, I have some photos left to kill the time...
