Dje
7532
It's time to put an end to the holidays!
Five months have passed since
the SIHH and as the holidays are coming to an end, it's time to think
back and begin to prepare the year's end celebrations. 
We're
going to see the new watches arrive in the stores very soon, I've even
heard that some watches are there already.
Let's
begin with the watch that the ladies should desire, let's see why!
The charming
Caroline Candaux and Benedicte Ferlet have presented us the new Reverso Squadra
Lady, available in different versions. I'm not going to enter in the
detailing of all these versions, but want to emphasize on one aspect that is shared
by these Squadra models.
The new trick
is an easy change system. We had seen such system on the Extreme watches, but
this time the more classical watches can get it.
You just have
to push the button and detach the strap.
Then you can
select several straps (and a beautiful bracelet) to change the style of your
watch every day, or every hour!
There's
no new watch with this system for men this year but remember the very nice
Reverso Squadra Polo Fields that JLC brought us.
This watch is
large obviously but amazing on the wrist. You can't say it's too
large until you've passed it on. Be prepared for a hard time then because
with its titanium and Ceramic construction and its world chronograph calibre,
it's no cheap watch indeed!
The pink gold
version is worse, more expensive obviously and more glamorous, even if I shall
say I personally prefer the titanium one.
This watch
definitely has the sex appeal that has made the success of the hot sellers of
the last years, look at the ROO limited series for instance, or some Pams!
It is time for
a break after such heavy pieces, because we're just at the beginning. The
selection of new watches from JLC was astounding this year, far above a
precedent and already interesting year.
The nice
moments at the SIHH are not just with watches. The SIHH is also the place to
meet all our friends at JLC.
We discussed a
lot about this Memovox in the last year. No doubt that this watch is the most
looked after single model in the JLC vintage history. We're so happy to
see Jaeger-LeCoultre launch a re-edition that promises to be so respectful of
the historical piece.
This watch is
madness. I have the pleasure to have ordered a steel 1965 Edition, that I will
pay twice as much as the most expensive watch I've bought ever, and
I'm still trying to secure a 1968 Edition on top of that. I know several
collectors that are such as mad as I am.
I'm sure
we will still talk and exchange a lot about these watches in the next year!
I hope as I
know Nicolas does too that the success of this re-edition will open the way for
JLC to offer us other re-editions, perhaps not every year as it is costly for a
target of die-hard collectors, but from time to time. We would not want to miss
one!
If the Polaris
was this year's nearly affordable dream watch option, the Gyrotourbillon
2 was the top of the novelties. I won't say that it was the watch of the
year as I'm not qualified, but I state that it was MY watch of the
decade! It is unique, superbly finished, wearable (yes it is), fascinating, a
true masterpiece finely designed.
To some extent
this watch is the most complicated of the simple watches! You just get the
hours, minutes, try to get the seconds on the multi-rotating seconds hand, and
you have a power reserve on the back. What you get also is a never ending dance
of time that can hypnotize you forever.
The finish of
this piece is truly at the top of what Jaeger-LeCoultre can do (and what many
others can do too) and hopefully also the sign that this kind of finish will
spread down the range. I must say on the contrary that I would not want the JLC
watches to become unaffordable for the sake of such top finish. I'm quite
happy of the finish we get on the entry level watches, and such watches with a
Gyrotourbillon 2 finish exist, but at double or triple price. That would not be
the right way for JLC.
Let's
hold on with watches for a second, as comes the new Atmos clock by Marc Newson.
This new Atmos may not please everybody but that strong state of fact is the sign
of art at play!
This Atmos
could be my first, and I hope it will be! Which one will be yours?
The SIHH was
also an opportunity to see a calibre launched the year before but that we can't
see so often.
The Master
Perpetual Calendar skeleton is another watch offered by JLC that can truly
prove the great skills of the Manufacture. Hopefully Nicolas will soon share with
us about it.
I've said
much too much my interest for Aston Martin here, but the Amvox 3 is not going
to reduce my interest. The appeal of ceramic and pink gold is huge, as seen
earlier with the Polo Fields. The Amvox 3 adds an "automobilesque"
dial and brings the most modern version of my beloved Master Tourbillon.
The only thing
cheap in this watch is the price, at least relatively to the market. Of course
you may not like AM, you may not like ceramic, you may not like pink gold, you
may not like the Amvox line, but many will.
We've not
seen all the 2008 new products. I've chosen a selection of the strongest
ones, and we will see more of the others in the fall. I just hope you will feel
a great motivation to run back to work as I do!
May I add a
last watch for today, the most affordable of all JLC new watches, but a great
watch, truly as JLC as the Gyrotourbillon 2 can be!
Enjoy the
summer's end, don't put the diver's watches back in the safe
too early!
Cheers
Dje
It's time to put an end to the holidays!
Very interesting post, Jerome
Bonjour Jerome, thank you for a very nice end to Summer and now
Your Gyrotourbillon
