Jaeger-Lecoultre fine chronographs. An assessment and a duty.

Aug 24, 2021,09:10 AM
 

Here we are talking about modern manual winding chronographs, which are outstanding from an horological point of view. 


Jaeger-Lecoultre came back with the Reverso Retrograde Chronograph, in rose gold, in 1996. To be precise, the minute are retrograde, here. 

Classic on the recto: 


Spectacular on the verso: 


The Cal 829, made in 14 Kt Rose Gold. 

Much more casual, the Reverso Gran Sport Chronograph has the same horological sophistication, with a less refined movement ( Cal 859 ) but which displays the minutes of the chronograph in a retrograde way, too.





The Reverso Gran Sport Chronograph was issued in 2000. At the contrary of the Reverso Chronograph Retrograde in Rose gold, the Gran Sport was not a limited edition. 

Then we had the big champion of the category, one of our favorite Jaeger-Lecoultre and chronograph, all brands included, the famous Duomètre à Chronographe, born in 2007. 

Extremely elegant, refined, original, innovative, this watch has all the qualities to become a total Classic. A milestone.

You could choose your flavor, plain or open dial, yellow, rose or white gold, platinum, there is a Duometre à Chronograph fro every taste! 

Here is my beloved white gold version, 



With its eye catching manual winding movement and its two barrels with their own gear trains ( Cal 380 ).



And my first Duometre, in platinum, with a special white dial: 



In 2013, Jaeger-Lecoultre issued a sublimissime Chronograph, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Three, which is the pinnacle of chronographs from the Grande Maison, with a flying gyrotourbillon, and instantaneous minute digital  monopusher chronograph, followed one year after by the Hybris Artistica version, in tantalum, which was a piece unique. 

The platinum Jubilée piece, issued in 2013 in a limited edition of 75 pieces. 



You will enjoy the hammered finishings of the movement, the Cal 176, without forgetting to mention the blue spherical hairspring.



And the Tantalum version, with its opaline dial:



More recently, came a rose gold version with a meteorite dial and bridges, in 2019, in a limited edition of 8 pieces. Aventurine and enamel were also used for this marvel.





Now, there is still a gap, or maybe two, to fill, for Jaeger-Lecoultre: 

- A Rattrapante: Vacheron, Patek, Lange, Montblanc, Glashutte released some Rattrapantes, how come Jaeger-Lecoultre didn't make at least one, in a Duometre for example? 

- A Grande Complication: Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Minute Repeater... Jaeger-Lecoultre already made watches associating these three " noble " complications. For a true Grande Complication, you miss something: Including a chronograph ( preferably a rattrapante ) to a minute repeater, a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar. 

It is time to fill these gaps, now, and to show how Grande is THE Maison! 

Best,

Nicolas


More posts: CalibresDuometreDuometre ChronographeGlashutteGran SportMonopusher ChronographReverso Gran Sport

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Well said Nicolas...

 
 By: cory : August 24th, 2021-09:36
I look forward to new and exciting JLC Grande Complications in the near future! And of course that Rattrapante Duometre.

Me too, my friend, me too.

 
 By: amanico : August 24th, 2021-10:13

You are back!!

 
 By: Cookies : August 24th, 2021-10:11
This is great content! I miss your long articles.

That will be great!!

 
 By: Cookies : August 24th, 2021-16:33
Have a good week ahead.

And soul, pure passion

 
 By: Cookies : August 24th, 2021-17:07
That’s what u are made of.

Ooof, some big boys in here.

 
 By: MichaelC : August 24th, 2021-12:26
Tantalum with Cal 176 is amazing!

All masterpieces, for sure! Correct me if I'm wrong...

 
 By: watchme : August 24th, 2021-14:52
but the meteorite dial version - is that the first wristwatch with meteorite laid into the bridges, too? Really a technical work of art. -Dean

Serious hardware : )

 
 By: mdg : August 24th, 2021-15:30
I've never seen meteorite bridges before...

Neither did I.

 
 By: amanico : August 24th, 2021-15:59

Even better 🤯🤯

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 29th, 2021-13:26

Oh yes!

 
 By: amanico : August 29th, 2021-16:18

The Tantalum Cal. No 167

 
 By: MTR : August 29th, 2021-17:06
with opaline dial. What a marvel!!! For me definitely a grail watch. But I'm afraid not to get… Thanks for this GREAT post, mon ami. Hoping we will be able to read more articles in this style from you 😊 Thomas

1st of September.

 
 By: amanico : August 29th, 2021-21:40

Tantalum case, you meant?

 
 By: amanico : August 29th, 2021-20:20

Oops, exactly 🤣🤪

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 29th, 2021-20:23

:)))

 
 By: amanico : August 29th, 2021-20:33

Cal. 176 of course.

 
 By: MTR : August 29th, 2021-21:10
I have had 2 glasses of Ruinart blanc de blanc when I made my post. 🥂 Best Thomas

Hehehe!

 
 By: amanico : August 29th, 2021-21:39

Agreed 👍

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : August 29th, 2021-20:24

I'm just too predictable 😜🤣

 
 By: holdemchamp1225 : September 2nd, 2021-12:40

:)))

 
 By: amanico : September 2nd, 2021-13:39