Esharp
1618
JLC MBO?
Ok, it’s just rumour, but wouldn’t this be interesting - Jerome Lambert doing a Georges Kern but with JLC in place of Breitling.
I’ll admit I am not a fan of what’s happened to JLC (or Panerai, or IWC…) under Richemont over the years: the trend feels to me like decontenting, an erosion of craft and care and innovation, coupled with pricing that verges on insanity. I miss the Günter Blümlein days…
The question is: would taking it private be any better? If the new owners have a long-term vision, then perhaps - but if it’s a VC then it’ll surely be more of the same, business as usual, especially if cost of production goes up as a result of splitting from Richemont’s industrial platform.
Thoughts from the gang?
Best
E.
This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2026-02-08 21:59:27
JLC MBO?
https://www.watchpro.com/richemont-considering-sale-of-jaeger-lecoultre/ Ok, it’s just rumour, but wouldn’t this be interesting - Jerome Lambert doing a Georges Kern but with JLC in place of Breitling. I’ll admit I am not a fan of what’s happened to JLC (...
I for one, second Amanico....
In my view JLC are the King of Horologerie, the most prolific mouvement designers and manufacturers by far, the so called Trilogy PP, AP, VC and many others have all had a relationships and used JLC movements in their time pieces. JLC have also been and s...
They were
The question for me is, are they still? I’d like to think so. But am not sure.
It's been quite a long time we had some iterations of the same watches from the low to the high end level. And some " new " models are less interesting than the former ones, see the Duometre...
They will not have much more time to prove that they are what they were...
Exactly! Money and people.
And if there were shared technologies and revenues coming because of richemont group of watches, what is the substitute for it? It won’t be an easy path, but if they can make the brand more distinctive, it may be worth it.
I already know what they are releasing this year
It's going to be nice but won't be "wow" in regards to the masses!
Hi Eli 🤗
We all miss Blumlein, the only heir to whom is Max Busser. JLC used to be the watchmaker of watchmakers, but today it’s just another brand with exorbitant prices. A company must be profitable, but it can’t expect never-ending growth like during the pandem...
This is my fear too
…the $ has to come back to earth - just a little bit - and a renaissance in product is needed (perhaps already happening with JL as ‘new’ CEO).
Low profit margin…
What caught my attention is a low profit margin of 5.3% for the specialist watchmaker division of Richemont in FY2025 despite ever increasing prices. That compared to a margin over 30% for their jewellery business. And that margin has dropped to 3.2% in 1...
Elves are expensive!
Good and interesting point. I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the stacks of moolah spent on marketing.
As an owner of one JLC watch and someone who likes the company, I personally feel that…
…JLC have a stuffy, old-fashioned product catalog. Yes, the Reverso is their iconic watch but with its case shape it is a niche product that looks very dated with its Art Déco design (compared to the Cartier Tank that looks timeless, in part due to its go...
JLC can succeed but has a clear choice to make
Before I chime in with my two cents, this is coming from a huge lover of the brand and a multi piece JLC owner. In the current market reality/new world order, JLC really has two options to make their company profitable and sustainable long term. If they w...
