Jaeger-LeCoultre

Tim_M
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JLC Texas is quite good, don't underestimate them

Hi,

While I realize that the 1000 hours test is a major selling point for JLC buyers, I view it as more of a final step in the production and quality control process than a mandatory battery to be passed every single time the watch is serviced. Just like many certified chronometers from Rolex and Omega can be regulated back to that status during service, the JLC test indicates that the level of functional finish, grade of movement materials, and high accuracy *potential* is engineered into the watch and capable of being recaptured with competent servicing. It is far more difficult to take a poorly-built watch and regulate it to consistently excellent performance than it is to take an excellent design and return it to good service spec. 

I think the initial 1000 hours test merely confirms that the watch meets JLC's design spec and has the inherent potential to return to high performance with routine service. Certainly, we don't see a flood of reports of JLCs coming back from factory or even local watchmaker shops gaining or losing dozens of seconds per day, so the theory seems to hold up in practice.

Finally, to revisit the title of my message, don't underestimate JLC Texas. Having met a few watchmakers from that crew, I can confirm that they are a small studio of 5-6 professionals, not an assembly line, and the work is performed to factory standards *at bare minimum*. Indeed, given the range of JLC's 1000 hours timing tolerances that Nicolas has attributed to the various models of the product line, I can vouch for the fact that the Texas team often looks to beat those 1000 hour test tolerances - by a large margin - for every watch that passes through the U.S. service center.

-Tim