Ophiuchus
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Just when I thought I had lost it...
..you brought back my love for Jaeger. The Reverso has always been a favorite of mine, and some collegues had turned me off them
due to the courseness of their finishing in items such as the coates de
geneve compared to other brands. I had lost some respect for them,
but always loved the idiosyncratic design of the reverso.
This post reignited my passion for the company, and while I am a man of
very meager means, I am now certain I will someday acquire a reverso,
the 828 would be my dream. It's so elegant. I had never seen some of these models before, and I absolutely love that you got permission to post
the personal stories of those who saved the brand, and the inner workings of the people. Facinating.
Their coates de geneve may not be the cleanest executed in the industry, being a bit rough for my taste, but the heritage and mechanism design
aesthetic is still top-notch in my mind. And who can forget their recent innovantions with the Hybris, Gyro and Sphero Tourbillons.
Phenominal post sir.
One question- would Mr. Golay perhaps be a distant relative of the famed tourbillon maker Golay?
Ensuring the future - learning from the past: Jaeger LeCoultre’s re-ascent and the Reverso
[From left to right: the team of watches that brought complications back to the Manufacture: the 60eme, the tourbillon, the minute repeater, the chronograph, the GMT, and the perpetual calendar]. With Jaeger LeCoultre celebrating 180 years since foundatio...
This is a beautiful read. Thank you so much for taking the time...
...to put the photographs, the facts and the anecdotes together. I admit to being pressed for time right now but will surely return to read this post again in details in a couple of days. Cheers to JLC! Ruckdee
Thank Ruckdee. Appreciate you taking the time to read it.
Although I will confess I enjoyed writing it! Thanks Andrew H
Great article Andrew, wonderful reading and very....
instructive...interesting how "La Vie en Rose" started:):) Thank you very much, it makes me even more appreciative of La Grande Maison. Cheers, Francois
Just when I thought I had lost it...
..you brought back my love for Jaeger. The Reverso has always been a favorite of mine, and some collegues had turned me off them due to the courseness of their finishing in items such as the coates de geneve compared to other brands. I had lost some respe...
Thanks and glad I could re-ignite to the passion
for JLC. While we all like to see exemplary finish in terms of Cotes Geneve stripes, it is not the be all and end all. It certainly does not add directly to chronometric performance. I dont know on Sylvain Golay and the family name. I will say this: from ...
One of the best if not the best articles I've ever read…
Thank you so much , it was a fantastic insight in the rebirth of JLC I had just started watch collecting when the 60ene was shown and I remember it well Thanks Imran
Great pictures of Reversos and great info
It is a design that is timeless and will still be in style for years to come. Stewatt
Amazing read!
Hi Andrew, Thank you so much for sharing this story. The watches are highly impressive by themselves, but the story makes them even more so. Best, Claus
Ectasy for every true watch lover
Just an amazing post...so much passion and love emerge from every paragraph. JLC is indeed the Grande Maison Thank you very much for this horological historical treat Cordially Damjan
My pleasure Damjan. Appreciate the kind words and that you
enjoyed reading the article. Andrew H
Brilliant article!
Sometimes the story of the people behind a piece is lost in the overarching story of the piece and the manufacture. The human element is clearly shown here to extend from pre production until it arrives on our wrists - for those of us lucky enough to enjo...
Thanks. It is about the people and what struck me
about JLC was the long tenure of all at the Manufacture. There was a general love of what was accomplished and the freedom to let creativity thrive. Then as now. Andrew H
A manufacture is....
.... Only as strong as its core of watchmakers. Things augurs well for JLC from what I read here. Kudos for the insightful write-up!
What a read.. What a post.. What a pleasure to devour ..
Thank you so much for this 'piece of work'; - I read and re-read it already twice, but guess I'll still have several enjoyable iterations, before I may have ingested enough of this knowledgable and great document, Containing so much information and still ...
Thanks for making and sharing this information.
Loved to read your post. Brilliantly written post: what a passion, so much history etc etc. Great, well done !! Best regards, Bobbe
Wonderful and important article Andrew! This is
a must read for every JLC aficionado. Just delightful! Best to all, Tim
Thanks for this superb article, Andrew and for reminding us some facts.
About the JLC History. As for the Reverso, it has indeed been said that Italians have been responsible for the renewed interest of the Reverso, and it is interesting to know who, PRECISELY, was involved in that. We can also add that in the early 80ies, JL...
Thanks Nicolas. I should hire you as my press agent!
I appreciate all the kind words. Enjoyed working on the article, and sharing with the friends and enthusiasts here. Hope to see you soon. Andrew H
;) One photo is killing me... Stephane, Sylvain and Janek...
Having fun... That reminds me the ambiance during my trips at the Manufacture... Good memories. Which sums and says a lot! Best, Nicolas
My thanks for all the kind words on the forum. Harrods!
For those who are in London in the coming days/weeks, Harrods are holding an exhibition of the history of JLC. I recommend a look if you are in the area. Thanks for everyone. Andrew H
thank you so much for this
circling this Reverso series(especially the repeater) for the longest time and this article is the best thing I have read and seen about it. Outstanding. Best, Andreas
Among the Best of PuristSPro!
Truly a fantastic epilogue of the rose gold Reverso series. Great report Andrew, with the invaluable insight of the creative watchmakers at Jaeger-LeCoultre. They all look so young in that cycling photograph. Especially Eric Coudray. Great report Andrew! ...
Thanks Patrick. It was a joy and honour on my part
to hear the stories and see the photos. Where does the time go?! Appreciate the kind words. Andrew H
Thanks a bunch Andrew
I have the immense pleasure of having the RG Chrono within reach on a daily basis and I love it. To read your post about its historical importance for the manufacture and seeing your pictures of the entire family only fortifies the feelings. I love the 80...
Thank you
This kind of organization and dedication makes me proud to own and wear JLC., especially the Reverso.
The story was supposed to continue...
in the 2000's with a series in platinum, but with the advent of XGT cases and the Antoine LeCoultre in platinum, it was never completed. The Reverso Platinum Number One (skeleton), in 2001, the Reverso Platinum Number Two (tourbillon w/power reserve) in 2...
The Reversos 8 Days are great watches, but a tad slimmer would have been better.
Agreed on The fact that it is a pity that JLC didn't follow the platinum Reverso Saga... But many other exciting watches were born! Best, Nicolas
And you are correct: it was supposed to be continued...
in platinum and with the skeleton number 1, and I held out hope for a skeleton series, but somewhere along the line, the Manufacture shifted into other innovations, watch cases, and movements, and to great effect. Within a year or two of letting go of the...
After reading this wonderful story,
I have an even greater appreciation for the brand, but mostly for the extraordinary JLC´s watchmakers Thank´s for sharing Kingmatic
Thank You Andrew
Great reference post which I have bookmarked. Your article made me search for my JLC catalogues and to page through them. I found pictures of a more youthful and other team members. Cheers,dreamer
Honoured - thanks! We were all younger once!!! But I have
to say that for a retired gent, Mr. Golay looks and is very spritely! Must be that healthy mountain living.... Andrew H
Very nice work Andrew
I had great pleasure in reading (and learning) thanks a lot! Cheers, Mark
I used to
Own the minute repeater reverso, I miss all the reverso I've had that I've sold, especially the white gold Art Deco.
Great retrospective, Andrew, thanks! Brings back quite a few memories...
of my own... Always nice to remember the past as we charge headlong into the future. Cheers, my friend. TM
Oldie but a Goodie
I chanced upon this article while in the search for something else. I wasn't around to read this article when it was first published but I can say articles like this are exactly why the PuristPro forum and it's community of members and moderators is the v...