Yes and yes! Glad you asked...

Dec 30, 2019,02:13 AM
 

If you look closely at large 24 hour chrono register at 9 under the skeletonized hour hand is an inner blasted matte gray center wheel with a thin white line which is the running seconds. The running seconds wheel is centered perfectly within the outer hours track and on the same plane with minimal gap to the outer ring and the skeletonized hour hand means the running seconds is never obscured from view. A separate seconds hands probably would have been easier but added more stack height, the disc is perhaps the more elegant solution. Really thoughtfully done with no expense spared.

If you look at some of Nicolas' pics of the blue one he had you can just see the double rubber bumpers on the left side of the case. Not only do those protect the polished sides of the case but they are mounted to a titanium slider switch. Simply slide down to hack the movement, slide back up again to start. There's a tactile detent in the sliding action so it's easy to manipulate but you can feel confident it won't move by accident. JLC thought of everything!

It's these kinds of details on the Extreme Lab 2 which are not always obvious just by looking at it. Once you live with it for a while you start to appreciate all the tiny details that JLC considered and the way they were implemented with equal thought to visual and mechanical design. Off the cuff the 700 or so parts required to make the Extreme Lab 2 might sound lazy to some, complexity for a lack of ingenuity of design or complexity for complexity's sake, but IMHO this represents JLC's focus to deliver the best possible experience and having the engineering and innovation capabilities to deliver that.

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Daily Wear Extreme Lab II

 
 By: Fastwong : December 28th, 2019-19:37
After a little over a year with the Extreme Lab 2 it has quickly become my daily driver! The combination of titanium, ceramic, and rubber on a massive strap with extendable buckle makes for a amazingly durable and wearable package for the daily grind. Wor...  

Love this one!

 
 By: jleno : December 28th, 2019-19:57
Easily one of the coolest watches in the futuristic+sporty category.

Do I sense love here???

 
 By: ZSHSZ : December 28th, 2019-21:17
Congratulations, and I’m glad you found the watch that speaks to you the most. Hope it’s a keeper forever!

Thanks! Definitely a (surprise) keeper!

 
 By: Fastwong : December 29th, 2019-06:37
From the pics online I always respected the Extreme Lab 2 but didn't really love the aesthetics. There's a little bit of one eyed pirate going on with that hour and running seconds wheel and the movement can photograph a little flat. By chance I came acro... 

Fastwong, I agree with all you wrote. Great owner's review.

 
 By: amanico : December 29th, 2019-00:58
I had the pleasure to have it for a summer some 3 years ago, and it was a pain to give it back to Jaeger Lecoultre. Its wearability? Due to its short lugs and their shape, the watch hugs the wrist, yes. And yes, it wears smaller than its size on the paper...  

What a "test" watch!

 
 By: Fastwong : December 29th, 2019-13:47
It must be amazing to have time with all these great watches! It would be interesting to see your list of watches you most wanted to keep The blue definitely has its own character, I couldn't believe it when I ran across a new one at an AD over the summer...  

My personal grail.... Love the EL2 [nt]

 
 By: systematic.entropy : February 12th, 2020-07:02

superb owner’s review and perspective. you reminded me on why i love this watch in the first place

 
 By: Seeks : December 29th, 2019-06:03
Let me give my Lab II more wrist time in 2020. Here are some photos took awhile back. warmest regards ...  

Yes! Do it and report back!

 
 By: Fastwong : December 29th, 2019-15:20
My mission for 2020 is to figure out how to get a couple custom straps made with the correct hardware....

It is an awesome watch. Really showcases JLC’s engineering excellence and range.

 
 By: vitalsigns : December 29th, 2019-19:01
It makes me think: Richard Mille who? RIchard Mille why?

Who what why... ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : December 29th, 2019-23:49

;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : December 30th, 2019-07:24

I forgot to ask!

 
 By: ZSHSZ : December 29th, 2019-22:42
Does it have a seconds indicator? If it does, it hacks? Just curious... Thank you! Zsolt.

Yes and yes! Glad you asked...

 
 By: Fastwong : December 30th, 2019-02:13
If you look closely at large 24 hour chrono register at 9 under the skeletonized hour hand is an inner blasted matte gray center wheel with a thin white line which is the running seconds. The running seconds wheel is centered perfectly within the outer ho... 

Thank you for the detailed description.

 
 By: ZSHSZ : December 30th, 2019-20:19
Now I love this watch even more, since having a “small seconds” indicator and a hacking function is very important to me... Continue enjoying this marvel of engineering and thank you for the detailed review! And lastly have a very Happy New Year!!!🎆 Best,... 

Totally Agree - what a great watch

 
 By: Colin W : December 30th, 2019-16:46
I got the RG version back in 2013 and still have it in my rotation- you get such a lot of watch for your money, great wearability and durability in daily use and limited production too. Would be great to get some other colour rubber straps for it though.

Yeah, needs more strap options!

 
 By: Fastwong : December 30th, 2019-16:56
Nice! I haven't seen the RG version irl yet but I imagine it must have a totally unique character to the titanium only models. I'm going to stop by the boutique this week to drop off a watch for service, will see what the deal is regarding strap hardware.... 

I asked the boutique today...

 
 By: Fastwong : January 2nd, 2020-20:55
... about custom straps and they said of course until I pulled out the Extreme Lab They said they will inquire and get back to me. They are doing a custom strap for the Duometre and it's ~12 week lead time.

I did! What don't you like about he oem strap?

 
 By: Fastwong : January 3rd, 2020-10:02
My Duometre came with a sketchy 22mm strap shaved a mm to fit so I haven't had a chance to try to original strap in good shape. The boutique had a solid selection of custom leather options (I went with a midnight blue) but customization is relatively limi... 

Wow!! the extreme lab... My holy grail!

 
 By: fherradon : January 3rd, 2020-02:28
Hopefully, we could see a small and affordable version in the near future. crossing fingers. best, Fernando

+1 [nt]

 
 By: proestak : January 3rd, 2020-02:49