Comments:
Jaeger LeCoultre fascinated me way before I got serious about watch collecting. The Watchmaker of Watchmakers. The Grande Maison. I was sold on its heritage and history.
Third time's charm? A tale of my journey with JLC.
A short story of how my slide into the rabbit hole of watch collecting started with the brand, followed by a hiatus, and how things ultimately came full circle.
Jaeger LeCoultre fascinated me way before I got serious about watch collecting. The Watchmaker of Watchmakers. The Grande Maison. I was sold on its heritage and history.
The Reverso in particular captured my imagination with its iconic Art Deco styling and swivel case. I told myself that's the watch I must get if I can ever afford it one day.
I took the plunge soon after the arrival of my first-born.
Unfortunately, I was to learn an early lesson about watch collecting: a watch that is perfect in theory may not be so when it's on your wrist. Please don't get me wrong, the Reverso is wonderfully crafted, and looks amazing on my friends. Sadly, it just looks awkward on me. It soon made its way out of my collection.
Unfortunately, I was to learn an early lesson about watch collecting: a watch that is perfect in theory may not be so when it's on your wrist. Please don't get me wrong, the Reverso is wonderfully crafted, and looks amazing on my friends. Sadly, it just looks awkward on me. It soon made its way out of my collection.
Despite that, I kept an eye out for the brand. A number of years later, JLC released the Master Ultra Thin Moon. I was hooked immediately. This time round, I was careful not to repeat my earlier mistake and committed to the purchase only after making sure it's suitable on my wrist.
Again, the MUT Moon has seemingly everything I was looking for: a svelte case, asymmetry, understated elegance.
Again, the MUT Moon has seemingly everything I was looking for: a svelte case, asymmetry, understated elegance.
Unfortunately, something led to the undoing of this relationship: I also had a Lange Saxonia Automatik which is strikingly similar to the MUT Moon, and the former found its way on my wrist more often than not. The MUT Moon and I parted ways as well.
I did not have a tourbillon, so this has filled the gap in my collection. Honeymoon period, definitely.
Since then, I've admired JLC from a distance but did not commit to a new purchase. I was also fortunate enough to be occupied by beautiful pieces from other houses, and I was starting to think that it would be unlikely for me to acquire another JLC.
Fate had other intentions of course. Due to a totally unplanned and unexpected turn of events (another story for another day), I managed to acquire a piece previously thought to be unobtainium: the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique à Quantième Perpetuel Jubilee.
I did not have a tourbillon, so this has filled the gap in my collection. Honeymoon period, definitely.
Third time's indeed the charm, and every turn of the beautiful tourbillon reminds me how fortunate I am to come full circle with the Grande Maison.
Thank you for reading.
a true masterpiece
That's quite an honest and interesting journey. There is so much diversity throughout the JLC brand, which always made me think I could happily live with only one brand. Enjoy this beauty.
Thank you Sir Bogey.
I'm in complete agreement about JLC's diversity. Will definitely be enjoying this one for a long while!
Aaaaah, here it is! Huge congratulations, my friend. The fascinating part of this watch is the less visible. The cylindrical spiral... A marvel.
Thank you my dear friend!
The stepped dial really helps with the visualization of the spiral. Mesmerizing indeed!
And you sure found a beauty, which I hope will stay, as in "the 3rd time is the charm"
It's absolutely an amazing watch with all kinds of intersting designs and mechanics.
Congratulations on a great find.
(I had the same kind of experience with JLC, meaning the "3rd time is a charm". Mine was with the Reverso Duo versions, now having owned 2 in the past and 1 currently.
Hopefully, I too will be happy with my 3rd choice of Reverso and it won't be going anywhere, except on my wrist. )
Congratulations on a great find.
(I had the same kind of experience with JLC, meaning the "3rd time is a charm". Mine was with the Reverso Duo versions, now having owned 2 in the past and 1 currently.
Hopefully, I too will be happy with my 3rd choice of Reverso and it won't be going anywhere, except on my wrist. )
Thank you for shaing your story as well Ron!
I'm still very much in love with the Reverso, though it doesn't change that fact that it doesn't suit me. You're fortunate to be able to carry it off!
A fantastic piece
This watch has so many interesting features besides all its functions:
The stepped dial
The intersection of the minutes track with the seconds track on the “lower step”
The cutaway section in the hour and minutes hands to reveal the “don’t adjust” indicator
Etc.
I understand your well-written story about moving through multiple JLCs as I have done the same — for example, I really liked the Reverso Squadra but it was like wearing a block of wood on my wrist. And my Grande Date was fine but when a Grande GMT appeared, I couldn’t resist … and so it goes.
Cheers,
Cazalea
The stepped dial
The intersection of the minutes track with the seconds track on the “lower step”
The cutaway section in the hour and minutes hands to reveal the “don’t adjust” indicator
Etc.
I understand your well-written story about moving through multiple JLCs as I have done the same — for example, I really liked the Reverso Squadra but it was like wearing a block of wood on my wrist. And my Grande Date was fine but when a Grande GMT appeared, I couldn’t resist … and so it goes.
Cheers,
Cazalea
Thank you Cazalea!
You are making me jealous with the fantastic shots of your Grande GMT! I can't carry it off as well as you do, definitely.
Wow! One day a tourbillion will hopefullly grace my wrist as well
Beautiful choice and wonderful story. Love tourbillions that double as the small seconds indicator.
I'm already looking forward to your wristshots my friend!
And I'm sure your selection criteria will be of very high standards.