Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jerome LAMBERT, THE INTERVIEW.



Q: What is your personal take on Jaeger-LeCoultre?

R: I would define Jaeger-LeCoultre as a brand of beautiful horology tradition and especially of horology know-how.

Back in 2001 / 2002 we were convinced about that already and proud of our capacities.

We just had to turn this know-how and potential into full reality, obviously without forgetting the founding principles of JLC and its creators as Antoine LeCoultre himself.



Collection after collection, we’ve had to be inventive, creative, all that to finally be up to today’s tastes!

When I arrived at Jaeger-LeCoultre I felt a colossal heritage that we had just to make perceptible.

The dream world of horology is indeed Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The true challenge lies in giving an impulsion to go forward.

At JLC there is no individual success, at any level, but the shared success of a team, the collective wins over the individual.

Training is another important aspect at Jaeger-LeCoultre. It is essential, I would even say vital for the future of the brand.

More than 300 square meters of workshop are dedicated to training.
Past, present time and future can’t be dissociated for us.

( Writer's Note: The old Farm, in Year 1833 )



( Writer's Note: The New Manufacture )



Q: How do you perceive the Reverso in Jaeger-LeCoultre history? Inhibiting, consuming or necessary?





R: ( Laughs)...A share of the three...

Chronologically speaking the Reverso was indeed inhibiting in 2000.

It has consequently appeared to be necessary to create, to diversify the production, so that we could offer a strong alternative to a watch as emblematic as the Reverso can be.

In my opinion we really succeeded to diversify with the Master Compressor line in the first time. The renewal of the Master Control range followed and finally the high horology with which the Reverso still has its fair share with the Master line models and the Duometre.















This variety constitutes a superb illustration of the richness of the Manufacture offerings.

Q: Let’s talk precisely about high horology and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The first question I think of relates to the links between Jaeger-LeCoultre and the other brands of the Richemont Group. I specifically think about prestigious brands like Vacheron Constantin and Lange, if not about others.

Are the relations good, while we’ve seen Jaeger-LeCoultre issue in each of the last four years paragons of very high horology?

R: There is no problem, each of us must exist in the respect and with the help of its philosophy and values.

Jaeger-LeCoultre builds its own history in this way and perpetuates it through horology invention and know how.



Each of us is own values, each of us taking his chance.

As you ask it yes the co-existence of the Richemont brands is positive as much as constructive as we all enrich ourselves at each other’s contact.

Q: When we look at the full range of models currently produced by Jaeger-LeCoultre we could have an impression of an excessive spectrum. What do you think about it ?

R: You have to understand that Jaeger-LeCoultre is a multidisciplinary manufacture, certainly not a monoproduct company. That has been the truth since the beginning of its existence.

This large variety of watches and clocks is always respectful of the style and good workmanship and know how of the manufacture.

Q: You say that Jaeger-LeCoultre is a real manufacture. Are all components of a watch made in-house?

R: Yes to some extent and that’s the case of all regulating parts excepted for the spirals that we don’t make in-house.

Q: Regarding the automatic chronograph calibre some feel and say that the Frederic Piguet company played a role in its conception. What is the truth ?

R: You have to take into account that all chronograph calibres share the same constraints so the schedules of conditions are very close.

I can still certify that there is no Frederic Piguet calibre in any Jaeger-LeCoultre chronograph.

Q: What relationship “La Grande Maison” has with collectors ?

R: To be really honest, before 2000 we had no feedback from collectors, we didn’t see them we didn’t hear them.

What surprised me and even touched me along the years is the esteem and affection people have for Jaeger-LeCoultre.

It is absolutely fabulous to share with collectors and outside lovers the love of a brand.

The Polaris that we are re-issuing this year is a perfect illustration of this love of the brand and the exchanges with collectors.





Originally Jaeger-LeCoultre was not favouring the idea of a re-issue. The exchanges we’ve had have made us change our mind and we’re glad about it!



( Writer's note: A closer look on Jerome's Wrist..Do you recognize the watches? )



I must also say that "The PuristS" has brought an important contribution to the opening of Jaeger-LeCoultre to the collectors’ world.

To listen and to be open are important assets.

Q: as a conclusion, two classical questions:

- What is for you Jerome LAMBERT your favourite Jaeger-LeCoultre watch?

R: ( Laughs )..Difficult question. I would answer saying that I’m privileged to be able to wear what I want.

I must absolutely answer?

I would say :

The EWC in steel and titanium. ( Credit Pic: Sclamb )



The Squadra.



The Polaris, the absolute class.



And the Grande MUT in pink gold.



But the list could be much longer…….

- And among the competition?

R: The Datograph, from Lange and Sohne, at least before the Duometre appeared !.



A Portugaise from IWC, beautiful and timeless. ( Credit Pic: Harry, of course! )



I have a deep and real admiration for these two watches.

A big thank you Jerome LAMBERT to have given us the necessary time for this interview !

We wish you simply the best for you and your team.

PS, I want to thank Mr Jerome, our Jerome ( Berder ) , for the translation of this interview, and for some of the pics.

Best.

Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-05-19 07:41:37 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-05-19 08:16:25 This message has been edited by Dje on 2008-05-19 10:19:36 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-05-25 03:18:18

...both inside and outside his own brand. 

Great interview and a nice selection of photos to accompany it!  You do us a great service. Thanks for giving us an outstanding opportunty to hear directly from Mr. Lambert!

respo

It was a real pleasure to interview Mr Lambert...

I can say that Jerome is a very kind man, disponible and open minded.

There were quite a lot of journalists for the interviews, even the TV, but he took the time to give us this interview.

It was a very good and pleasant moment.

As it was with Magali.

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

Interesting interview, especially his views on the Reverso line.

I have prepared the questions maybe 2 months before, and I had to ask these questions in vivo...

About the Reversos, this was a question I really wanted to ask...And he answered without " detours".

Thanks for the input!

Nicolas

Matrix.

No message body

. . . for myself, the most interesting comment was his admiration for the Datograph. Another prominent watchmaker (not Dufour) gave me the same answer when I asked him that very question . . . cordially, Art

The Datograph, and I don't think this is surprising, as the watch deserves this interest, and this  "reconnaissance"...

I'm impatient to comapre it to the Duo Metre....

Best.

Nicolas

I want this watch!!!!!!!!!!!



Simon

This is  one of a couple of watches that I wish JLC would reissue. In pt or wg or ss this would be a dynamite watch with a display back. Sounding like a broken record  JLC could also reissue the Reverso Annual Calendar and or the Quantieme Perpetual Reverso.

Jaeger produced a Reverso Annual Calendar???  Do you or does anyone have information or pictures of a Reverso Annual Calendar?  I would love to see that.  I was not aware that Jaeger ever produced an annual calendar, Reverso or otherwise.

respo

The watch I'm referring to is in the big history of the Reverso book. From recollection it had day and month windows (like the G.O. perpetuals) with the date on a race track around the edge of the dial.  For some reason though I have a feeling that JLC showed this watch but that it never went into production.

The watch you refer to (which has been shown in several 1990's JLC catalogues) has actually never existed 'historically' as a watch.

In the late 1930's, JLC created a full calendar (moonphase) movement with a retrograde date display, developed on the classic form movement cal 11-U.

This movement was a prototype and never made it to production form.

Then, in the late 1980's, when the technical team was asked to think of the first complication to put in the modern reverso, JLC 'cased' that historic movement into the (new) reverso case.
The watch looks pretty similar to the Reverso 60eme which was launched in 1991 (same retrograde date display, although the 60eme was more simple, with only a power reserve indicator and this retrograde date).

So, the reverso 'annual calendar' never really existed as such

(A reverso perpetual existed however later, also part of the initial limited editions reverso complications, but it is quite a different watch, with the perpetual calendar display being located on the 'reverse' side of the watch)

I knew I was a bit fuzzy on the details! The "11-U"  watch was stunning though. It wouldn't be hard to put a modern version of that into the XGT case. If JLC can reissue the Polaris why not earlier Reverso's? And I would equally like to see a Perpetual in the Reverso XGT case too. Maybe having seen the Triptyche's Calendar face JLC can put that part into serial production.

Well, if you are thinking of an XGT case, then it wouldn't be a reedition at all..

And JLC has already issued quite a number of interesting complications in the reverso over the past 15 years.

The 'old' reverso was a simple, no complication wristwatch. Anything complicated would therefore not be a reedition.

I myself wish that they will return to creating complications for the GT-sized reversos, as only XGTs and Squadras get the attention of JLC development team these days, which I think is unfortunate  (I just can't bear with the proportions of these 2 watches, which are also way too large for my liking)

Thinking of the reverso, JLC already did a reedition of the early reverso (no second hand, black dial, art deco numbers) a while ago, but it was a dealer limited series only.

The one I think they reissue / adapt in GT size if they want 'something new' in the reverso line while keeping the heritage lineage is a reverso SC

 

 

I think that in the trend towards bigger watches JLC has overlooked the GT sized case. It's a shame as it's far more wearable, and for designers/engineers would be more of a challenge to package or repackage complicated movements. I have both a Duo (GT sized case) and a GMT (XGT sized case) and the GMT is a little "clunky" on the wrist. The Duo (an older one without the button) is a much nicer watch to wear. If I could have the annual calendar or perpetual in the GT sized case I would be very happy!

nt

nt

A Re Edition means that you change nothing from the original watch...Nothing, that means not the size...

And the size of the 1931 Reverso, as shown on the pic posted by Simon, is the size of the Reverso Classique...way too small for me, and, when I see the success of the GT case, I suspect that this is the case for a lot of us...

I tried it some years ago, and my heart was broken...because of the size concern.

Best.

Nicolas

nt

Hi,

Clavi you're right this watch did not exist historically.

But AFAIK the calibre cased in the 80s was not a triple date but a perpetual calendar!

I would love to see such a watch come back, but I doubt it could happen as they have still not sold all the 500 pink gold perpetual calendar GT Reverso watches of the 90s.

Pehaps someday we'll see an 8 days XGT perpetual calendar, a more probable option IMO.

Dje

Is this true that they have not sold the 500 Rose Gold Perpetuals? Could I just order one from my AD? What about any of the other LE's from that series, are any models still available?

MTIA

A perpetual Calendar and a Geographique, in Paris...NIB, of course.

PM me if you want some help.

Best.

Nicolas

Hi Clavi

That's the Reverso QP that has a retrograde date.

Cheers

Dje

The only problem is that this Reverso is very small sized...

I saw it in the flesh, at the manufacture, and this is the Classic size, way too small for me.

A pity, as I love it a lot, but if it is not to wear it, I don't see the interest to get it...

Thanks for the nice words, my friend.

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-05-20 23:53:36

Thank you, gentlemen, for the interesting conversation.

Maybe because it was conducted in French, somehow the 'inner Lambert' came through a little more than just a CEO, whom we have met many times, but also as a man and watch-lover.

 

Regards, MTF

As he's really a pasionnate man..It is really an interesting experience to talk with him, but the passion he expresses may drive him way far the original question...LOL

Passionate, and also very spontaneous.

I didn't meet a lot of CEO, in y life, but among the few I spoke with, Jerome Lambert is one of the most interesting and accessible that I know.

That is one of the reasons that explians my interest for this brand.

All the people I interviewed at JLC, Magali METRAIILER, J. LAMBERT, and the people at the Heritage Department showed the saùe qualities...Passion, Opinion, Information, and dynamism...LOL

Thanks for the nice words, my friend.

Nicolas

 

nt

"The Polaris that we are re-issuing this year is a perfect illustration of this love of the brand and the exchanges with collectors. "

;-)

V