Jaeger-LeCoultre

Or should I call it new Home Time, as for the moment, no one knows exactly what will be the right name of this watch?

I think that it's the first time this watch pops in a forum, so this is quite a scoop!

Here's the beast!



A pic is worth a thousand words to explain how the changes are important on this new watch...

Here's the previous model,launched in 2004:



The differences are obvious, while comparing the 2 dials.

The dial of the new version is much more balanced with the date at 3 instead of being located between 3 and 4, and the subdial of the Night and Day indicator is nicer, IMHO, as it's just below 12...In a nice symmetrical way, don't you think?

Even the subdial of the small seconds is much nicely designed.

So, these are the obvious differences, but this is not all!

The case is still in 40mm diameter, but the main differences are a bezel and the lugs which are designed in a slimmer way, as if JLC wanted to enhance the beauty of the dial.

Here are some pics...of the watch taken under different angles:



Here, you can admire the nice work on the lugs and the bezel...







I find it much more refined than the previous model, much more finished, with a certain look of classic, elegant and timeless watch.

Don't you think so?





I tried to take some quite good macro pics of the dial, to show the quality of the finish and of the design...

You can guess the second time zone hand under the hour hand...



And admire the sunburst finish of the silver dial, but also the very nice finish of the Night and Day indicator, which has 2 different guillochages, ala Breguet...

The numerals and hours marhers are applied, and gold plated.



The only thing I regret is that the night and day hand seems to be blue painted, and not blue heated, like on the classic Master RDM.

The Transparent Case Back offers a view on the reliable Cal 975H, and also allows to view the work on the lugs...





Some macros to appreciate the good quality of this caliber...Even if we don't have the same quality than the best JLC watches, we also don't have the same price!





This is a 30mm Diameter Automatic movement, with 29 jewels, and a power reserve of 48 hours, and made of 230 pieces.

The thickness is 5,70 mm.

The rotor has ceramic balls.

The movement has a variable inertia balance, beating at 28 800 vph.

This new DT is available on a SS Bracelet ( sorry no pic for the moment ) or on croco strap.

For those who want an even dressier look, but a bit more " oldie " too, the Rose Gold version is also available...









There will be a boutique edition, which will not be limited ( AFAIK).

It will come in SS and Rose gold with a black sunburst dial, and in WG with a beautiful Grey Dial, this last one should be LE...

Well, to end with this review, yes, I find it much more appealing than the previous model, an elegant Traveller Watch, and a very well balanced watch, with some nice improvements.

A watch which deserves to have a look on it!

Hope you will have some pleasure to read and view this topic!

Best.

Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-06-17 04:11:55 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-06-21 01:11:54

As usual, JLC gives us an extremely nice and functional dual time watch.  Of course the design are from Master Toubillon....

While i do like the assymetry of the previous hometime, i can tell this will be a great seller!

A contraction of affordable and adorable...LOL

Agree on the fact that JLC made a future HIT when these new Dual Matic or Home time will land!

Best.

Nicolas

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Nicolas, this new model looks better than the 2004 version.

However, this new model, seems like can perform 3 timezones.. so this Triple-Time (TT) is a great travelling watch...and of course will be very relevant if you have 2 girlfriends at two other zones

Don't see any quick set button, so the crown controls all the functions. Well done.

Kong

This is indeed a nice improved versio  of the previous Home Time...

And an affordable watch, that's also very important!

Best.

Nicolas

Hi Kong,

The new Hometime looks similar to LE Edition made for Hubner 2 years ago.. The pictures look fantastic and indeed the symetry is an improvement over the previous standard Hometime.

It has only dual time zones as the 24 hr dial is coupled to the main home time hand to indicate day or night in case you forgot.

The bezel operates all functions.

Looking foreward to see the the final version as the this one has clearly PROTO stamped on the back.

It is a beautifull and accurate watch (considerably better then my Patek)

Regards,

Arno.

 

a la Patel Philippe TravelTime. In which case, it would just be dual time, like the name suggests. My hunch is that this is indeed the case, since it requires no re-engineering of the claibre from the original model, just an aesthetic redesign of one of the subdials.

This design looks a little similar to the PP Calatrava Travel Time, yet upon closer inspection looks may be a little deceiving as this JLC is indeed as individual as its potential name will suggest.

Yet another great scoop.  Thank you!
This message has been edited by KCLQMULKU on 2008-06-17 06:14:38

There is a lot to do to reach the perfect affordable watch, even if we have a good competitor with the MUT...

But what matters is that JLC, with this watch, and with a second one I will post in a few days, is on the good way in the ratio price, quality, and sexy watches.

I appreciate a lot that JLC reworked the case on this watch, in a very nice way...

Best, my friend.

 

they seem to have harmonised the dial design with the Master Tourbillon. I'd love to see a pic of the black dial version as the black dial Tourbillon is a stunner..!!
It also looks a tiny bit thinner than the previous model...is it..??

Another great scoop..!!

Andy.

It looks a bit  thinner due to the re design of the bezel and the lugs...

But I still don't have all the specs due to size, and heigh...

Once I get them, I will share, of course!

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks Nicolas for posting this scoop.

I think it looks great. More harmonious. More finished as you say. However I also liked the modern element  the asymmetry. I think it gave the old version perhaps a little more "personality", and I found the little "J & N" hand to be quite charming.

 The new Piece has a significant new crown. Is this because it is a Proto? It looks nice and also a bit retro!

 IMO. The indexes are certainly nicer and and simpler without the lume dots behind the "dagger " indexes. Clean and simple without looking too "Patek"

If I could change one little thing, please... (LOL) .....I was never so crazy abuout JLC brushing one side of the dauphine hands. they certainly dont need it for the contrast of the two "planes" of the hand to differ, and I think it takes a bit of the nice finish. also, I think it looks a little ...aaaahh I lack the word.. not classic and also a bit unmodern....and now that you are reading my expert opinion (LOL) ..maybe the lume on the hands should go as well. Are these a unique shape to JLC? As far as I know, but a very nice shape, anyway. Not just classic daphine hands. The Lume is not of much use anyway in such a small amount and it certainly doesnt make the hand more beautyfull. Well... maybe in the next revision.....

This is just my very personal opinion, I know.. LOL 

I think it will be very succesfull (another one from JLC)

 

best regards

Christian

Funny, what you said about the new and the old version, as it was the 1st thing I thought, while comparing these 2 versions...

You're absolutely right about the old version, it has something I 'd call a " surrané charm"...

But what matters is that JLC improves the quality and the finisih of their new " basic "  or affordable pieces...

A lot of people, ( and I feel  to be part of  them ), waited for JLC to go this way, and this is the beginning, I hope...

There will always be something to improve, of course, and I believe that JLC will hear us, in our critics.

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

 

There was really something that didn’t attract me on the 2004 model and you named it – the asymmetrical dial. The new model looks classier.

 

You’re also right about the blue hand – a heated one would look better. At least it was not a downgrading from the 2004 model, which night & day blue hand also seems painted.

 

BTW, do you think the old and new model 2^nd time zone hands (they look identical) are heated?

 

Best regards,

Marcelo

No, I think that all the blue hands are sadly blue painted...

This is my major critic on this watch.

Best.

Nicolas

It's hard to tell from the pictures, is there enough lume on the dial/hands to get a good reading at night?  I find that when travelling i sometimes have to use the watch as a bedside clock, and a good solid glow is needed for that.
A

I took the pics of the Protos, so it will be difficult to say if the definitive version will have more lume, or not.

On the proto, the lume is only at 3 and 9, and also on the hands...

It may be enough to allow legibility in the dark, if you are used to such a location.

It would be nice if you have more lume, of course, but wouldn't it be at the price of a less well balanced dial?

Best.

Nicolas

 

well it definitely needs lume at 12, in my mind.  Otherwise you have to physically touch it to see if it is upside down or rightside up, since the 3 and 9 are symmetrical.   Ideally, I'd like maybe a little more on the hands, and at those dots, I worry about longevity of the glow.    I don't want it to turn into a Ball just a little more so i can tell time on those dark Parisian nights!
-a

... harmonised. A well done job by JLC! Though I would love to

see the subdials guilloched to full extend and heat blued hands

for minutes, hours and seconds whilst steel ones for 24h display

and the second time zone on the ss one - but that is a matter of

taste.

Thanks for the report, Nicolas.

Cheers

Christian

I was quite pretty sure that you would like this one!

Really nice job, even if JLC could go farer in the Harmony Way...

But, as you, I'm very pleased to see that JLC did a great job on an affordable watch!

If only they could replace the blue hands by heated hands...On the definitive version!

Best.

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-06-18 08:10:20

nt.

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Thank you Nicolas for this nice review! This watch - which does not appear in the list of the SIHH 2008 novelties on the JLC web site ???? - deserves a highlight!

It is one of the most elegant GMT watches that I have seen for years. As I have already mentioned in a previous post, the HomeTime had some assets such as the nice blue skeleton hand, but I have always found the dial not well balanced. With this new model, its thinner bezel, its improved finishing and this balanced and beautiful dial, JLC has succeeded in converting a try (the HomeTime) into a goal.

I have been told that there will be a boutique edition in white gold associated with a palladium dial. I am looking forward to trying it!!!

 

And of course, I'll post ASAP the WG version and the SS version, too!

These dials for the Boutique editions are simply marvellous!

Best.

Nicolas

Would love to see pics of the wg/gray dial.

When you say "LE" do you mean @ JLC boutiques only or in numbers available or both?

MTIA

The Pink Gold and the SS for the Boutique won't be LE...

Only the WG with the Grey Dial will be LE.

I will post pics as soon as I'll get them or when I'm able to shoot these pieces...

Best.

Nicolas

 

JLC is definitely fixing weaknesses across their entire line. 

That's exaactly the reason why I'm very happy to see this watch made by JLC!

Best, my friend.

Nicolas