Jaeger-LeCoultre

I was waiting to be able to take decent pics of the new MMRs to prepare this topic, and to present them to you.

In April 2008, during the last SIHH, JLC introduced 2 new MMRs, the " 1833 " ,and a Boutique Edition, which were, more precisely, completing the 2 previous models, released in 2005 ( Platinum ), and 2006 ( Titanium).

The Platinum Antoine Lecoultre Master Minute Repeater:







The Titanium MMR:







More than 2 New MMRs, I'd say that this it is an evolution of theses 2 first great watches.

First, let's have a look at the new Platinum MMR, which is a " Boutique non limited Edition ", which means that it is available only at the JLC Boutiques.

The main difference between the 2005 LE and this new MMR is the color of the dial, wich is black on the new one:







You will also notice that the hands of the Power Rserve and the Torque Indicators are not blued anymore, which is a good thing ,because they were blue painted, and not blue heated...And the contrast between Blue and Black wouldn't have been nicer than between Silver and Black.

Another good point is that the Platinum MMR is not anymore a Limited Edition, as the 200 pieces of the first model are on to be reached.

It would have been sad to not see a Platinum MMR anymore, don't you think?

Now, the Subjective matter:

So do you prefer it with the Black open dial, or the Silver one?

The Black dial adds Strengh to the whole watch, while the Silver looks more under stated.

Difficult to choose between these 2 versions, and perhaps, with the Time, it will be easier, as a new verson is quite often more surprising than a watch we're used to see.

Another small detail is that the movement of the new version doesn't bear anymore A.Lecoultre signature:



Now, let's admire the evolution of the MMR Titanium Version, the " 1833 ", in Rose gold ( LE of 175 pieces ) :

Here, this is not the dial nor the treatment of the movement that changes, compared to the MMR titanium, but the Metal and the Color of the Case.

Keep the ruthenium finish of the MMR titanium, put it in a rose Gold case, and you will have a stunning combination, and contrast.







The surprise is that with a Rose Gold Case, you expect a dressy, elegant and quite sober, not to say classic, dial.

Here, you have a spectacular open dial, mixing the strange and deep look of the ruthenium to the warmth and elegant rose gold case.

Surprising blend, but appealing, IMO.

The idea to use Rose Gold hands and indexes adds, completes and achieves the very nice outcome.

This stunnning contrast can also be admired through the Anti Reflect sapphire:



Between the Titanium and the Rose Gold MMR, I'd say that the Titanium is more looking like a Concept Watch, while the RG is a bit between the Concept Watch ( with its open dial ) ,and the Elegant and Classic Watch, really a matter of taste, once again.

Will JLC complete the offer in " ding dong " watches, and achieves this awesome Diversity?

Time will tell.

Best.

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-01-10 13:35:59 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-01-14 10:38:27

I definitely have a clear preference among the several versions and that is for the titanium.  There is not even a close second in the group.  I love the presentation of one of the most refined and elegant complications as a concept watch, and the titainuium version achieves this perfectly. No other minute repeater looks like it. The 1833 edition is interesting looking, but I don't care for the "1833" tag at the bottom (almost as if they did not know where to put it, and I think it would have been better engraved into the case), but in the end I am not sure about the combintion of metals between the silver movement and the pink gold case. The platinums just don't compare IMHO.

I guess given the nature of this watch, the real question is which version and metal sounds the best?

Thanks for posting this.  I can never see this MMR often enough.

respo

I prefer the Titanium MMR, too.



But I had hard ( and delicious ) time deciding which one I really wanted to pick, between the Titanium , and the Platinum ( with the silver open dial ).

It took me around 14 months to be sure that I wouldn't regret not having the platinum.

So I tried both of them again and again, to finally go on the Titanium.

With the Time I can say that I'm very happy with my choice, for the reasons you perfectly said.

What I appreciate a lot, with the Titanium MMR is the concept wat look associated to such a refined complication.

It is audacious from JLC to do that, and I love it.

But, really, each of these MMR is a very nice Minute Repeater, and at the end, I am deeply convinced that it is a very personnal and subjective matter.

The question is not if but which one to choose.

Best, Respo.

Nicolas

Thanks for sharing these photos, the black boutique non LE i saw once here in Tokyo, sad to hear it itsn't LE because Platinum should always be made in an LE where possible!

And i didn't know that the blued steel hands werent heat treated but were painted instead! You can say i'm shocked mon ami! Didnt know JLC did this kinda things!

Well, SIHH is next monday, so let's see what JLC brings forth this time yah!

A bientot

Stephen

The platinum MMR with the silver open dial was a LE of 200 pieces, which was, IMO, too much, for such a sophistcated watch.

But, now, there is no more Platinum Silver dials availlable, except at the AD's shops.

So, what to do?

To stop and discontinue such a marvel, or to present another version of this MMR?

I personnaly think that this Black Open dial is a good thing, and may be even rarer than the Silver dial.

Who know how many will be done, as it is a special Edtion for the Boutiques?

Best, my Ding Dong friend.

Nicolas

thanks Nic for this post, the comparison is interesting and stimulating. after reading your comparions, my choice would go for Titanium MMR.

btw, wondering what would be the sound like?

stefan

And although i have not had the chance to listen to them side by side, i have had the chance to hear them individually on separate occasions, and the Titanium version does sound that little bit more clearer, not to say that the Platinum version isn't!

And according to a trusted AD staff here, he reckons that the Titanium version is the clearest among the Platinum, red gold, and Titanium.

Although the MMR utilises the sapphire crystal as a medium to transmit the sound and not the case unlike other minute repeaters from other brands, BUT the material of the watch case still plays a very subtle role in determining the sound, and from a physics point of view, the Titanium version should sound the best , and that seems to be the case in reality!

Cheers

Stephen

thanks stephen for the reply.

i remember, i was attending a patek talk a year ago, in the talk the speaker Mr Stern said that watch made with rose gold would produce the best sound quality compared with other materials. but not sure whether other materials include titanium.

stefan

 

After many weeks of comparision between the platinum and the titanium MMRs, I can tell you that the Titanium sounds higher, while the Platinum sounds matter.

The titaniu_m sounds a bit louder, too, but just a bit.

Best.

Nicolas

No message body

Nicolas,

I wasn't aware of the existence of the boutique edition of the MMR with the black dial. The watch really speaks to me!

Regards,
Chris

The Black dial was presented at the 2008 SIHH, in last April.

But I could only see it a few weeks ago.

They are ALL really amazing, my friend.

If you can play with one of those, don't hesitate, this is a great experience.

Best.

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas,

I was expecting something special from JLC,kind of dishearted looking at both the MMR,

They are like Face-Lift rather than total change over vy JLC,are they optting the Mercedes Benz marketing strategy???or perhaps the Basel/SIHH yearly event stuff make them run out of ideas?As we are aware that Watches needs time to design aswell as manufacture and test.An yearly event would definately make the manufacturer run out of ideas and unable to cope with the development of new watches...

Just my thoughts and opinion...

Thanks for the latest development report.

 

Rgds,

BHK9

I

 

 

These are not new watches, but a face lift of watches which are on to be ( if not already ) discontinued.

As I wrote, they were presented at the 2008 SIHH, but I was able, only a few weeks fo that, to take pics of the definitive watches.

But I can also tell you that, this year again, JLC will amaze you.

Enough said, I talked too much! LOL

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

You really miss a Ding Dong watch in your awesome collection, my friend.



Best.

Nicolas

thanks for sharing with us and thanks too for your teaching.

All are awesome watches, with the beauty and level that JLC give us always, but my prefer model is the MMR titanium, is a impressive watch.

Thanks Nicolas for your work.

Best my friend.

Emilio.

I understand very well your choice, my friend. LOL

But a MMR is a MMR, an original watch, a desirable one.

Whatever is the color or the material of the case.

Best, and thanks for your nice words, my friend.

Nicolas

thank you my friend for sharing these with us.

I must say, like the rest of the crowd, the Ti MMR is by far the best looking piece. I was never so shure about the way they made the "half open" dial of the AL MMR. Maybe it had been more cool with just a simple classical closed dial as an alternative to the skeletonized Ti MMR. But as you say its a question of taste and to have alternatives is a good thing.

all the best

COD

The Platinum have open dials ... the rose gold and the titanium, too.

No one of these has a skeleton dial.

The Platinum are more old school, while the Titanium is maybe more " conceptual ".

Really for different people, I think.

Best, my friend, and see you very soon, now.

Nicolas

I realized only afterwords my mistake. The titanium is of course not skeletonized - And you would know of course, since you are the happy owner   However I still find the "half open" dial of the Pt AL MMR was never a very good design. To me it seems they landed "between two chairs"  with these big cuts in to an ultra classical dial. It is of course entirely my subjective opinion. To me, an unsuccesful attemt to mix classical with a modern look. I would have preferred just to keep it classical, I have a feeling that coud have been quite beautyful.

Look forward to seeing you soon my friend

all the bst

COD

... my heart goes for the MR red gold. Definetly one of the nicest watch out there, IMO.
The ultimate time piece!
Thanks for the making us dream once again.

Karim

And what's not to love it?

A classical color for the case, but an original open dial.

Best of both worlds?

I under rated it when I saw it in Geneva, last April, but there was an impressive crowd, and I didn't have the time to fully appreciate it.

A few weeks ago, when I saw it again, the feeling was different, and yes, I was stunned by its beauty.

Even if I'm not a colored gold guy!

Best.

Nicolas

... see it in the flesh. Unfortunatly, there is only 2 AD's that are JLC resellers in Beirut. One of them is has all the good brand, like PP, lange, VC, etc... but they ppl working there are the unbearable. They got the JLC perpetual squeleton, i ask to look at it to try it on, the guy tells me to look at it, but not to try it on! hehehe... funny but unbelievable. Was going to order my 5712R from there, a friend of mine got it after a month waiting, u understand that after that, even if they offer it to me, i wouldn't take it.

Now the good news, is that the other AD is extremely nice and friendly, and from what i know, they have the best relation with JLC, as their CEO ( Jerome Lambert ) was invited by them here, and they made a huuuge party in his honour. So hoping...

Btw, for your info, JLC ( and IWC ) is very popular in lebanon. When i talk with friends in Paris, london, milan, etc... the image of the brand is still not very strong. Its maybe changing with new models like the duometre, gyro, tourbillon, etc... Over here, i've been asking almost every month to my AD about the duometre, we are still waiting. And the crual part is that i buy all my watches from France, as the price is unbeatable!! ( usually 40% off... with the detax )

Did i tell u before that ur the one that made me discover in depth that brand? ... the huge marketing, advertising campaign in the lebanon got me intrigued, and ur the one that got me the answers 

K.

You will try all the models you want!

Unbelievable story, my friend, that you can't try some models in an AD Shop.

But the other side of the story is that I have personnaly seen so many people who don't know to handle a watch, and even ding them!

As for the JLC reputation, I think that it is better and better, with the Time.

Their watches become very appealing, the Innovation is here, the originality also, without forgetting the Tradition.

The Advertising campaign is very audacious,, which is, IMO, a good sign.

Thanks for your very nice words, my friend.

Best.

Nicolas

..............is astonishing!

my first time seeing it. Sensational piece.

Nicolas you literally NEVER cease to amaze me.
Brilliant post (for the 1000th time.......)

WOW.

I'm sure that if many others will reply to this post, there will be more fans of the RG.

Really stunning, amazing watch, indeed.

Thanks for your nice words, my friend.

Best.

Nicolas

I personally prefer the black dial on the new MMR. Ive never been a big fan of RG, but it the MMR couldnt have been more elegant/classy without its compliments!
Thank you again for the education and best for you my friend.
Matrix.

Another impressive MMR.

I'm very curious to see, at the end, how many of these JLC will make...

Yes, while seeing it, I was impressed, too.

Too hard to choose between these Beasts.

Best, and thanks for your nice words, Matrix.

Nicolas

because I'm a roucky on this forum, so impressed by this post! but, how could you have these watch at the same time? congratulations nicolas. for pix but almost, for your comments.
last year, for the launch of the JLC boutique in lyon, I had have the occasion of wearing the titanium MMR with jérôme lambert. very strange experience. comparing its size and its weight wearing on the wrist, it's strange. unforgettable...