JLC SIHH 2013: Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique QP Jubilé.

May 27, 2013,00:00 AM
 



At first glance, I was thinking that the MGT T QP Jubilé was a slight evolution of the former version which saw the light in 2009.

The 2009 Edition:



I was totally wrong...

The Jubilé edition of the MGT TC QP ( God, what a long name for a watch! ) has been deeply revisited, as I will tell you.

This Jubilé piece is another demonstration of JLC skill, or should I write, madness in horology.

Why madness?

As the name of this watch allows you to guess, you have a:

- Flying Tourbillon.

- With a cylinder-shaped spiral.

How many manufactures do have several flying tourbillons?

JLC made several, as you know... One for the Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie, one for the Spherotourbillon, and one for the MGT Grande Complication.

The Hybris:



The Spherotourbillon:



The MGT Grande Complication:



So, the MGT TC QP Jubilé is the fourth watch to receive a flying tourbillon, nothing less.

If it was not enough,the Tourbillon is also equipped with a cylinder-shaped spiral.

Here again, do you know many manufactures which " gave " such a spiral to SEVERAL of their watches?

You have one in the Sphertourbillon ( again !) and in the Gyrotourbillon II.

The Gyrotourbillon II:



We are far from the previous MGT T QP released in 2009, undisputably.

As we are speaking of the Tourbillon, let's say a few words on the movement, the Cal 985.

This calibre is made of 431 pieces, is automatic, offers a power reserve of 48 hours, and beats at the pace of 28800 alternances per hour.

It is 30, 7 mm big and 8, 15 mm high.

It is hand assembled and decorated.

The cage of the Tourbillon is made of Titanium Grade 5, and the balance wheel in 14 Ct Gold.

Another detail has to be mentionned: The rotor, made in 22 Ct Rose Gold, bearing the Gold Medal of the Paris 1889 Universal Exhibition, where and when the Manufacture was awarded for its horological mastery and sense of Innovation. A good symbol to reproduce for the celebration of an anniversary....

The Cal 985:



A closer look:



The dial has its own personality, and changes a lot from the one of the previous model.

Exit the inferior part which was finished with hobnails, exit the long slim applied gold indexes, welcome to the silver grained dial which is common to the " Jubilé Collection ", the new minute indexes, the new dauphine hands, and the heated blue perpetual calendar hands.



For the blue sky of the moonphase, JLC used a varnish , and the moon is made of silver powder.

As any other JLC perpetual calendar, the moonphase will have an interval of one day each 122 years, and the perpetual calendar datas can be set with the use of the single pusher located at 8 o' clock.



The case takes the benefit of some major evolutions, not to say a revolution, too.

The diameter is still 42mm, the height is a bit more important than on the previous model ( 13, 1 mm instead of 12, 4 mm ), and here you have no choice between platinum and colored gold, as the new MGT TC QP Jubilé is available in platinum extra white ( a blend of platinum 950 and Ruthenium 50 ) only, and in a limited edition of 180 pieces.

More interesting, there are some important details which change, in this new case:

The bezel, which is concave.

The lugs are welded, now.

The profile and the volumes of the case are more convincing, in my opinion, than on the former version.





So is the MGT TC QP Jubilé: A blend of Tradition in its elements of Design, and of Modernity.

One regret? A manual winding movement would have been the top. But this is just my personal opinion.

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,

Best.

Nicolas. This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-05-27 00:16:15 This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-05-31 13:43:37


More posts: Ballon BleuCollection VilleretDuometreFlying TourbillonHybris MechanicaSpherotourbillonTourbillon Cylindrique

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re: Cylindrique

 
 By: DRMW : May 27th, 2013-00:10
From the pics the blue sky varnish and grey moon seems to give the dual level dial some additional depth to it, is like that in person? -MW

Pictures cannot beat the real experience, Ming.

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-00:15
I chose to post this watch as the last series of the 2013 collection. I was surprised to see how warm was the welcome for this watch. Not that it doesn't deserve it, but I thought the MUT 39 Jubilé would get all the votes, or the GRUT Duo Blue dial, for e... 

A mesmerizing time- piece.. Coming with superb ingredients.. AND

 
 By: hs111 : May 27th, 2013-01:19
I am additionally amazed, that it has not forgotten some user- friendliness ( accuracy of the moonphase, setting of the QP..), albeit is a fine example of beauty and noble capacity, LGM is able to deliver . On a more mundane note, I am sure, that this wil... 

It is always good to have unaffordable watches, my friend.

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-02:02
We need some dreams, and this one may well belong to this category. But, this year, there are some good offers, which remain in an affordable league. And which are not second choices All the best, my dear patient. ;) Nicodu.

Unaffordable.. Many - More - Most .. But, YEP ..

 
 By: hs111 : May 27th, 2013-02:32
Right you are, as so many times.. There needs to be the spider web of dreams, ingredients of passion, but moderated by our more rational forehead parts of our brain.. - no matter what the heart sometimes whispers.. Secondly, as you so well know: - there i... 

I would like to think that some of the technology

 
 By: docsnov : May 28th, 2013-19:02
developed for these super watches, unaffordable to most of us (99.99% of us) as you say, filters down to the models that are a little more affordable for the masses, and it is fun to dream about what you would buy if you won the lottery :-) Stewart

JLC opted for that with the Extrem Lab One.

 
 By: amanico : May 28th, 2013-20:53
A Laboratory watch whose parts ( some of them ) were used for later watches, such as the Amvox III and the Extrem Lab II. Best, Stewart. Nicolas

Name code: MGTTCQPJ

 
 By: Mark in Paris : May 27th, 2013-01:27
I think they have the record of the longuest watch name. I was pleased, when I saw it in the flesh, to find a more modern look especially as regards to the dial color and finishing (+ case shape) It is easy to make a very crowdy dial with such a watch and... 

I share your opinion on the diversity of tourbillons.

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-08:03
I think JLC has too many Tourbillons in the catalog. Ok, one Gyro, one flying, one cylindirc, and basta. Originality is fine, diversity may be interesting, but too much is too much. Best, And thanks for your input, Mark. Nicolas.

Hi Nico

 
 By: ik2000 : May 27th, 2013-02:00
I actually managed to try on this piece at the JLC HK boutique showing of their SIHH 2013 novelties. I did like the watch a lot indeed, but still I couldn't help wishing the dial was not 'cut-away' on the bottom third of the dial. Is this purely aesthetic... 

I am not the best person to answer you.

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-08:18
Which I generally dislike is dials with a hole, which is the case with the majority of tourbillons. With some exceptions, such as the GP Tourbillon under golden bridges, or the JLC Gyro I ( or II, or III ). In the case of the present watch, I was more dis... 

Thank you Nicolas for another beautiful review of a......

 
 By: Sandgroper : May 27th, 2013-04:07
Splendid piece of horology. I really prefer this dial to the previous one with Clous de Paris, however, I still don't like the cut out or step on the dial, perhaps it is due to a technical necessity but I would have preferred the dial to be without that s... 

A micro rotor would be an excellent idea!

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-11:41
It may make me change my mind on automatic movements. Excellent idea, my friend. Another detail which pleases me al t is the new case. I find it superb. Best, Nicolas.

Another alternative to a microrotor...

 
 By: apropos : May 29th, 2013-21:20
...might be a peripherally located rotor "rim", as found on one of the 2013 Breguets - allowing all of the movement to be seen in all its glory. All of the taste, none of the calories, so to speak. That said, micro rotors can be beautiful additions, like ...  

Well, I think...

 
 By: watchme : May 27th, 2013-06:50
that having, in essence, 2 movements (JLC's automatic flying tourbillon and Kurt Klaus' re-worked ala JLC style QP module) makes for an inevitably thicker watch, and in this regard, I think the manual wind may have reduced it by 2mm. However, the appeal (... 

We are in total agreement.

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2013-11:43
but there is one thing I love a lot on this watch, its new case. I am looking foward to seeing more manual winding watches, though, from JLC. Best, Nicolas

Yes, especially the MUT Moon 39!

 
 By: watchme : May 29th, 2013-06:52
At 7mm, it'd been a dream come true. -Dean

Strangely, it seems that JLC doesn't believe in the popularity of manual movements.

 
 By: amanico : May 29th, 2013-07:25
I had many conversations with them, lately, and they don't believe so... Strange... Best, Nicolas

Thanks for your article Nicolas.

 
 By: foversta : May 29th, 2013-14:33
But in my point of view, I prefer an automatic movement here because with a PC, at least you can put it on a winder. Here is a WS: The dial is superb. Fx ...  

There are two ways to go, here. 8 DAYS movement, or...

 
 By: amanico : May 29th, 2013-21:54
The settings of all the PC datas through the crown... Ala U.N. No need for an automatic movement, then, nor for a winder. Best, Nicolas