Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
[JLC Moderator]
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The fine art of making movements, PART I, the Origins.

While I was visiting the " Heritage Gallery", I was deeply amazed by JLC skill about making movements.
We all know here that since 1833, more than 1000 movements were made.
We also know that JLC simultaneously works on more than 40 different calibers.
But one thing is to know it, another thing is to see it, and it was a great feeling to admire some of them behind the
giant display.
That gave me the idea to prepare this topic, to share with you the strong impression I lived at this moment.
I managed to take some pics, but as it was an opening, there were too much people here, and not enough time.
So, here are some pics taken in the Gallery, others are taken from the Book " Jaeger Lecoultre, La Grande Maison".

The first thing is the surprise to see how these old movements were so nicely executed, even quite 100 years ago!

Look at those one:





No computers, no big and very spohisticated machines, just men, hands, and some good tools.

Here are others:

1907 Extra Thin Pocket Watch...Well, extra Thin, that means...1,38mm Thick!



Circa 1920 Extra Thin Minute Repeater Pocket Watch:



Here we speak of ...3,2mm thick!

The Grandes Complications Pocket Watches were another speciality of this Manufacture.

Here, one made circa 1895:



There, another one, the most prestigious and legendary one, The Grande Complication Pocket Watch from 1928:
Minute Repeater, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph, Moonphase and so on...



And what to say about the famous Caliber 101, made in ..... 1929 ( !!! ) and the smallest Caliber ever made, or one of the smallest, at least.

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