Jaeger-LeCoultre

Salon de Greef: JLC

 

Without any doubt, JLC was the brand to visit at the Salon de Greef which took place in Brussels in June.  Thanks to its team in Belgium, JLC managed to gather almost all the 2012 novelties for this event. With this collection without forgetting some key watches of the catalogue, the visitors had a very accurate view of what was the current state of offer from the Manufacture. For me, it was a wonderful surprise. I couldn't spend a lot of time with JLC at the SIHH so I could enjoy in a quieter context the novelties. And as you know, when it comes to novelties, JLC has a very pragmatic approach: JLC is a global player in terms of geographical scope or price ranges so the objective is to be able to answer to the expectations  of all types of customers. It is the reason why we may have the feeling that JLC unveils too many watches per year. But with the right keys to understand the strategy, everything sounds logical.

From the entry level watches to the superlative ones, we could handle them all... including... surprise, surprise, the SpheroTourbillon!

I propose you to browse the pictures I took during my visit.


Let's discover first the lay-out of the displays. I really like the Nonciature building in Brussels. Maybe because of the view on the Place des Sablons, the most charming and elegant area of the city!









In June, we had a beautiful sunshine so the light conditions were pretty good!




The best surprise was the presence of the watchmaker. For a brand like JLC, it is always important to get further explanations due to the wide range of calibers available. And some have really specific technical features. He didn't come with empty pockets as he brought with him several movements, obviously not finished the same way as we find them in watches but which work perfectly. Always a fascinating experience to watch the most complicated ones!









Let's have a look at some of them:

Répétition Minutes, Two brains, GyroTourbillon... with these few pictures, we understand why JLC has an unique offer in the industry.

















A Duometre movement is not only beautiful thanks to its architecture. It is also efficient with the way it handles the energy. The principle is easy to understand, to create such movements is another story.




When you first saw a GyroTourbillon, a "classic" Tourbillon looks very simple... even in the context of a complicated watch:








Of course, when the JLC team asked me which watch I wished to see first... I answered: SpheroTourbillon!!!

The watch is really hypnotizing. First of all, the Tourbillon behaviour is very different from Gyro one. Secondly, I like the way the dial is organised and the feeling of depth it gives.

Surprisingly, despite this feeling, the watch remains rather "slim" for this kind of watch (14,1mm). Diameter is 42mm: the watch is very wearable and comfortable on the wrist. The ability to do a  zero reset without stopping the Tourbillon is a nice feature in order to set the time with accuracy. And we know that when the regulating organ is stopped, it requires several seconds to have an efficient behaviour. JLC system is in my point of view, the most satisfactory.

Finishings of the movement are on a higher level than with other Duometre. You can see it with the shape of the bridges, their beveled sections and the decoration style.

I was happy to gather 3 Duometre watches on a single pic!

The Quantième Lunaire and the Chronograph: a high value for money in my point of view.

The Quantième Lunaire is definitively not a watch for me! The permanent foudroyante has a bad impact on my mood, it puts me under stress! I think I need a more peaceful watch.

This piece is a bit paradoxical: it mixes a foudroyante with the most poetic and quietest complication available: moonphases display! This strange feeling creates the interest of the watch.

 

Even if I prefer the architecture of the Chronograph movement, the movement of the Quantième Lunaire (caliber 381) remains  a joy for the eyes. The finishings are not flawless but again it is the way the movement is structured what makes the difference.

The new 40,5mm case is perfect on my wrist! I only regret that the second hand scale is cut twice. Not very important however.

The Chronograph:

There is a big difference between the Chronograph and the Quantième Lunaire (and the SpheroTourbillon) duometres. The time display is located on the left side of the dial, a way for JLC to say that the main function is the chronograph! Time displays are located on the right side with the other two Duometre watches presented here. Colours code of the hands is respected!

The Duometre is maybe the best way to enter JLC world. When you run the chronograph, I love to see the constant distance between the two second hands:

We jump into another collection with this Grande Reverso Ultra Thin:




I presented it in details in this post:
jlc.watchprosite.com








Hopefully, no hair is visible! That's the magic of this watch!

More seriously, I think that the skeletonized way of decorating finds its right place with a Reverso. However, I prefer a more sober style which would be more compatible IMHO with the shape of the case.





The Deep-Sea chronograph and its chronograph indicator. This red/white indicator is not that useful for our daily life but it is a nice link with JLC history and I must confess it  prettily decorates  the dial.

The new Master Chronograph is the bit the story of "all the little things that count"...

JLC did a great job by improving this watch with subtle changes... and the aesthetical move works!

I like the black date, the red "automatique", this mix of black and red creates an elegant and sportive atmosphere at the same time.

A very balanced watch and a strong competitor in the chronographs world of this price range:

The Grande Reverso Calendar is what I call a very clever addition to the collection.

First of all, the complication perfectly matches the Reverso case. Moreover, it allows JLC to propose us one of the nicest Reverso dial in this segment. It is balanced, well made and very appealing.

I don't have the same feeling with the movement. Maybe a solid caseback would have been better here. But in a commercial point of view, the visible movement is a good point.

This Reverso is elegant thanks to its guillochage in the center part of the dial and the several details which enhance the perceived quality. I'm seduced by this watch despite a rather big size for a rectangular watch... (even if it may look small if we compare it with some bulky watches from the competition):

And what about a striking watch?

Sadly I didn't shoot a movie of the Master Grande Tradition à Répétition Minute:

I'm a PG guy... so I really like this version. It has a warm design with a very technical approach.

The very large plate allows JLC to propose a sunrays decoration. Regulating organ seems to be a bit squeezed but after all, the show takes place on the front side!

I love this dial even if I'm not a fan of the little notes at the bottom. Anyway, when we launch the Minute repeater, the watch becomes a joy for the ears... and for the eyes! A true experience for both senses!

We come back to a more sober world... even if we are talking about a Tourbillon watch!

Again, this Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon has great horological  contents with a very reasonable price. An in-house Tourbillon with Titanium cage, a 4hz automatic Tourbillon... if you like understated Tourbillon watches, this JLC is one of the best proposals from Switzerland! My only regret is the presence of the second hand which is useless in my point of view here. Tourbillon revolution is enough.

The ivory dial of the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon:

JLC dedicated also some watches to reinforce its entry level like this Master Ultra Thin Réserve de Marche. We recognize the classic lay-out of the dial. The watch proposes two very useful complications, date and power reserve displays what make it a very reasonable way to enter JLC universe. Despite its classic style, this dial lay-out remains quite original.

This Master Control, thanks to its thicker bezel has the purpose to be a daily watch which can be worn in different situations.

More sportive than a Master Ultra Thin, it is still elegant and can be easily put on the wrist with a suit or with a less formal outfit.

This is again a very clever addition to the catalogue because it fulils the expectations of clients who look for an "unique" watch with a versatile purpose.

As you can see, I started with the SpheroTourbillon and I ended with the Master Control. Don't get me wrong: these watches have the same importance for JLC. First one highlights the impressive skills of the Manufacture and has a very positive impact on its image. Second one has the objective to get new customers, to seduce people who look for their first nice watches. This ability to create successful timepieces in each segment requires a strong expertise because the skills which are sollicited are not the same. This is without any doubt why JLC is so special.

I would like to thank a lot the JLC team in Belgium and the de Greef staff for the warm welcome.

Fr.Xavier

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