amanico[JLC Moderator]
342305
A quick view on the two most innovative watches in the world.
Oct 20, 2014,00:18 AM
While I was trying to find something in my hard disc, I fell on some pictures and documents about what has to be considered as the two most innovative watches in the world, two watches we have almost no chance to see in the real life, though, the Jaeger-Lecoultre Extrem Lab One, and the Ulysse Nardin InnoVision.
The InnoVision ( I have no other choice than borrowing press files pictures, as, sadly, I could never see one in the real ) :
The Extrem Lab One:
Indeed, the Extrem Lab One and the InnoVision are two Laboratory watches, the first being confidentially sold ( 3 to 5 pieces per year ), and I am quite sure the second is a prototype, not for sale.
Both have in common a very strong look, whose purpose is to enhance their original technicity, the oil free movements.
Both came with their own solutions and ideas at the same time, in 2007!
But each of these two is following its own path, in a mutual respect and consideration.
Here is what Ulysse Nardin wrote about the work on lubrification free movements:
"
Many colleagues and competitors have been working on this objective for decades. A movement working literally forever, not requiring any maintenance at all, must be every watch engineer’s dream.
Ulysse Nardin is not alone in the pursuit of a solution to this problem, and we appreciate every step taken in this direction – including those of our competitors. The approach to apply a durable dry coating of a non-displacing lubricant is very interesting, and we take our hat off to the engineers of Jaeger-LeCoultre, also for their intensive research on the oscillator to improve precision.
- Tissot’s Astrolon created a sensation with its plastic mobiles (Polyoxymethylene) directly running on steel pins with no lubrication at all. "
Hats off to them, for their humility and fair play.
The Extrem Lab One is certainly a watch to live with, as it offers a second time zone, an AM / PM Indicator, a date and a very original and comfortable articulated strap, when the InnoVision is a ... Freak, a watch without crown, a monster of technicity and originality, which needs some time to get used to, especially when you want to read the time, less " easy " than an Extrem Lab One.
Here is a link on the Extrem Lab One:
And here, a link on the InnoVision, for those who want to know more about these two horological UFOs.
Fighting against the old problem of lubrification is maybe one of the most important challenge of modern horology.
In that matter, JLC and Ulysse Nardin excel, like no other brand.
Best,
Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-10-20 00:18:38 This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-10-20 02:44:46 This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-10-23 22:18:48