Did anybody wonder what are the origins of the Duometre?
Cal 381 on the left ( Quantième Lunaire ), and 380 on the right ( Chronographe ) :
I heard that the origins could be found in a pocket watch from the ... 19th Century.
1881, to be exact.
So, when I was at the Manufacture, I asked the Heritage Gallery to kindly show me this watch.
Which they kindly did.
The Cal 1920 RMSMI ( Repetition Minute Seconde Morte Inédpendante )
A closer view on the double gears train, one being dedicated to the Seconde Morte:
While the second is in charge of the other functions: Minute Repeater and Time.
A picture of this superb watch on its document:
On the aesthetical side, now, which JLC watch marked the start of the " Cotes Soleillées "?
The Antoine LeCoultre 8 Days, in 2003, to celebrate Antoine Lecoultre's 200th Birthday ( Cal 877 ).
Here is a picture of the Cal 876, which is basically the same, at the difference of a perpetual calendar module.
So, yes, two dates are important, when it comes to the Duometre movements: 1881, and 2003.
Interesting, isn't it?
Best.
Nicolas.