Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

One of the cool things of being a watch blogger is that you get to try some really nice watches. One of the watch we had in our possession for a while was this Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Jubilee in platinum. Thats right, platinum. In hommage to 180 years of watchmaking from this company from Le Sentier, they created this ultra thin Master in platinum. The watch is just 4.05mm thick but even more astonishing is the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 849 movement that is just 1.85mm thick.This Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Jubilee watch only has an hour hand and a minute hand otherwise the movement would probably became too bulky for its 4.05mm thick case. The caliber 849 movement consists [...]

During the Summer, I had the honour to visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland. I already knew of course that I was dealing with a true manufacture here, but during my visit I realized that I havent seen anything like it before. Ive been to a high number of watch manufacturers past few years, but Jaeger-LeCoultre surprised me in the most positive sense of the word.I will do a report on the manufacture visit very soon, but first let me show you one of the watches that Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced earlier this year: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Calendar.Available in pink gold (reference 1552520) as well as in stainless steel (reference 1558420), a wonderful addition t [...]

Every Friday I write an article for the website of USAs best read watch magazine, WatchTime. Yesterdays article is about my personal Top 5 of rectangular watches.Rectangular watches do not seem to be my style. In all the years of watch collecting, Ive only had a few in my modest collection of watches and most of the time sold them quickly again. I also was able to borrow a few pieces, such as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso 1931 you can see above (and which we reviewed here) but perhaps too short to start a long lasting relationship with it.It is not that I dislike their looks, I actually love the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso collection for example. But somehow I cant get used to look at a r [...]

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Extreme Deep Sea Chronograph CermetDuring the SIHH 2013 exhibition in Geneva, I already put on-line some pictures of this watch on our instagram account. However, there was no time yet to write something decent about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet watches. Undeserved.I love chronographs, especially vintage ones. This Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph has clearly been inspired by their 1950s Memovox Deep Sea models. Although I like the alarm complication, I rather have a chronograph watch to be honest. This Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet comes in two different models. The one pictured above and the Vintage edition (pictured below). The vintage looki [...]

Jaeger-LeCoultre ReversoThe Reverso collection is so iconic, it almost doesnt need any further introduction. However, for those who never took the time to read about one of the most famous rectangular watches, heres a little background:The design for this reversible watch dates back to the 1930s, 1931 to be precise. Polo players were sick and tired of broken and damaged crystals on their timepieces when playing this noble game. Jaeger-LeCoultre came up with the idea of making it possible to flip the watch on your wrist, so that the crystal was protected from serious beatings. In 1931, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced (and patented) the Reverso watch. Through the decades, the Reverso developed and [...]

Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the brands that has the most mechanical movements to pick from, all in-house developed and crafted. They can proudly say that they first design a watch and then create the movement for this particular design, instead of the other way round that we often see so much. Large watch cases with only a small mechanical movement inside is not something you will encounter from this brand from the Vall e de Joux in Switzerland.I was delighted when I received an invitation for their Master Class watchmaking course in Amsterdam, guided by one of their highly skilled watchmakers. Earlier this year, during their event at the 24 hours of the Nurburgring, I already received a shor [...]

For most horological aficionados, visiting their favorite manufacture is a necessary pilgrimage along the path. Ive had the privilege to visit a few in my time, however living halfway around the world makes this a bit more of an expedition than is convenient. However, on my last assignment to Switzerland, I happened to have a free day, and the folks at Jaeger-LeCoultre were extremely accommodatingEnjoy the photo essay its more of a story of how a watch is made, and a slight deviation from normal programming here at Fratellowatches, but I think youll find it interesting all the same.Images shot with an Olympus OM-D and Panasonic 20/1.7 and 45/2.8 macro lenses. Each image can be clicked on fo [...]

Last weekend, the 24 hours of the Nurburgring were raced and Fratellowatches was there with Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin. Besides enjoying the race and the finish of the Aston Martin team, there was also some time and room to view the Jaeger-LeCoultre collection and follow a short master class in watchmaking.Before entering the Aston Martin terrace in the Dorint Hotel at Nurburgring with the most perfect view on the racing track, I followed the short master class on watchmaking given by one of Jaeger-LeCoultres watchmakers from Le Sentier. They brought their work bench to the racing track and with the sound of super sports cars in the back ground, I tried disassembling and assembling th [...]

Dutch movie Jackie, which is in the theaters as of today, is about two twin sisters who have been raised by their father, who receive a phone call one day from their unknown biological mother who lives in the US. The twin sisters, played by Carice (a.o. Valkyrie) and Jelka van Houten are sisters in real life as well. Both wear a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Lady in this movie.Jaeger-LeCoultre have been favored in movies numerous times. What about Justin Timberlake wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control in Bad Teacher, or Pierce Brosnan wearing a Reverso Duoface in the Thomas Crown affair. In the original Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Steve McQueen appearantly wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre as well. [...]

The first Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor I laid my hands on was a Master Compressor Memovox in 2004 and as far as I recall, there were no other Compressor models at that time. I really liked it and still do but it seems that the Master Compressor models in general are not as well received by collectors and enthusiasts as the more conservative Reverso and Master collections. Ive tried and tested Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and Master watches in the past, but never gave the Master Compressor really a chance.In the past, weve reviewed a couple of Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, like the Gyrotourbillon, the Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, the Master Minute Repeater, Master Tourbillons and the Reverso Cla [...]

It seems like Im on a roll with rare Jaeger-LeCoultre pieces of late: hot off the camera is a set of the magnificent Gyrotourbillon 1 (we did a review of the Gyrotourbillon 2 as well). This version has a skeleton dial; a massive rose gold case, perpetual calendar, and of course, the signature multi-axis tourbillon all made up of 679 parts, 117 alone of which are jewel bearings.As usual, click on any image for a larger versionIt also runs for slightly over eight days, powered by two vertically stacked and sapphire-topped barrels which is a nice touch, but Im not sure why youd need to see the state of wind if youve got a power reserve indicator on the front. This is especially impressive con [...]

Once in a very, very rare blue moon, a truly amazing piece crosses your way. This is one of them: The Mother Of All Reversos. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2. A double-axis tourbillon with cylindrical hairspring; reserve de march and date indicators. 373 parts and 58 jewels keep everything turning. Oh, and it runs for 50 hours off one massive single barrel. As you would expect, the case is truly enormous to accommodate most of all the spherically shaped tourbillon; the movement alone is 11.1mm thick, accommodate in a case around 16mm thick. The case is so massive theres a secondary integrated lock slider near the crown to prevent accidental reversing.Click all images for larger [...]

With the exception of the newly released Reverso?Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, the Classique is perhaps in many ways the quintessential Reverso: its been in JLCs catalog for many, many years; it can be appreciated by both men and women (the size is a nice in-between that makes it a largish ladies watch but a slim mens dress watch) and is powered by a hand-wound caliber 846.Its also perhaps the closest thing we have to the original size, too. The bracelet is very flexible and comfortable for all wrist sizes; highly recommended over the strap if you have small wrists. (Fratello Tip: If you have very small wrists like my wife, you can make the extra links into a ring, see below.)Interestingly, de [...]

News from the? Vall e de Joux in Switzerland. Jaeger-LeCoultre proudly presents their AMVOX2 Grand Chronograph Limited Edition (ref?Q1972473) in 18 carat pink gold. Restricted to 50 pieces only and inspired by race driver?Adri en Fern endez who started his racing?career?in 1973. Why?Adri en Fern endez? Good question. In 2010, he became official driver for the Aston Martin Works Team and as you probably know by now, Jaeger-LeCoultre has a long term relationship with Aston Martin.Just like the first AMVOX chronograph, this limited edition Grand Chronograph also features the vertical trigger chronograph, which means you have a single-pusher system by using the sapphire crystal. Thats right, you [...]

Click on all images for larger.After many sleepless nights of deliberation, it was time for a change. I sold my Lange 1815 to make room for something new in the collection. What would it be? After much hunting and poring over catalogs and visiting dealers, I decided on a Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT (RGGMT from here on) in steel. The standard alligator strap wasn't very flexible or comfortable for me, and left the watch sitting high, so I went for the bracelet model.That was in early 2009. Two and a bit years on, am I still in love?Let's back up a little. There are three things that can happen to a watch after you've owned it for a while: either it grows on you, you like it as much a [...]

Click on all images for larger.After many sleepless nights of deliberation, it was time for a change. I sold my Lange 1815 to make room for something new in the collection. What would it be? After much hunting and poring over catalogs and visiting dealers, I decided on a Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT (RGGMT from here on) in steel. The standard alligator strap wasn't very flexible or comfortable for me, and left the watch sitting high, so I went for the bracelet model.That was in early 2009. Two and a bit years on, am I still in love?Let's back up a little. There are three things that can happen to a watch after you've owned it for a while: either it grows on you, you like it as much a [...]

In 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the 80th anniversary of their famous Atmos clock. As you might know already, Atmos clocks keep ticking because of temperature changes in the environment. I did a write-up in its 80th anniversary year where you can read more about the Atmoss background and workings (click here to read it).Now, in 2011, Jaeger-LeCoultre did not only steal the show (SIHH2011) with regards to wrist watches, they also introduced a new Atmos clock. The Atmos Marqueterie Paille.Restricted to 28 pieces only, the Atmos Margueterie Paille (or straw marquetry) is celebrating an ancient decorative technique that was revived by interior designers during the 1930s. The transparent cabi [...]

I have a weak spot for watches that help you travel through different time zones, without losing track of home time. We all know about the GMT watches that just have an extra hour hand, to display home time (or 24h notation). However, there are also watches that can flip through different timezones with only a push on a button or turning an extra crown. Technically speaking, these watches are much more complicated than the ones with just an extra hour hand like the Rolex GMT-Master or ETA 2893-A2 based watches (Omega, Linde Werdelin etc.).World Timer watches, as they are being called, attract me since the day I became interested in wrist watches. During all these years, my taste did not chan [...]

The Memovox is probably the most sought-after Jaeger-LeCoultre watch amongst collectors. JLC is about to present a limited series of three new Master Memovox International watches at the Parisian concept store Colette. Why? Well, from the 29th of November till the 31st of December, 25 participants are showing off their best pieces of art (and timepieces are included in that definition) during a project called The Cabinet of Curiosities by Thomas Erber.For this event at Colette, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created a special edition of the Master Memovox International watch in a black PVD-coated steel case. This model is issued in a three-piece limited edition.The Memovox was introduced in 1956 and f [...]

Unfortunately, a 37mm looks kind of silly on my 7.5 wrist. Otherwise, a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Moon like Robs (friend of the show since 2004) would be a perfect timepiece for formal occasions. Although Jaeger-LeCoultre seems to have entered a different route to approach its clients since a while, with big bulky watches or with high-tech materials, this Master Moon with a diameter of 37mm and a height of just 10mm is a true classic that at least will look good on you in a few decades from now. Will the Compressor watches do to? I think not.For around 3000 Euro, you should be able to find a nice Master Moon (young occasion) in good condition, complete with box and papers. Make sure the alliga [...]