Advertisement: Jaeger-LeCoultre 2014 Collection


JLC Master-Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying TourbillonJaeger-LeCoultre has released an array of new timepieces at the 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, held in Geneva this week. Click here for detailed information and photos of the all-new Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon as well as new watches from the Grande Reverso, Duomètre, and Master Ultra Thin collections.

Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon

Just one year after the introduction of the Master Ultra Thin Jubilee, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents another authentic pioneer in the field of grand complications, the Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon watch, the eleventh creation in the Hybris Mechanica collection and the first ultra-thin Grand Complication model. The watch is very slim for a minute repeater, at just 7.9 mm thin. It is also equipped with an original tourbillon, a high-performance new balance spring, a peripheral automatic winding system, a retractable single push-button, as well as a new minute repeater equipped with a silent-timelapse reduction system. The watch has eight separate patents, six of which are entirely new.

Unlike a classical tourbillon, whose construction tends to obstruct the view of certain components, the tourbillon in the Hybris Mechanica Eleven watch is equipped with a world-first flying tourbillon fitted with a flying balance wheel: both the balance-wheel and spring may be observed in motion from a radically different perspective. This construction also contributes to reducing the movement’s overall thickness.

Jaeger-LeCoultre has conceived and developed an automatic winding system that contributes to the ultra-thin dimensions, which uses an oscillating peripheral weight with a platinum segment visible through narrow openings on the dial. Fitted on a specially developed ceramic ball bearing mechanism, the rotor moves freely in either direction, with only the clockwise rotation winding the movement.

A minute repeater strikes the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. When there are no quarters to be struck, a lengthy, silent timelapse occurs between sounding the hours and the minutes. To solve this problem, an innovative system reducing this silent timelapse was developed. It detects the absence of quarters to be struck and thus eliminates the marked pause between striking the hours and minutes. As a result, the high- and low-pitched notes seamlessly follow their appointed pattern without breaking the tempo. The Hybris Mechanica Eleven is equipped with two patented trebuchet hammers that ensure stronger, cleaner striking on the two crystal gongs fixed to the sapphire crystal, which helps to amplify the sound diffusion. Instead of a traditional slide, the minute repeater is activated by a retractable, single push-button, for which Jaeger-LeCoultre has filed a patent, with a discreet locking system at 8 o’clock.

The white-gold, knife-shaped case is only 7.9 mm thin (including the crystal) and 41 mm diameter. The bezel, the sides and the tapering lugs are all entirely hand-polished.The hour-markers, the traditional black transferred minute circle and the silver-toned grained finish are stylistic nods to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s historical pocketwatches. The Dauphine-type hands have a polished, grained finish. An aperture at 6 o’clock affords a dramatic view of the ultra-thin tourbillon.

Issued in a 75-piece limited edition, the Hybris Mechanica Eleven is powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 362 and has a 45-hour power reserve. The 4.8-mm-thin automatic movement also boasts various haute horlogerie finishes, including côtes de Genève on certain bridges and hand-crafted bevelling on the interior angles on certain parts. The watch’s 18k gold case is attached to a high-end alligator leather strap, secured by a white-gold pin buckle.

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon
Above and below: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon - Perspective

The expertise and virtuosity of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, on display in the Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon, are revealed through each of its timepieces. Watchmakers, artisans, engineers and technicians, united in the same location at the heart of the Vallée de Joux, share the same vision of excellence and work together to give birth to unique horological creations. Together, it is 1,300 individuals that offer fine watchmaking enthusiasts a wealth of new surprises each year. Here are more of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new timepieces from SIHH 2014…

Grande Reverso Night & Day

The Reverso saga continues in 2014 with the introduction of the very first Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso equipped with an automatic movement.

A single glance is enough to instantly recognize the spirit of the iconic watch with the reversible case: the silver-toned dial framed by the three distinctive gadroons; applied black Arabic numerals, apart from the “6” which is replaced by a useful small seconds display; blue faceted baton-type hands for the hours and minutes; along with a triangular day/night pointer in the same color. The dial of the night/day indicator is divided along its center by a horizontal line marking off the lower part of the Clous de Paris guilloché motif, while linking numbers “6” and “18” so as to visually separate the daytime and nighttime hours.

The Grande Reverso Night & Day is powered by in-house automatic Calibre 967/B, a sturdy, reliable movement developed and built in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s workshops in the Vallée de Joux. Its balance oscillates at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. It comprises 200 parts and provides a comfortable 42-hour power reserve.

The swivel case of the Grande Reverso Night & Day is available in rose gold or in stainless steel. In both cases, it is water-resistant to 30 meters. It comes with a black alligator leather strap secured by a clasp made in the same material as the case. The dial is topped by a sapphire crystal, whereas the caseback, in keeping with the finest Reverso traditions, remains open to its owner’s imagination. He will thus be able to personalise it at will by having it engraved with initials, a monogram, an evocation of a memorable event or a fond memory.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Night & Day
Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Night & Day
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