Jaeger LeCoultre

[BMW F22]

What's your thoughts on this brand? IMO they are up there (top tier) and makes some excellent watches.

Came across this on watchrecon and fell in love with the simplicity yet so wonderfully complex looks of it.

[MalibuBimmer]

In 1987 (yeah, I'm a geezer) I bought a JL "Lyre," which was a complicated watch. The damn thing never worked properly and a year later JL took it back and gave me an "Odysseus." (My first Lemon Law case I suppose.) Here's what it looks like. (Mine has rose gold on the case.)


It's also a complicated but has one more complication -- the 24 hour clock on the inside part of the dial where the second, minute and hour hands emanate from -- it is marked in red numbers from 10pm to 3 am -- that is the time when you must not seek to adjust the watch. (The Lyre had everything except the 24 hour clock.)

It cost $17,000 in 1988, and today a similar line of such JL watches is about twice that.

Note that the Odysseus has only the one "crown" (winder). All of the functions are accessible from there. But if you set it ahead you have to wait until that date to let it start again. And you must never move anything from the crown from 10pm to 3am.

The watch will keep time and tell you the phases of the moon, and do leap years until March 1, 2100. I've made an appointment at my jewelers to go in then for the adjustment. (Hey, why not? My Dad is 99 and in great health.)

Jaeger LeCoultre is a great brand and watchmaker. They make the movements for everybody other than Rolex and Patek Philippe. So you've made a good choice.

[overcoil]

That's a wild watch. Not sure anybody makes anything MUCH nicer. You have good taste.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Jaeger LeCoultre is a great brand and watchmaker. They make the movements for everybody other than Rolex and Patek Philippe. So you've made a good choice.

Is JLC selling any ebauches or complete movements to anybody presently ?
I think IWC years ago used some JLC movements, maybe Cartier and just a few others. I think JLC may have even been used in a Patek, Seiko is one of those completely in-house, don't think they've ever used JLC.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Is JLC selling any ebauches or complete movements to anybody presently ?
I think IWC years ago used some JLC movements, maybe Cartier and just a few others. I think JLC may have even been used in a Patek, Seiko is one of those completely in-house, don't think they've ever used JLC.

IWC, for example, has long used JLC movements, as did Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.

http://www.watch-wiki.net/index.php?...eger-LeCoultre

[BMW F22]

Just to clarify: I really like the brand and the watch I posted but didn't buy it. It's listed at almost $15,000. One day...

[Nivarox]

A great brand, I have seen that it's also called the watchmakers of the watchmakers .They have been building fantastic watches with complications too .I don't have any but always appreciate their model line up

[porshah]

Great brand. Have owned two of them.

Master Compressor Chronograph:


Reverso Squadra Hometime:

[wspohn]

I have several JLCs.

My favourite is probably a 1950s Futurematic with no winding crown - they had a stop work mechanism that would stop the watch before it was entirely run down and start it again at the first movement when you put it on again. The setting crown is under the watch.

This is the one I use with a period bracelet. The left subdial is a reserve indicator showing how fully wound the watch is.

[BMW F22]

Some really nice watches you guys have. Anyone who likes JL has good taste IMO.

[wspohn]

Couple of vintage JLC with interesting solid gold cases (and yes, fountain pens are another hobby of mine)



Waterman Man 100 Arlequin and Opera with Le Coultre Pershing and Coronet

[BEM-S4]

They are excellent watches, in my opinion top notch before you get to the level of "crazy shit." Really nice stuff.

Totally random but if you happen to have a lady friend in your life who is into vintage deco kind of stuff, they made the movements in the old Pierre Cardin space age watches. Bought one for a girl a while back she liked the fashion aspect of it and I could appreciate the fact that I was spending my money on a decent time piece.

[BMW F22]

Out of curiosity, would you guys get a JL over a Rolex? I would for sure.

[Nivarox]

No way ,not at all

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Out of curiosity, would you guys get a JL over a Rolex? I would for sure.

Yes, absolutely without a doubt. If you are looking to pick up chicks get the Rolex. That said, dumb reason to buy a watch - chicks look at shoes not watches. Only people who appreciate watches are other watch guys...

[finaloption]

the only time i've ever been complimented on a watch by a female was at a pool when i was wearing a bright orange Seiko monster on a orange ISOfrane

but to answer the question, depends on which model we're talking about
would I take a Sub/Daytona/GMT over a lower end Master/Reverso.. yes
would I take a Gyrotourbillon over a platinum Daytona.. yes

[csu87]

JLC are high quality watches that, imo, you are paying for the actual watch and not the name. Ive got an Ultra Thin that is my most favorite watch I own. (Omega, Rolex, Tag, IWC, Panerai)

Rolex on the other hand you pay more for the name than the actual watch. A Stainless Steel Sub shouldnt be selling for $10k when you can get similar type watches, with in house movements, for half the price. Some of the used prices on them are more reasonable, but still.

But yes, Rolex gets chicks. Its pretty hard to flash a shoe at the bar. Quick flick of the wrist though while youre ordering and you can pick up any of the sluts.

[xQx]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

I am very jealous of you. I've been looking to get exactly that watch for some time now.

... as an aside, a nice thing about a PC watch is I can tell that's a pretty old photo you posted there (either that, or you've got a fair bit of winding ahead of you before you can wear that again)

EDIT: I'm an idiot. given it's got a EWC watermark and you said "Mine has rose gold on the case." that'd be a stock photo from the Internet.

[wspohn]

I also have a vintage JLC Memovox like this one.

[Robin_NL]

I had a JLC chrono back in 06, a Navy Seals alarm and a tribute to Polaris a few years ago.
I love the brand and on my shortlist is a tricompax deep sea chrono

Cheers
Robin

[TokyoCarGuy]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Out of curiosity, would you guys get a JL over a Rolex? I would for sure.

I would get a friggin Casio over a Rolex, can't stand that brand! JLC for sure. Beautiful watches, top craftsmanship, and so much history!

[1MOREMOD]

My question is why is a random city stuck in between normal time zones. Los angeles, Abu dahbi, denver. How does that work