Round-UpThe Finest Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches for the Avant-Garde Aesthete
Continuing to deliver the finest in-house movements where each component is hand-wrought to every painstaking detail, manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre remains a pioneer for its unmatched elegance in design, while taking horology to newer heights with unparalleled innovation
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With 1,242 movements under its roof, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s supreme expertise in watchmaking has made it a leading authority in the world of horology since 1833. Working with a broad spectrum of styles and materials has helped the company to earn around 400 patents.
It’s no secret that Jaeger-LeCoultre has always given importance to craftsmanship above all. In addition to the art of fine watchmaking, abundantly evident through its technically superior timepieces, this watchmaker is noted for adopting the traditional gem-setting method, which is by hand. Over the years, it has also revived ancient, long-lost enamelling techniques. With the signature ‘1,000 hours control’ test that started around the early 90s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has set a yardstick in Swiss watchmaking. Each watch undergoes a rigorous testing process for six weeks. It is placed in a machine that moves it in different positions to check the amplitude and balance of its calibre. After checking for its power reserve, it is subjected to varying temperatures and different conditions, ensuring it is ready for everyday use. Below are 10 quintessential Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces that will certainly help you shortlist one for yourself.
Best Picks for Men
Polaris Chronograph
Introduced at the 28th edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva in 2018, the Polaris Chronograph was one of the five watches that paid tribute to the legendary diver watch, the Memovox Polaris. This self-winding timepiece comes with an 18-karat rose gold case 42mm in diameter. It is powered by an in-house calibre, the 751H, which was developed in the mid-2000s, and contains 262 parts with two barrels. With a frequency of 28,800vph, the watch can last up to 65 hours when fully wound. This Jaeger-LeCoultre watch features an effective interplay of sunray, grained and opaline finishes on the charcoal grey, while the rose gold hour, minute and seconds hands with luminous coating look stunning. With only two Arabic numeral indexes, in rose gold borders with a luminous coating, the other indexes are baton markers. Adding to the dial’s legibility are the two sub-dials near the centre, the small baton markers in the three and nine o’clock positions and the tachymeter scale on the inner flange. Its two rectangular pushers in rose gold flanking the crown and the brown alligator leather strap further enhance the appearance. Not only is it supported by a high-grade sapphire crystal glass, this watch is also resistant to water up to an impressive 100m.
Reverso Tribute Calendar
With a length of 49.7mm and width of 29.9mm, this rectangular manual-winding watch comes with the in-house calibre 853. It has 280 components, 19 jewels and contains just one barrel with the mechanism beating at 21,600vph. This Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is a journey down memory lane to the 30s, when the manufacturer took on a challenge of assembling a timepiece for British army officers in India who played polo regularly. The result was a rectangular wristwatch—inspired by the Art Deco aesthetic—with a reversible case to protect the glass from swinging polo mallets while playing. It didn’t take long for the masses to embrace this timeless design and make it a style statement. In fact, it is probably the company’s most iconic wristwatch. The textured dial in a silver hue is contrasted perfectly by the rose gold case along with striking dauphine hands and hour indexes in this modern version. Moreover, it has two dials, unlike just the one face in the first ever Reverso. The first dial has a day and month indicator at the 12 o’clock position and a moon phase indicator is at the six o’clock position, while also displaying the date. As you flip it over, the other dial reveals a darker display in textured silver. The hour and minute hands along with the applied indexes in the same rose gold tone are enclosed by a small circle. Here, you will see the sub-dial with a day-and–night indicator towards the six o’clock position. This watch is resistant to water up to 30m and its sapphire crystal glass makes it quite a robust timepiece. The brown leather strap goes exceptionally well with the rest of the watch.
Geophysic Universal Time
Housing the manufacturer’s 772 calibre, which beats at 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 40 hours, this 41.6mm self-winding wristwatch is built for the modern-day traveller. The complication has a Gyrolab balance wheel, which is non-circular in design to decrease air friction. It also features a ticking seconds hand not quite unlike those seen in quartz timepieces. Set with a world-themed dial in lacquered blue, this Jaeger-LeCoultre watch shows 24 different time zones with the city disc in white on the dial’s perimeter and a 24-hour disc beneath in blue and white. Its sturdy steel case with a sapphire crystal glass above the dial makes it water resistant up to 50m, and the elegant black leather bracelet emphasises the colour contrast.
Master Ultra Thin Perpetual
This round automatic wristwatch comes with a 39mm diameter that confines the 863/1 movement with 363 components. As the name suggests, this timepiece is only 4.72mm in thickness. It has a see-through caseback due to which the movement is visible, and the polished bezel has a gleaming look with an appealing grey tone on the dial. The three sub-dials are quite legible, with the day function at the nine o’clock position, month at six and date towards three o’clock. At 12 o’clock, you can see the moon phase indicator, and tucked in between seven and eight o’clock lies the year display.
Master Grande Ultra Thin
This round timepiece comes with an immaculate silver dial featuring a sunray finish. While its dauphine hands for hours and minutes match the pointed, rhodium-plated hour indexes in both colour and design, the second’s hand comes in a dark blue hue complementing the moon phase sub-dial at six o’clock. This immersed sub-dial of this Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece also contains the date display with a small silver hand. With a 39mm case, this self-winding watch has the in-house 925/1 movement with 253 parts and a power reserve of 43 hours. It has a slightly raised sapphire crystal display that is also resistant to water up to 50m.
Master Chronograph
With the 751A/1 calibre comprising 277 components and two barrels, this self-winding timepiece beats at 28,800vph. It looks slender on the wrist, owing to its 40mm diameter and 5.72mm thickness. The stainless steel case has a polished look along with the two rectangular pushers near the crown. The watch can resist water up to 50m. The sunray finish on the silver dial, and the hour and minute hands are contrasted by a blue seconds hand. The two sub-dials along the nine and three o’clock positions also have small blue hands while the sub-dial at the six o’clock position has a small silver hand going perfectly with the overall minimal theme. The date aperture is positioned conveniently between the four and five o’clock positions for better visibility.
Duomètre Quantième Lunaire
Containing the 381 calibre with two barrels, this 42mm manual-winding timepiece has two different watch mechanisms with two separate power reserves. The sub-dial at the six o’clock position can measure up to 1/6th of a second, while the moon phase indicator above the nine o’ clock position also features a date display. The sub-dial towards the two o’clock position has the faceted hour and minute hands while the main dial has the rose gold hand for counting seconds that are marked quite legibly on its perimeter.
Best Picks for Women
Rendez-Vous Day and Night
This small round timepiece comes in a 29mm case housing the 967A manufacture movement, which offers a 38-hour power reserve and can resist water up to 30m. The appealing hour, minute and seconds hands in floral blue stand out against the charming mother-of-pearl dial offering a fine base to the black-toned numerals and the finely placed diamond markers. Its day-and-night indicator is brilliantly placed towards the six o’clock position and you can see the movement of the sun and moon based on the time of day. The blue leather strap is a fine addition to this polished case. Not only is this Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece a statement of refinement, but it is also an excellent everyday watch.
Master Ultra Thin
Perfect for those with a penchant for elegance and glamour, this intricately designed timepiece comes with a diamond-cut dial, and a rose gold bezel decked with diamonds. Its hour markers along with the faceted hands for hours and minutes are adorned with the same rose gold hue, maintaining uniformity in design. With a 40mm case that sits perfectly on the wrist, this automatic watch comes with 50m of water resistance, allowing you to maintain your style and luxury in any weather. Its brilliant black strap makes it a quintessential wristwatch for the fashion-forward lady.
Reverso Lady Ultra Thin Duetto Duo
This iconic design comes measures 35mm in length and 24mm in width. Its silver-grey dial is beautifully textured, which adds a great depth to the rose gold hour and minute hands, as well as on its nicely-spaced out Arabic numerals. With its 864A calibre and the rose gold casing, which makes this Jaeger-LeCoultre watch water resistant up to 30 metres, its inevitable vintage appeal cannot be overlooked.
Jaeger-LeCoultre watches represent a seamless combination of complex artisanship and luxury. They are not just distinctive but are near flawless, no matter which collection you behold.
