SIHH 2010: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication Watch

Swiss manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre continues its string of exceptional accomplishments in the high complication category with a brilliant new Master Control watch bearing the prestigious Grande Tradition banner. This white gold timepiece presents not only a tourbillon and minute repeater--a watchmaking feat in itself--but also brings into play an ingenious rotating star chart with zodiacal functions and indications for sidereal as well as solar time. As an added attraction, the display for sidereal time--a 23 hour, 56-minute, and 4.091 seconds "day" measured by Earth's rotation relative to the fixed stars--is actually accomplished by the tourbillon cage itself, which slowly orbits the dial in synchrony with this specialized astronomic period.

A close examination of the compelling galactic dial of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication watch reveals a wealth of fascinating astronomic information. The stars as seen from the northern hemisphere and the varied constellations blanket the mystical blue dial surface, which is actually a lacquered disc positioned above a lower disc bearing the little rotating sun which indicates solar (24-hour) time. Directly atop the lacquered sky is the slowly orbiting flying tourbillon with its pulsating balance wheel and continually revolving ultra-light titanium cage. The dial rehaut displays the zodiacal signs and the months, enabling the wearer to follow the apparent motions of the constellations through the year.

Impressive as all of this is, the 527-parts which comprise the Jaeger-LeCoultre 945 Caliber movement have yet other surprises in store. The minute repeater mechanism that chimes out the hours, quarter hours, and individual minutes upon request whenever the case slide is activated, utilizes two exclusive innovations which Jaeger-LeCoultre claims offers a real boost to acoustic performance. The first of these is a proprietary "trebuchet hammer" that significantly improves the velocity and force of the striking hammers compared to those in traditional repeaters. The second is a square-profile cathedral gong manufactured from a single piece; the gongs are attached to a thin layer of metal which contacts the sapphire crystal. This construction provides excellent amplification of the already robust chime, all while enabling the house to produce a watch case insulated enough to be water resistant to 50 meters.

The tourbillon escapement of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication watch is also most innovative. Rapidly beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the watch's balance wheel bears a hairspring featuring a Breguet terminal curve. Notably, the components of the escapement are produced from silicon, a material requiring no lubrication in the manner of traditional metal components. The use of such advanced escapement materials in no way diminishes Jaeger-LeCoultre's adherence to traditional methods where movement finishing is concerned; a sapphire crystal exhibition window shows off nickel-silver bridges displaying a rich variety of decorative patterns, steel parts with anglage, and screws with a brilliant rhodium plating. As with other exceptionally complex Jaeger-LeCoultre movements, each JLC 945 Caliber is the responsibility of a single watchmaker to assemble and fine tune to perfection.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is to produce just 75 examples of the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication watch, each in a 44mm case of 18-karat white gold, with an elegant strap in alligator leather. Like all references in the brand's Master Control collection, the Grande Complication will undergo the famous 1000 hour in-house test; these comprehensive, grueling trials verify the precision, water resistance, and other performance aspects of the timepiece in a fully-assembled state. Official pricing information has not yet been announced, but a number in the high six figures would be reasonable to expect.

More about Jaeger-LeCoultre:
Jaeger-LeCoultre brand & timepiece collections
Jaeger-LeCoultre news
Jaeger-LeCoultre product blogs

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