Contrasting with the fully polished pink gold case, the blue dial of the new timepiece provides a dramatic backdrop for the tourbillon and the date display, and reflected light dances across the sunray pattern of the guillochage with every movement of the wrist. The hand-guilloché pattern is a work of immense precision and skill: each of the 180 ‘sun rays’ required six passages of the hand-operated rose engine lathe, making 1,080 lines altogether. Guided only by the eye and hand, the master guillocheur must ensure that every line is absolutely straight, evenly spaced and perfectly aligned, radiating out from the centre to the edges of the dial. In addition, the date sub-dial is hand-guilloché in a circular pattern (known in French as azurage) to create a subtle texture that contrasts with the sunray. This is another work of remarkable precision, representing more than 1,100 gestures in total by the guillocheur.

Once the guilloché work on the main dial is completed, the master enameller applies Grand Feu enamel in multiple layers – one layer at a time, followed by firing at 800ºC and carefully managed cooling – to create the desired intensity and depth of colour. This is a newly developed shade of blue, created by mixing pigments in various proportions and testing the results – a lengthy process of iteration made necessary because the nature of Grand Feu enamel means that the outcome of firing is highly unpredictable.

In the lower half of the dial, a laser-engraved seconds counter provides a visual anchor for the tourbillon aperture; a mirror-polished pink gold bridge secures the tourbillon cage and draws the eye deeper into the mechanism, its transparency and lightness amplified by the contrast with the colour of the surrounding dial.

The strap is alligator in a shade of blue created to perfectly match the dial and, in a further touch of refinement, it is lined with small-scale alligator and fitted with a pink gold folding clasp.

Harnessing La Grande Maison’s Tourbillon Expertise

For Jaeger-LeCoultre, the tourbillon has been a key element in its pursuit of precision. Invented to counteract the impact of gravity on the oscillations of the escapement, it is a delicate mechanism consisting of the balance wheel and hairspring rotating inside a cage. Since creating its first tourbillon movement in 1946, the Manufacture has invented many new tourbillon configurations and different hairspring shapes – the latter possible only because it is one of the very few Maisons to possess the highly specialised skill of crafting hairsprings in-house.

The movement powering the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel is the latest generation of Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978, which won an international chronometry prize in 2009, the year of its launch. The calibre has been Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mainstay tourbillon movement ever since, and received a comprehensive update in 2019 to harness new technology. Comprising 77 components, including a titanium cage, it weighs less than half a gram and is equipped with a flat, two-level hairspring designed with a specific curve at the attachment points to help ensure that the oscillations are as regular as possible, thus delivering a high level of timekeeping accuracy.

With its dramatically beautiful dial and sophisticated calibre, the new Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel is an eloquent expression of La Grande Maison’s philosophy of uniting technical virtuosity with enduring beauty and timeless aesthetics.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

MASTER ULTRA THIN TOURBILLON ENAMEL

Case: Pink Gold 750/1000 (18 carats)

Dimensions: 40 mm diameter x 12.13 mm thick

Calibre: Jaeger-LeCoutre automatic Calibre 978

Functions: hours, minutes, date, tourbillon

Power Reserve: 45 hours

Dial: sunray guilloché with blue Grand Feu enamel, applied indexes and Dauphine hands

Water resistance: 5 bar

Strap: Blue alligator, with small-scale lining

Reference: Q13224E1

• A highly sophisticated and innovative movement, complex yet ultra-thin
• An ingenious flying tourbillon visible on both front and reverse dials, with the second time zone on the reverse dial
• Exquisitely hand-decorated in the Manufacture’s own Métiers Rares® atelier

La Grande Maison presents the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon in pink gold inspired by its first tourbillon wristwatch – the Reverso Tourbillon – introduced thirty years ago. A glorious expression of the Calibre 847 introduced in 2018, it shines a spotlight on the Manufacture’s avowed expertise in tourbillons. Also incorporating the Duoface concept, its two dials present two different aesthetics, with a second time zone and a day-night indicator on the reverse dial.

An Heir to the Past Looks to the Future

At its birth in 1931 and for the first 60 years of its life, the Reverso was a time-only watch, with no added mechanical complications. Then, from 1990 onwards, as the 60^th anniversary of Reverso coincided with a renewed interest in mechanical watchmaking after the quartz crisis, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced a series of exceptional Reverso models. Released over the course of a ‘golden decade’, each timepiece featured one of the great classical complications.

In 1993, harnessing the legacy of its first tourbillon movement Calibre 170, which was developed for a pocket watch in 1946, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the Reverso Tourbillon. Not only was it the Manufacture’s first wristwatch tourbillon, it was also the first in a rectangular case and the first with a shaped movement.

The Manufacture’s expertise in tourbillons has grown steadily from that point, with its development of multi-axis tourbillons incorporating a variety of shaped balance springs. Its mastery of this regulating device – which improves timekeeping accuracy by neutralising the effect of gravity on a watch movement – was confirmed in 2009 when Jaeger-LeCoultre watches took first and second places in the International Chronometry Competition. Today, the expertise continues to expand, with the development of a series of new configurations, the most recent being in Calibre 847.

Uniting a flying tourbillon with the Duoface complication, this ultra-thin hand-wound movement comprises 254 components and measures just 3.9mm thick. To achieve this, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers had to completely rethink the tourbillon mechanism to reduce as much height as possible. As well as dispensing with the upper bridge, to which the balance wheel is normally fixed, they replaced the outer tourbillon cage with a ball-bearing system and attached the balance wheel to the centre of the tourbillon. Normally, the hairspring would be attached to the outer tourbillon cage; however, in the absence of such a cage, a new solution was required. Jaeger-LeCoultre invented (and has patented) a unique S-shaped balance spring; one end is attached to a fixed point at the centre of the tourbillon mechanism and the other end fixed to the balance wheel. The S-shape avoids the coils of the spring touching each other and makes the spring perfectly concentric to the tourbillon, which is essential for precision.

Comprising 62 components and weighing a mere 0,455 grams, this highly sophisticated tourbillon is eloquent testimony to the Manufacture’s mastery of this regulating mechanism, as well as its status as one of the very few Manufactures to develop and produce its own hairsprings in-house.

The Duoface concept, a pillar of the Reverso collection since it was introduced in 1994, is a unique expression of the dual time zone complication, displaying local time on the front dial and home time on the reverse. The movement must turn the two sets of hands in opposite directions in order for them to move around their respective dials in the clockwise direction and display the correct time.

Adding to the mechanical elegance of the movement, all settings are controlled through the crown; this not only ensures simplicity of operation for the wearer but also preserves the aesthetic unity of the case.

Two Sides, Two Moods, Two Time Zones

On the wrist, with the front dial visible, the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon has an elegant yet highly distinctive presence. Capturing the spirit of the early 1930s models, the pared-down aesthetic and signature details of the Reverso Tribute dial exude refinement; the faceted hour indexes are complemented by Dauphine hands and framed by a chemin de fer minute track.

These understated details, together with the subtle glow of the silver sunray-brushed front dial allow the tourbillon to take centre stage. The eye is drawn to its whirling motion, then travels all the way through its intricate structure to the back of the watch case. As the case turns over, it reveals the cradle, where a visually dramatic sunray pattern centres on a mirror-polished disc; the disc is precisely aligned with the tourbillon to reflect light back through the delicate mechanism.

The reverse dial of the watch projects an altogether bolder character, enhanced by partial skeletonisation and glorious decoration, including hand angling of the bridges, all executed in the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® workshop. The second time zone is indicated by golden hands and indexes on a black sunray-brushed dial, and above the dial, the night and day indicator features an exquisite starry night sky. Gold bridges, a reminder of the 1993 Reverso Tourbillon, are richly textured with Clous de Paris guilloché, and blued screws provide a rich contrast with the gold. The guillochage on the bridges – a delicate and highly skilled operation executed on a 100-year-old hand-operated lathe – represents six hours of meticulous work.

Timeless Modernity and Deceptive Simplicity

To enhance the elegance and wearability of the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon, its case is just 9.15 mm thick, despite the complexity of the movement. Its clean Art Deco lines and strong geometry lend the case an air of deceptive simplicity. In fact, it is one of the most complex cases in watchmaking, with more than 50 components including the patented slide-and-swivel mechanism that connects the case to its cradle.

With its distinctive rectangular case, the Reverso is acknowledged as an icon of 20^th-century design and one of the world’s most recognisable watches. The harmonious proportions of its case – closely adhering to the original design that was based on the golden ratio – look as modern today as when the Reverso first left the drawing board more than 90 years ago, a perfect foil for fascinating complications.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE DUOFACE TOURBILLON

Case: Pink Gold 750/1000 (18 carats)

Dimensions: 45.5 X 27.4 mm; 9.15 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibe 847

Functions: Hours, minutes, second time zone, night & day, tourbillon

Power reserve: 38 hours

Front dial: Silver sunray-brushed

Back dial: Black sunray-brushed

Water resistance: 30m

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q392242J

The tourbillon was invented at the dawn of the 19th Century, to counteract the negative impact of gravity on the escapements of pocket watches and thus increase accuracy. However, in the 20th century, as pocket watches were superseded by wrist watches, the tourbillon became largely forgotten. In 1946, as part of its continuous research into timekeeping precision, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a tourbillon movement, Calibre 170. Housed in a pocket watch, it was intended for chronometry trials – and in 1948 won first prize in the Neuchâtel Observatory centennial trials, followed by several more prizes during the 1950s. In 1993 – a time when tourbillon wristwatches were still very rare – Jaeger-LeCoultre produced its first example, a Reverso fitted with the rectangular Calibre 828. Further exploration brought the tourbillon to new horizons, leading to the invention of the first spherical, dual-axis tourbillon in 2004 – the Master Gyrotourbillon 1.

In 2009, the Manufacture introduced the Master Tourbillon with Calibre 978, which won the International Chronometry Prize organised by the Horological Museum of Le Locle, Switzerland. This calibre has been Jaeger-LeCoultre mainstay tourbillon movement ever since, and received a comprehensive update in 2019 featuring new high-end finishes.

For the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers capitalised on the 978 movement to develop the new Calibre 983, with the addition of the moon phase and ‘jumping’ date complications.

The triple moon phase indicator – displaying the age of the moon as well as its phases in both Hemispheres – is also a recent development, having been introduced last year. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), the new Calibre 983 offers a power reserve of 45 hours.

Timeless style and a new pink gold alloy

The Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon is presented in a case made of Le Grand Rose gold. Introduced this year, the new pink gold alloy has a remarkable sheen and depth of colour, and is highly resistant to fading over time. True to the classically elegant design codes of Master Ultra Thin, the case is fully polished, with elongated and bevelled lugs and a fine bezel.

Complementing the warmth of the pink gold, an eggshell-white dial provides a restrained backdrop that places all the emphasis on the moon phase display and tourbillon. Adding to the sense of refinement, the shape of the Dauphine hands is echoed by the elongated arrow-shape of the applied golden indexes. Closer examination reveals different index profiles as the shapes are modified according to their position on the dial, as well as several key details marked in red, to increase legibility and add a discreet touch of colour.

Original and intriguing displays

Set in the upper half of the dial, the astronomical complication displays the Northern Hemisphere moon phases in the traditional way – a deep blue sky scattered with stars provides the background for a polished golden disc. Surrounding this is a ring with applied Southern Hemisphere moon phases on the left and the Age of the Moon on the right, each indicated by a double-ended hand.

For the peripheral date display the Manufacture’s engineers chose Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature ‘jumping’ complication. Every month, the date hand makes 90-degree jump, gliding rapidly from the 15th to the 16th, in order not to obscure the tourbillon.

The lower half of the dial is dominated by the tourbillon. A newly designed bridge in polished pink gold secures the titanium tourbillon cage (which weighs around 0.3 grams with its components) as it completes one revolution every 60 seconds. The fine tourbillon bridge and wide aperture maximise transparency and light, drawing the eye right through the mechanism.

On the reverse side, the long span of the open-worked tourbillon bridge further enhances this transparency, while its Côtes de Genève decoration complements the sunray pattern of the stripes on the main plate. The open-worked pink gold winding rotor, which features the JL logo and a combination of polished and micro-blasted surfaces, allows a clear view of the movement, with additional fine finishes including blue screws, circular graining and chamfered bridges.

Like all Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces, the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon carries an eight-year warranty in addition to the 1,000 Hours Control certification – one of the watch industry’s most stringent testing protocols.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 41.5mm x 12.10mm

Calibre: automatic mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 983, 28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, peripheral ‘jumping’ date (from the 15^th to the 16^th), tourbillon, moon phases in both Hemispheres and age-of-moon indicator

Power reserve: 45 hours

Case: Le Grand Rose gold

Dial: eggshell with applied indexes and Dauphine hands

Case-back: open

Water resistance: 5 bar

Reference: Q1692410

The Master Grande Tradition series epitomises Jaeger-LeCoultre’s horological ingenuity and artistic creativity, bringing innovations and complications together in fascinating new ways. As the latest addition to this series, the new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 945 harnesses more than a century and a half of accumulated expertise. This masterpiece of mechanical engineering incorporates two of the most romantic yet technically challenging complications in horology – a minute repeater and a celestial vault. The complex mechanism is further elevated by an orbital flying tourbillon. This limited edition of eight pieces each in rose gold and in white gold features a new aesthetic that reaffirms Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mastery of the artistic crafts.

A MINUTE REPEATER FOR THE MODERN AGE

Considered by watchmakers to be the most challenging – and rewarding – of all horological complications to master, a minute repeater is not only a timepiece but also a miniaturised musical instrument. The technical difficulty of creating one lies in the complexity of the mechanism needed to transcribe the precise time shown by the hands into a series of perfectly programmed strikes. The artistic challenge lies in ensuring that those strikes produce a sound that is rich, harmonious, pure and clearly audible.

Over the past 150 years, minute repeaters have had a major presence in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s portfolio of complicated timepieces. La Grande Maison’s mastery of chiming watches is confirmed by more than 200 calibres, including some 100 minute repeaters made before the year 1900. Since the mid-1990s, when Jaeger-LeCoultre revived this noble horological legacy, its engineers and designers have worked to redefine the benchmark for acoustic quality, harnessing technology to serve and safeguard horology’s most treasured traditions.

One of the most important elements of a chiming watch is the way in which sound is transmitted from within the watch to be heard by the human ear. Capitalising on the superior acoustic qualities of synthetic sapphire crystal, Jaeger-leCoultre’s patented ‘crystal gongs’ (introduced in 2005) are soldered directly to the sapphire crystal, which acts as an amplifier. The square-profile gongs introduced two years later provide a flat striking surface for the hammers, ensuring more consistent and powerful strikes, while the additional material provides a greater vibrational mass and thus a fuller sound. The articulated trebuchet hammers (introduced in 2009) use a similar mechanical principle to the medieval counterweight catapults that they are named after, greatly improving the speed and force of the hammer strike.

Even the most beautiful chime can be marred by background noise – a problem that Jaeger-LeCoultre resolved 125 years ago, with its patented silent strike governor. Using centrifugal forces to regulate chiming, it eliminates the background buzz characteristic of older striking mechanisms. Recognised as a benchmark, it is now used in almost all chiming watches of the Grande Maison.

A HEAVENLY DISPLAY

The new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 945 embodies Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mastery of astronomical complications in its celestial vault complication, which defines the dial of the watch.

Jaeger-LeCoultre first brought together the technical innovations of its new-generation minute repeaters with an astronomical display in the original Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication of 2010. That watch also introduced the Orbital Flying Tourbillon, integrating it into the mechanism as a regulating device.

As well as turning on its own axis in 60 seconds, the tourbillon makes a complete, anti-clockwise circuit of the dial in one sidereal day. Slightly shorter than a solar day (on which we base civil timekeeping), a sidereal day is based on Earth’s rotation measured relative to the ‘fixed’ stars, which takes precisely 23 h, 56 min and 4.1 seconds. The sidereal day is used by astronomers to follow the apparent movement of the stars across the night sky.

A golden sun-shaped pointer set at the edge of the disc of constellations indicates the date, the month, and the signs of the Zodiac, as well as the 24-hour scale that is marked on the inner flange of the dial. Civil time is read on the two concentric rings that complete the dial: applied hour indexes on the first ring and minutes on the silvery-white outer ring.

AESTHETIC

An exceptional movement merits an exceptional habillage and the new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 945 brings fresh artistic expression to this marriage of complications. Reaffirming Jaeger-leCoultre’s expertise in design and mastery of artistic crafts, the timepiece is offered in two versions: one marries the warm glow of pink gold to a black dial, while the other combines deep blue tones with the coolness of white gold and the discreet sparkle of baguette-cut diamonds, which are set on the bezel.

A multiple-level dial amplifies the beauty of the celestial theme while also showcasing the orbiting tourbillon. On the deepest level of the dial, a midnight blue or black disc (depending on the model) is decorated with tiny stars. Above it, a delicate filigree forms a dome, its structure echoing the pattern of the constellations marked on the convex celestial disc. The star chart depicts the Northern Hemisphere night sky, as seen from the 46th parallel – the latitude of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux.

The new Master Grande Tradition case, introduced in 2019’s two minute repeaters, is a perfect complement to the artistry of the dial and the sophistication of the movement. Comprising more than 80 parts, its convex bezel is complemented by broad bevels on the lugs; the hollowed-out sides of the lugs add dynamic tension, while the repeater slide is tapered to harmonise beautifully with the curving case sides. Different surfaces are microblasted, polished and satin-brushed to maximise the play of light and emphasise the details.

In every sense, the new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 945 is testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s enduring expertise in chiming watches and its dedication to maintaining the fine balance between a passionate drive to innovate and profound respect for tradition.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Dimensions: 45 mm

Calibre: manual mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 945

Functions: hours/minutes, month, 24-hour indication, orbital flying tourbillon indicating the sidereal time, minute repeater with cathedral ‘crystal gongs’ soldered directly to the sapphire crystal, celestial disc with star chart indicating the constellations in the north hemisphere

Power reserve: 40 hours

Case: satin, micro-blasted and polished finishes, pink gold or white gold with bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds (44 diamonds – 3.76 carats)

Dial: black dial with golden laser welded structure (pink gold version) or blue dial with silvered laser welded structure (white gold version)

Case back: open

Water resistance: 5 bar

References: Q5262460 (pink gold version, limited to 8 pieces), Q5263480 (white gold version, limited to 8 pieces)

This year, la Grande Maison brings the brilliance of a star-studded night sky down to mingle with the more earthbound constellations found on the red carpet of the Mostra. A new edition of the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste, will be presented during the 76th edition of the oldest film festival in the world, scheduled for 28 August to 7 September 2019.

The best films can redefine the most quotidian experiences, elevating life to art. In line with this approach, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste features a different perspective on time itself, with an orbital flying tourbillon that makes a complete turn of the dial over the course of 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. This unusual time unit is the length of one sidereal day, calculated with reference to the more distant stars instead of the Sun.

The dial itself depicts the night sky of the Northern hemisphere, showcasing the constellations of the zodiac calendar framed by an outer ring displaying their associated symbols. A tiny gold marker, seen just beyond the orbit of the flying tourbillon, revolves around the dial annually, an indication of where we are within this alternative and ancient star calendar.

Differentiating this model of the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste from previous versions is its contemporary and arresting new design. At first glance, the dial has been simplified in terms of textures and indications, but it has in fact gained an additional dimension which is visible only in low light. The hour markers and constellations have been filled with Super-LumiNova™, evoking the glow of heavenly bodies on a clear night.

An elegant and contemporary case, part of the new generation of case design set by this January’s Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, encloses the 334-component calibre 946 of the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste. A complex blend of surface textures, from satin finish to micro-blasting and mirror polish, comes together in a 43mm white-gold case that perfectly complements the deep blue dial and the roseate hue of the constantly beating gold balance wheel.

In both its mechanical and aesthetic aspects, the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste takes us beyond the everyday. It is the rare timepiece that captures the rhythms of daily life in parallel with the movements of the universe.

An Affinity for the Extraordinary

Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed unparalleled expertise in a wide range of horological métiers since it was founded in Le Sentier in 1833. Today, the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre practices no fewer than 180 watchmaking and watch-related skills in its Vallée de Joux facility, many of them honed over decades and enhanced by in-house innovation.

The orbital flying tourbillon featured in the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste was first seen in the 2010 Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication, a chiming masterwork that exemplifies the savoir-faire of Jaeger-LeCoultre and its role in expanding the field of high complication.

The flying tourbillon is uniquely combined with yet another area of mechanical watchmaking dominance for Jaeger-LeCoultre — the sidereal indication of time, which appears in both masculine and feminine collections of La Grande Maison.

Technical characteristics:

Dimensions: 43 mm

Calibre: manual mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 946

Functions: Hours/Minutes, Zodiac calendar, 24-hour civil time, Month, Orbital Tourbillon, Skychart

Power reserve: 45 hours

Case: white gold

Dial: deep blue with Super-LumiNova™ treatment displaying the celestial bodies at night

Water resistance: 50 m

Case back: Open

Reference: Q5273480

Limited to 28 pieces

Key points of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel

• The fifth multi-axis tourbillon from Jaeger-LeCoultre, with a size reduction in the redesigned tourbillon component to create a more wearable watch
• A Westminster carillon minute repeater that replicates the chime of the famed Big Ben clock tower in London, with a silence-reduction mechanism to optimise melody cadence
• Incorporates a one-minute constant-force mechanism to provide consistent energy to the sensitive tourbillon, resulting in a precisely jumping minute hand and a more precise minute repeater mechanism
• A sleek new contemporary aesthetic that pairs traditional haut-de-gamme finishing with modern, wearable watches at the top of the mechanical watchmaking hierarchy

JANUARY 2019 — The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel is the latest generation of multi-axis tourbillon to emerge from Jaeger-LeCoultre, following the 2004 Master Gyrotourbillon 1, the 2008 Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, the 2013 Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 Jubilee and the 2016 Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon.

Precision tourbillons are a noted speciality of Jaeger-LeCoultre, as proven by the 2009 Concours International de Chronométrie timing competition, in which the top two prizes were awarded to Jaeger-LeCoultre. The strength in creating high-precision tourbillons goes hand-in-hand with the mastery required to engineer the visually spectacular Gyrotourbillon watches. Even with the considerable energy demands of the large multi-axis tourbillon, chronometric performance must not be affected. Reconciling the needs of the Gyrotourbillon with impeccable chronometric requirements is a balancing feat that can only be accomplished with the experience and skill of a 186-year-old watchmaking manufacture.

Further advancing the art of multi-axis tourbillons, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel features a tourbillon that is significantly smaller than those in the preceding Gyrotourbillon timepieces. As a rule, reducing the size of a mechanism also reduces its error tolerance, which is why successful miniaturisation efforts are so highly valued and complex. In creating a smaller tourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created a truly wearable Gyrotourbillon, bringing high complication out of the watch safe and onto the wrist for everyday enjoyment.

The Westminster chime is familiar to everyone as the famous melody of the Big Ben clock at the Palace of Westminster in London. Its four-phrase melody is composed of four notes played in different sequences and different quantities at each quarter of the hour. The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel uses four sets of gongs and hammers to create the Westminster chime to indicate the quarters when the minute repeater is activated, incorporating a complex mechanism that places it at the most prestigious tier of chiming watches.

The most beautiful chime can be marred by interruptions and gaps of silence between the strikes. In order to create a chime of unmatched euphony, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel has a silence-reduction function built into its chiming mechanism. This ensures that even when the full set of Westminster quarters is not struck, there is no time delay corresponding to the missing quarters before the minutes are struck. In every instance of the chime when the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel is activated, the hour strikes, quarter strikes and minute strikes are seamlessly joined.

Precision lies at the heart of the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, with a one-minute constant-force mechanism that provides a consistent level of power for the energy-hungry tourbillon without affecting its chronometric ability. The constant-force mechanism consists of a spring, known classically as a remontoir d’égalité, that is periodically re-armed by the mainspring and acts as a secondary power source to protect the regulating organ of the movement.

In the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, the constant-force mechanism has an additional advantage. It regulates the motion of the minute wheel, creating a jumping minutes hand that offers greater precision in time display. More significantly, the mechanism that controls the minute strike also follows this one-minute jumping system, which completely eliminates the chiming error that can occur when the repeater is activated between minutes, when the chime played and the time shown can be one minute apart.

Besides the multi-axis tourbillon, which highlights the cinematic virtuosity of fine watchmaking at Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the minute repeater, which showcases in-house mastery of the most sophisticated complications, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel also features the one horological function with the greatest everyday relevance and pragmatic value — the perpetual calendar. As the name suggests, the perpetual calendar is designed to work in perpetuity. It automatically displays the correct date without the need for manual adjustment between months of different lengths. It even takes into account the extra day at the end of February during leap years. The most common configuration of the perpetual calendar mechanism can only be adjusted in one direction, but the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel emphasises the experience and convenience of the user, and its date can be adjusted forwards or backwards without harming the movement. The pointer-style date indication further reinforces the precision aspect of the timepiece, as it jumps over the tourbillon aperture in order to provide the best possible view of the visually stunning rotating escapement.

The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel is the result of 186 years of fine watchmaking expertise and a spirit of innovation that continues to this day. Reflecting the blend of patrimony and modernity is the design of the watch, which emphasises the round profile of the Master Grande Tradition case. A retractable minute repeater pusher, first seen in the Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon, preserves the smooth lines of the case. Hand guillochage, fine hammering (martelage) and grand feu enamel are part of the canon of fine watchmaking finish and have been practiced at Jaeger-LeCoultre throughout its history — most outstandingly in the dazzling Hybris Artistica collection. In the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, however, these finishes are expressed in a subtle and contemporary way, culminating in the openworked dial — produced either in a striking deep-blue grand feu enamel or in a more classic silver-grained version — showcasing the mesmerising multi-axis tourbillon. These age-old techniques are skilfully practised by master artisans from the in-house Metiers Rares atelier of Jaeger-LeCoultre, where haut-de-gamme traditional finish is also applied to the movement by hand.

The Sound of Precision

There are extremely few watchmaking manufactures that possess in-house expertise in sonnerie wristwatches. There are even fewer that have been making them since 1870, accumulating one and a half centuries of experience and savoir-faire. There is only one watchmaking manufacture in the world that has over 200 chiming watch calibers in its historical and modern inventory — La Grande Maison du Sentier.

The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel brings together a panoply of chiming innovations and improvements that were first debuted by Jaeger-LeCoultre, representing the epitome of horological creativity and ingenuity at La Grande Maison.

In the 19^th century, repeater chimes were regulated primarily by an anchor-and-flywheel mechanism, which resulted in a characteristic buzz that can be heard underlying the chime of antique repeaters and some modern watches that still use the old system. Jaeger-LeCoultre patented a new silent strike governer in 1895 that uses friction and centripetal forces to regulate chiming. Today, this mechanism is used in the majority of chiming watches, including the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel.

The minute repeater of the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel also benefits from more recent innovations, such as the patented crystal gongs that first appeared in the Master Minute Repeater Antoine LeCoultre in 2005. These crystal gongs were welded to the dial crystal of the watch, capitalising on the superior sound transmission qualities of synthetic sapphire crystal to produce the loudest and clearest wristwatch chime ever created. Trebuchet hammers, articulated and sprung to deliver strong and quick strikes to the gongs, can be found in the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, as they first appeared in the only other Westminster chime wristwatch of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the 2009 Hybris Mechanica Duomètre à Grande Sonnerie. Gongs with circular cross sections are the norm in minute repeater watches, but the square cross-section gongs seen in the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel are engineered to provide the greatest area of contact with the striking hammers, and have been a mainstay of Jaeger-LeCoultre chiming watches since 2006.

The Whirlwind of Precision

Of utmost importance in any watch movement is the regulating organ, the balance and hairspring assembly that allows a watch to measure time in precise beats. The tourbillon is a chronometric amplifier that can improve the timekeeping performance of a regulator by averaging out its positional errors. The in-house expertise of Jaeger-LeCoultre in tourbillons is unmatched, extending over a range of rotating escapements from the award-winning classic tourbillon calibre 978, the unbridged flying tourbillon, the various multi-axis Gyrotourbillon watches, the inclined-axis Sphérotoubillon and the groundbreaking flying tourbillon with flying balance in the Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon.

Along with this unparalleled variety of tourbillons comes an equally profound understanding of hairspring technology, which Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed with its own in-house tools to form the sophisticated spherical hairsprings used in some of its most evolved tourbillon watches.

The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel takes this exploration of precision to a new level with its constant-force mechanism. With the inclusion of the constant-force spring remontoir, the focus on precision is expanded far beyond the whirling dimensions of the tourbillon and its precision regulation. The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel constant-force mechanism highlights the precision of power delivery in one-minute cycles, the precision of time display in the jumping minutes hand and the precision of the repeater chime.

Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel

Dimensions: 43 mm

Thickness: 14.08 mm

Calibre: 184 - Manual

Case: White gold

Water resistance: 3 bar

Functions: Hour/Minute, Jumping Date, Two-way perpetual calendar (Day/Date/Month/Year), Gyrotourbillon, Minute repeater with Westminster chime

Power reserve: 52 h

Dial: Blue guilloché enamel or Silver grained

Case Back: Open

Limitation: 18 pieces

Reference: Q52534E1, Q5253420

An exceptional timepiece combining finesse and grand complications

Following in the footsteps of iconic models such as the Hybris Mechanica 11 and Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon, this exceptional timepiece boasts ideal proportions, a sign of refinement highly sought after and cherished by connoisseurs. The quest for pure finesse has certainly been a driving force for the watchmakers of the Grande Maison, both in the original design of the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface and in the exceptional quality of its finishes. Remarkable in more ways than one, the technical feat achieved here is maintaining the tourbillon’s moving carriage and its sprung balance through the use of an ingenious ball-bearing system, all while still offering the freedom to express oneself fully on the back of the watch. A single watch that offers two-time zones on two separate dials is at the heart of this revolutionary concept. Developed in the workshops of the Manufacture, the concept of reversibility is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Jaeger-LeCoultre to this day. Suffice to say, with two distinct but inseparable faces, the illustrious Reverso Tribute seems to possess the ideal design to house this complication. The design of the Duoface has been completely revamped, resulting in an entirely new layout so that all the various components can fit into a platinum case measuring a mere 9.15 millimetres. The result is two hand-fittings in a single movement brought together with a grand complication, a challenge that remains formidable to achieve.

An outer aesthetic to match the high-flying watchmaking feats within

Designed with stylistic codes borrowed from Art Deco—the same that have characterised the legendary Reverso ever since its creation in 1931—this new opus pays homage to the original models, timepieces which are inseparable from both the history and heritage of the Manufacture. Timeless and inimitable, the specific codes of this collection have been applied with an impeccable level of respect. A blue sunrayed dial and silvered hand-applied hour-markers adorn the front side, with Dauphine hands that seem to step aside as the haunting spectacle of the flying tourbillon takes centre stage, swaying as though weightlessness at six o’clock. On the opposite side, the grained dial and Côtes de Genève finishes make the perfect housing for emblematic functions like a second time zone, small seconds, or the day/night indicator discreetly nestled at 2 o’clock. With a simple move of the finger, the watch offers up one of its two faces, each possessing an aesthetic at once complimentary and diametrically opposed. The front, adorned with deep blue, is a bold expression of elegance. The opposite side, with a rough metal effect, strives for a sober and streamlined aesthetic. Both sides bear the same flying tourbillon, a feature that brings ultimate sophistication, its lower portion lodged within the platinum case, giving it a slightly rounded and curved shape. The effect is a nod (or all-out salute) to discerning collectors who are sure to be seduced and enchanted by the subtle touch.

During the major chapters of watchmaking history and in the annals of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, the iconic Reverso has proven time and to be one of the most beautiful rectangular watches in the world. Since its creation in 1931, the model has always rotated by means of an ingenious system of flipping the case. This trademark mechanism has often been imitated but never quite equalled. It continues to be a source of inspiration for watchmakers, artists and artisans of the Grande Maison, as well as a source of delight for lovers of rare and precious objects in which the level of sophistication is paralleled only by mechanical excellence and aesthetic achievement. With a stunning degree of complexity and design, recognisable at first glance, the new Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface is no exception to the rule. Bringing together the flying tourbillon and the Duoface concept in one single model for the very first time, Jaeger-LeCoultre offers collectors an incredible embodiment of the art of watchmaking. A timepiece like no other, celebrating a new fusion between technical sophistication and aesthetic beauty; This exceptional creation is nonetheless accessible, presenting complexity and elegance with a flash of brilliance.

Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface

Size: 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm

Thickness: 9.15 mm

Case: Platinum

Calibre: 847 - Manual

Functions: Hour/Minute/Tourbillon with second indicator, Second Time Zone, Night & Day indicator

Dial: Blue sunrayed (R), Silvered grained (V)

Water resistance: 30 m

Limitation: 50 pieces

Reference: Q3926480

• Rendez-Vous Tourbillon

An iconic complication lavishly adorned with gold and diamonds

Once again, the new Rendez-Vous Tourbillon casts a spell on dynamic women who love to surround themselves with refined pieces that glitter with understated confidence. At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon reveals its spectacularly complex system of predominantly hand-decorated gears. Seemingly suspended in mid-air, its balance wheel oscillates within the carriage to perform one revolution every 60 seconds, setting the beat of its high-precision automatic movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978.

Showcasing centuries of watchmaking expertise

The tourbillon needs no introduction. Yet on each and every new interpretation designed by the engineers and artisans of the Grande Maison, this watch complication offers a captivating, almost hypnotic spectacle. The halo of brilliant-cut diamonds glittering on the bezel add to this sensation, mirrored on a smaller scale in the centre of the dial and around the tourbillon. Its adornment expresses the noble heritage of Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares®” executed by generations of artisans under the roof of the manufactory. They include the 215 hand-set diamonds, which require many hours of attention within the Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares®” workshop.

With the pink gold models embellished with the shimmering iridescence of mother-of-pearl, a delicate, almost vibrant femininity radiates from the central dial of the new Rendez-Vous Tourbillon. Its precious materials transform the watch into a piece of jewellery – one which glistens on the wrist and marks out the enchanted passing of time.

• Rendez-Vous Celestial

A star lights up a sophisticated setting

Fitted with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 809/1, these two new interpretations of the Rendez-Vous Celestial showcase an iconic function that truly expresses the collection’s name. As it marks out its constant course, the mysterious star serves as a reminder of the time of a future rendezvous.

A sophisticated watch meets high jewellery

A sky map, the ultimate feminine function, is encircled by a dazzling bezel set with either a graduated display of pink sapphires shifting into shades of amethyst or with brilliant-cut diamonds. Enhanced by a constantly moving star, the dial displays the changing constellations and signs of the zodiac, which are enamelled in shades of either pink-gold or silver to draw the eyes deep into the starry sky.

In addition to the precious gem-setting, the enamelled floral numerals and twelve constellations perpetuate the traditions of Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares®”. To continue the glittering spectacle of the sapphires or diamonds in the dark, these two jewellery watches come alive at nightfall.

By embodying the values of high jewellery, these three new models complement a collection first created in the Manufacture’s workshops in 2012. It is a feminine collection in all senses of the word, intended to enhance women of the present and future as they live in complete harmony with their time. Dressed in this dazzling decoration, Rendez-Vous continues to invite the beholder to slowly discover constantly reinvented treasures in a range of forms. The high-precision automatic movement, precious gem-setting, refined finishes and confident aura of its floral numerals combine to make this an absolutely unmissable Rendez-Vous.

Rendez-Vous Tourbillon :

Size: 39 mm

Thickness: 12.4 mm

Calibre: 978 – Automatic

Functions: Tourbillon

Dial: Navy blue dial (WG) or mother-of-pearl and silvered sunrayed dial (PG), brilliant-cut diamonds 

Diamonds: Set bezel, dial, case sides, lugs (WG only) and crown (WG) only. WG : 241 diamonds - 2.8 carats / PG : 215 diamonds - 2.52 carats

Power Reserve : 45 hours

Reference : Q3412410

Rendez-Vous Celestial Grey : 

Size: 37.5 mm

Thickness: 10.54 mm

Calibre: 809/1 – Automatic

Functions: Hour/Minute, Rendez-Vous Indicator, Skychart

Dial: Mother-of-pearl skychart disc and silvered sunrayed dial

Diamonds: Set bezel and case sides, 113 diamonds – 1.86 carats

Power Reserve : 40 hours

Reference : Q3482520

Rendez-Vous Celestial Red : 

Size: 37.5 mm

Thickness: 12.4 mm

Calibre: 809/1 – Automatic

Functions: Hour/Minute, Rendez-Vous Indicator, Skychart

Dial: Light pink-purple (framboise) grossular stone, enamel with pink gold applied index

Power Reserve : 45 hours

Reference : Q3482561