VIDEO: We meet the people responsible for Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most complicated watches

Earlier this week we showed you a behind-the-scenes peek at how Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Polaris is put together. Well, we kick it up a notch and have a look at some of the brand’s most complicated — and most beautiful — pieces, find out a little bit about how they’re made, and meet the talented artisans who make them. Central to this story is Christian Laurent, JLC’s master watchmaker, a man with a twinkle in his eye and a clear passion for his work. During my visit, Mr Laurent presented JLC’s high complications, running through the brand’s achievements — innovative watches like the Duomètre and the Gyrotourbillon — which clearly demonstrate Jaeger-LeCoultre’s high-end credentials. Speaking to him later, Mr Laurent expanded on the importance of humans in making those watches: “We don’t make hundreds of pieces; for high complications it’s always very limited numbers — only the human hand is capable of doing these things.”

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8 years ago

HANDS-ON: The Seals Watch Co Model C Field Explorer

Start a conversation about vintage wristwatches and you’ll inevitably end up down a military history rabbit hole. With collectors and everyday buyers alike appreciating – and downright loving – the connection these simple military-issued watches have to history. A history that began with the First World War, where a “luminous wristwatch with unbreakable glass” was the first item on a British officer’s kit list. Nowadays, however, you don’t need to be one of the “few good men” to own one, with no shortage of brands out there offering all the legibility, strength and usability of a great military-inspired watch. Like Californian microbrand Seals Watch Co and their latest release, the Model C Field Explorer. Vital statistics World War II saw the introduction of a set of design requirements that now defines the military watch aesthetic we know today. And re-creating these guidelines, the Model C Field Explorer uses a lightly granulated black dial (also available in blue), Arabic numeral hour markers, luminous hour and minutes hands, a railroad minute track, sapphire crystal and a stainless-steel case. Measuring 40.5mm across and 11.40mm thick, the case is shaped like the battle tanks of the 1940s, with a water resistance of 200 metres,…

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8 years ago

Auction – 10 Highlights of the Upcoming 97th Dr Crott Auction

We only cover watch auctions occasionally, and, as editor-in-chief, I’m well aware of this void in our coverage of the world of watches. So, while we’re looking for someone to cover auctions and vintage timepieces for MONOCHROME (yes, we’re hiring), I’m taking a look at the upcoming 97th Dr Crott Auction. Flipping through the pages of the Dr Crott auction catalogue always put a huge smile on my face; so many horological goodies, so many beautiful, rare, impressive and desirable pieces. Today I’m sharing ten highlights of the upcoming auction, and tomorrow some more…

8 years ago

Introducing – Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” British Racing Green

As we’ve already told you several times – and we even discussed this topic in a cool video here – watchmaking is not the only passion of Laurent Ferrier. He loves cars too. So much that he even raced at the 24h of Le Mans and finished 3rd in 1979. No surprise then to see some of his watches infused with motorsport inspiration. Celebrating the London Craft Week 2018, the brand introduces the Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” with a great British Racing Green dial.

8 years ago

Hands-on – LAURENT FERRIER x URWERK LR-UR 2 – Going for an Encore of the Arpal One

Following the intense teamwork and understanding that developed between Laurent Ferrier and Urwerk’s dynamic duo – Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner – to create the Arpal One timepiece for the Only Watch Auction of 2017, the sale of the watch left them with an empty nest syndrome. To counter the blues they were experiencing, they decided to go for an encore and have created four signed watches named LR-UR 2, which, like the Arpal One, will “be sold for the benefit of medical research”. While the shape of the case and the movement are the same as the Arpal 1, the material of the case and finishes are light years apart.  The only problem with these four watches is that their parents don’t want to give them a name because they “merely represent the lap of honour of an outstanding team.”

8 years ago