The name of the watch might indeed be a mouthful but certainly this gorgeous timepiece from Jaeger-LeCoultre is a ‘wristful’ with its eye catching aesthetics and its Avant Garde approach to Haute Horlogerie. This watch is yet another release by this masterful brand for SIHH 2014. This skeletonized pocket watch is an interpretation of a pocket watch made by JLC in 1928. In all fairness though, the pocket watch from 1928 is, by far, a sexier piece than this year’s wristwatch. However, that viewpoint shouldn’t take anything away from what this Swiss brand has done this year.
Jaeger-LeCoultre makes this watch exclusively in 18kt white gold and in a size that will suit most wrists (42mm). The watch carries a case height of 11.5mm but one wonders if this could’ve been made much thinner as the movement only accounts for 6.6mm (less than half of the overall thickness). Regardless though, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition a Quantieme Perpetuel 8 Jours SQ will probably make the cut for the most aesthetically pleasing watches for 2014 with its brushed and polished case finishes.
As a Skeleton watch it is expected that the movement is visible from both the front and the back. Each visible piece of metal is decorated and hand engraved for a truly royal look and feel to this timepiece. Encircling both the front and back of the movement are two deep blue Grand Feu Champleve enamel rings, which exhibit Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ability for extraordinary finishes.
Floating on the dial are the perpetual calendar subdials at 3, 6, and 9 indicating the date, month, and day of the week respectively. The 12 position is shared by a retrograde power reserve indicator and a day/night indicator. Each of the hands on this watch is crafted from blued steel, which is chosen to enhance the readability on this skeleton watch. Perhaps one of the best features on this watch comes in the form of a corrector at the 8 position on the case, which when pressed advances the entire calendar by one day, so as not to run into any problems with the calendar. Fitted into the subdial at 9 is moon phase indicator operating on a 29 ½ day scale.
These watches are outfitted with a black alligator leather strap and a folding clasp made from 18kt white gold. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition a Quantieme Perpetuel SQ are limited in production to 200 pieces worldwide. Price is available from Jaeger-LeCoultre upon request.
