Stephane

my supplier told me the remaining Exp2's all have Asian clones. I don't want Asian clones so I got nothing. Very sad. I did get 14 GMT IIs (model 16710) in gen ETAs.

-bk

Oh well, might be the right time to get myself a 16710 again

Well, currently my collection is really small!

Most of the watches I owned are gone...some exceptions of course.

I'll have to update this!

Sorry to be so "straight" but a 19 is the rule in my humble opinion...

And you can't go wrong with a Clark.

There is no bloody reason to spend more money to get a genuine...

All you need is to polish the Clark so it looks "older"

PS: just saw Alligoat's reply: agreed 100%

Thanks for the kind words again guys.

I must admit I've been really mad in those old days.

I should maybe update the original 1st post with my current collection which is clearly ...smaller!

Well, in the end, I didn't trade it for an Explorer II.

So far, I still have the watch here but I'm wanting to see it go to a better home.

So if anybody is interrested in buying it, drop me a PM.

Cheers

Stephane

Wow, that is a brilliant watch mate!

Congrats to you.

Wear it in good health !

Cheers

Stephane

Warning: FEDEX => Invoice => VAT declaration for the belgian territory.

So, the best case: you pay VAT.

The worst: item is seized.

That is my very own experience with Fedex to Belgium.

I don't know about DHL.

Looks good indeed but I have a doubt about the lugholes though.

Maybe the photos, but they seem a bit to high...at least in the fourth photo.

I could be wrong of course.

Great intro Chris and yes, I think you have found the right place for your addiction.

Welcome to RWG

+1 here.

Hello Chris and welcome to RWG.

That was a great post to read.

Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Stephane

Fabulous pictorial, thanks a lot! And of course, congratulation on your purchase!

As you say, Jaeger LeCoultre still makes their movements in-house from start to finish, or at least most of them. After all they make 60 different ones; more, I think, than any other manufacturer and they supply them to most of the really high-end companies. Basically, if JLC were to disappear tomorrow, we'd see Vacheron, Patek, Audemars, Cartier, Glash

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control : a 1993 example.



Introduction.



I'm the lucky owner of several watches.
Among them, some Rolex, probably my favourite brand, at least for Submariners or Date Just.

I have not a lot of experience with the other famous brands, even no experience at all with the manufactures.
One among them has always been a grail: Jaeger LeCoultre.



The explanation is simple:

1) My mom owned one, which is now my sister's one and will be my niece one day.





2) I've been told that Jaeger LeCoultre was the only manufacture making their movements in house from A to Z. At least they were.
They are the source for some of the most famous other manufactures.

The watch.



The Master Control has been launched in 1992 with a battery of tests procedure that guarantee the exceptional reliability and precision of the first Master Control 1000 Hours.



It is delivered with a booklet, certifying the authenticity of the watch.
In this booklet, the owner can see the results of the 1000 hours of tests, the number of his watch and the signature and name of le maitre horloger that took care of his watch before it leaves the manufacture.



Inside the watch.

Some famous calibers are based on Jaeger LeCoultre's 889: Vacheron Constatin, Audemars Piguet, IWC (Portuguese).
The 889 has been released in 1983. It is an automatique caliber, high beat and featuring a date quick set



I asked my new watchmaker to open the watch for me (I finaly found an artist, official watchmaker for several brands, next door to my house and from who I learn a lot which is not the case when one sends his watch to the official after sale dpt!)



The movement is really stunning in my humble opinion.



Some more:





The icing on the cake is the case back, manually engraved by Jaeger LeCoultre's watchmaker.
The same name as on the certificate of course and the date when he personally closed the watch!


(Sorry, it's the best I could picture in the poor light of the watchmaker's atelier.)

The bracelet and clasp.

Well, I have to confess that this is really a poor quality bracelet.



The clasp is very sexy though.



The Master Control date design

I have been looking online at bargains of the new 40 mm version. So it lead me to try one at the local AD. Guess what: it was heavy in terms of design.



The bezel is way to large for a dressy watch or simply for a classic Jaeger LeCoultre model.

I decided to hunt for the 37 mm one, and I must admit I was very lucky to find one on the german Rolex Forum.



Unfotunately, the guy did not answer my first two emails. Here again I was lucky to have a good german friend who dealt with the seller in my name and yiiiipeee the deal was done.

Have a look at the details of the dial. So simple and yet so present.



How about a side view?





My feelings

I am so happy to own and wear a Jaeger LeCoultre.
Of course so am I when I wear a nice watch in general or one of my Rolex.

But there is something with Jaeger which is not happening with Rolex or even Omega: nobody notice it.
And, when it comes to compare to Rolex, nobody ask "is is a genuine one?"!!!

In short, I feel like a spoiled kid when it is on my wrist.
And I feel proud to own the same brand as my mom did.

Thanks for looking and reading.

Cheers

Stephane

Some information I wasn't aware of:

1929 World's smallest movement Caliber 101, barely 1 gram and composed of 74 parts. Still a record today!
1967 Jaeger-LeCoultre takes part in the creation of the first quartz wristwatch in watch making history, the Beta 2.

Some links worth clicking:

Caliber 889 detailed
Caliber 889's Regulator, Spring Stud, and Anti-Shock Mechanism
Jaeger LeCoultre History.

Probably the most complete history is here. Click

Where did Lani's and Stephane's posts go?

No idea...I guess you must have been dreaming Doc.

Come on, stop drugs now

Happy friday to you too

I'll be wearing this one today

Ooops, this one I mean

Ah GTGs, i remember my first, and you know what it is looking about time to organize another, looks like you had a great time there guys

29 of may 2010...Brussels is on

Is there an English translation we could consider?

I'm afraid you are the best one to explain what the guy means ...or doesn't mean, who knows

The first guy's a scammer!

Oh yes he is

Going back to 1978 tonight

@Stephane - I believe BT was referring to the watch that jmarin posted a link to.

Oh my god.

Of course, sorry for the confusion.

By the way, here is the guy's reply:

IF U NOW A LITER BE A BUT ROLEX U HAVE TO NOW SOME SPECIAL DETAIL FOR CHECK IT IS REAL OR NOT

BUT U NOW NOTHING ABOUT ROLEX SORRY U GOT LEARN FIRTS

- admobilcar05

The watch in the (terrible) pictures looks genuine.

BT, you know how much I respect your eagle eye, but come on...

The guy pretends to have paid 1.200$ for a fake bracelet and box it into a Rolex Service Box, doesn't show any certificate of the service, nor papers...

It's obvious that there is something wrong in my humble opinion.

And, you may be right that the watch head is genuine, but I doubt considering what is shown that screams fake (engraving) in these very very wweird photos.

78360 ?! 79090 ?! No SEL wow, that's a fucking amazing 1.200$ spent.

Ok, I'll post something there...it needs a warning for guys who would buy this.

Hey that is a great post, thanks for sharing.

I love GTGs.... :thumbsupsmileyanim: :thumbsupsmileyanim:

And this one seems to have been a great time.

really, you find the price expensive ? I thought it was a bargain (especially compared to EU prices in stores)

Well, whatever price a watch is sold for, when I can't afford it, it's always to expensive

Love that case. I have been thinking about an oysterquartz president for a wile.

Agreed here.

Lovely case, both 1530 and Oyster Quartz

4.059,87 USD

Pfff, that is very expensive in my humble opinion

Yeah, been watching it and when it got over $700 it was too rich for my blood! So, I ordered a Datejust and a rotary table for my mill and have decided to build one...

I'm watching too...only watching though.

I don't have the budget, a pity!

Does anybody want to buy my DateJust Two tone tonight...well I mean NOW ?

Rolex DateJust 16013: One more great and complete set!

Stephane, it's a shame you can't get this kind of service in Benelux. Here's an idea... the next time you're in town, bring a few of your gens that you'd like factory service done to

I will at least bring my Sub 16610 from 1999 which is my keeper of course.

I want it with a service like the 5th avenue one...