anton Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I was having a conversation today will some so-called "experts" about watch movements and so I paused them for a brief moment when I brought up the topic of the ONLY manufacturer that has NEVER used another's base movement. I quizzed them and only ONE person got it right. I know the answer. But I will ask you: Out of the choices below, which watch manufacturer has NEVER used a base movement (or ebauche) from another manufacture? 1) Patek Philippe 2) Breguet 3) Blancpain 4) Audemars Piguet 5) Jaeger-LeCoultre 6) Vacheron Constantin Notice I did not include A. Lange & Sohne, so I beat whoever was going to post that! And I repeat, Base movement. Most of us know that Manufactures sometimes use chronograph modules from other houses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victoria Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Out of the choices below, which watch manufacturer has NEVER used a base movement (or ebauche) from another manufacture? 3) Blancpain My choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 3) Blancpain My choice. Incorrect, my dear. Blancpain has used the F. Piguet 1185 in their chronographs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I gotta say Breguet, because they're one of the oldest brands that came up with their own movements... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Yeah I go along with Breguet as well. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Yeah I go along with Breguet as well. Ken I'm sorry. Breguet used the Lemania 1350 in their Type XX Chronograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rag9fx Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 it was a toss up between Patek and Breguet for me ... i think i am going to go with Breguet just because of the history of the marque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victoria Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Incorrect, my dear. Blancpain has used the F. Piguet 1185 in their chronographs. Drat! ...what was the middle one again? /Fish Named Wanda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Well of course this is going to look like taking pot shots now but my second choice would have been Vacheron. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahchard Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Vacheron Constantin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadog13 Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 (edited) I'd say Patek.... ...but it will be JLC in the end...this is my 2nd edit...I think I remember reading somewhere that it is JLC...hmm, now i am interested even more to see the correct answer... Edited October 4, 2007 by dadog13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 i would also guess Patek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giorgio Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 5) Jaeger-LeCoultre ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Dog, you are half-correct. Giorgio, you are 100% correct. Most people would assume that the "Big Three" manufactures and produces their watches in-house, but that is not so. In fact, the Big Three have one thing in common, though: They all used the JLC 920 (surprisingly JLC never used it themselves) during the late 60's-early 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giorgio Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Is the prize a shiny new genuine JLC? Where do I pick it up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Is the prize a shiny new genuine JLC? Where do I pick it up? I wish. Then I'd go pick it up for myself. The AMVOX2 is still in my shoret list, though. Been hinting at the wife for a couple months now. Hope she gets the hint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsons Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Anton, you didn't allow the quiz to go long enough. Of course it's Jaeger. Vacheron has used JLC movements, mostly in the 40s & 50s if memory serve me. . Not sure about Patek but they may have at some point. IMO, JLCs represent the best value in the high end specially as they are easy to find brand spankin' new for around 30% off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 The "Purists" who I asked at work today were aghast that their beloved watch manufacturer isn't quite the innovator they one thought it was. Society allows us bragging rights when we purchase watches from the "Big Three", but what fun is it when they received their movements from the "little fourth"? And you're right JLC's represent a HUGE value in the second hand market. They never cease to amaze me, but unfortunately they haven't reached the type of demand that they should be receiving. Funny thing, though: they thought that the LeCoultre watch brand was the same as Jaeger-LeCoultre watch brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desuetude Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Shame on you all for taking so long to get this one! Everyone knows that the only TRUE manufacture in that list....JLC. JLC really is an amazing value, considering that their heritage is really beyond reproach. That said, Glashutte is also in that rare camp as well, IIRC...unless they used some outside ebauche during a pre-swatch group time of weakness. PS...Vacheron still uses JLC movements in some of their watches...my VC Patrimony Power Reserve has a JLC Cal. 928 inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giorgio Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I wish. Then I'd go pick it up for myself. The AMVOX2 is still in my shoret list, though. Been hinting at the wife for a couple months now. Hope she gets the hint. Good luck with that, lol! The Amvox2 doesn't say anything to me. Kin of reminds me of an old clock radio of my dad's from the late 60s - early 70s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section8 Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Wow, i was completely off. I was thinking Breguet as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 That said, Glashutte is also in that rare camp as well, IIRC...unless they used some outside ebauche during a pre-swatch group time of weakness.. Union Glashutte/SA had been supplying base movements to Glashutte Original until they decided to produce their own timepieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsons Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Anton, big difference between the two as you know. LeCoultre was a necessity for Jaeger to reduce taxes which at the time, were considerably higher on imported finished watches into the US. To save on cost, Jaeger shipped the movements to US based LeCoultre which would case the watches here. Interestingly, all the 14K and 18K solid gold cases during the period were Jaeger and the far more common 10K plated cases (not of great quality IMO) were of LeCoultre origins. JLC is a very interesting company. This is one clone I would never touch as the movements, fit and finish of their time pieces are just too darn good to replicate. Their parts are also very difficult to source and can only be done if the watch is sent to them for repair/service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 It was actually bidding on auctions for vintage Pateks that led me to find out the difference between LC and JLC. There's a seller based out in Poland who sells vintages which I now know are recased pocket watches. There was something odd about his selling signed "Patek Philippe & Cie." wristwatches that made me do some investigative research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pix Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Don't agree on JLC... I read somewhere that they used Asian 21J movements....from time to time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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