JLC Duometre Chronograph Moon - What a Combo!

Launched at the Watches & Wonders 2024, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Chronograph Moon is watchmaking at its best.

But first, my two Duometre...

First, the Duometre a Chronographe (above)

And the Duometre a Quantieme Lunaire... And then there is the new Chronograph Moon (below)

The Platinum version...

And the Rose Gold version.

Fitted with the new Calibre 391, the Chronograph Moon is a combination of two previous iterations - the Duometre a Quantieme Lunaire and the Duometre a Chronographe, both of which I am featuring here.

I have always liked the Duometre range and as luck would have it, was able to acquire the Duometre a Quantieme Lunaire Limited Edition from the secondary market. This version comes with a white grand feu enamel dial.

Prominent in the Duometre range is the 1/6th second - also known as Foudroyante. Both worked differently in the Quantieme Lunaire and the Chronograph.

What's really interesting about the Duometre range is the movement.

Featuring two barrels, each barrel powers diffrent function - one the complication and the other powers the gear train for timekeeping.

Next up is the Duometre Chronograph...

Again, this is another Limited Edition piece in white gold case and a black dial.

Unlike the Quantieme Lunaire, where the time sub-dial is on the right the time subdial in this case is on the left at the 9 o'clock. The right sub-dial is the chronograph sub-dial with a digital reader to boot.

And unlike the Quantieme Lunaire, the Foudroyante function does not activate until the chronograph is activated. With the Quantieme Lunaire, the Foudroyante function is always constantly beating.

The movement also has 2 regulating organs - one for the chronograph and one for timekeeping. In this way, the accuracy of the timepiece improves as one barrel powers the chronograph and the other the time telling mechanism.

The chronograph is a column wheel (see below)...

As one would expect, the finishing on the Duometre is very well done.

Now back to the newly launched Chronograph Moon - this is a combination of the Quantieme Lunaire and the Chronograph...

Operating under the hood is the new Calibre 391 which I understand was modified from the 381. Whatever the case, it's no slouch and I suspect the movement under scrutiny will stand well on its own.

Between the platinum and the rose gold version, which one looks more appealing to you? For me, I still like the white metal but if only they could have done it in enamel, that would have been an outright winner for me.

JLC Baguette Clock

Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the few Manufactures who has a wide range of clocks on top of their extensive range of watches and pocket watches. And they all use in-house movements. What intrigued me are the Baguette 8 Days clocks and the Atmos.

The Baguette 8 Days Clock houses the Calibre 250, sixteen (16) jewels. I believe it was developed after the 1930s. Comes in several shapes and designs but I was lucky enough to find this specimen in the US and on eBay. Years ago, I used to travel quite a fair bit for business and I came across this clock - seller was in Los Angeles and I was in San Francisco - he was kind enough to ship overnight to me when I won the bid.

Measuring 7 x 3.5 x 11cm (L x W x H), this specimen winds from the back and looks suspended from afar. I have seen larger round shaped types which are easily 20cm across.

This particular clock is in very good condition as evident in the movement. The sapphire glass is bevelled, hence the reflection.

A side view reveals the gears and construction of the clock.

A close up view of the inline movement

The movement is in pretty good shape - mostly sealed in unlike the case which has tarnished over time due to the humidity levels here in Singapore.

Calibre 250 inscribed onto the bridge.

Single barrel according 8 days of power reserve for the clock.

Years ago, I asked then CEO of JLC if they were planning to release new clocks but the disappointing answer was no. I guess they still have their Atmos range which is still doing very well. No harm in asking but I wish they would bring back some of the older models.

JLC Hybris Mechanica Exhibition - Ion Singapore

JLC held the Hybris Mechanica Exhibition on October 10th 2013 at the Ion Sky in celebration of their 180th Anniversary. On show were a range of JLC watches from the Gyrotourbillon 3 to the Tourbillon Cylindrique A Quantieme Perpetuel and the Duometre Spherotourbillon.

In recent years, JLC has been making waves again. The Manufacture with more than 1,000 in-house calibres to their name is moving full steam ahead with many new timepieces. The Duometre range is an exciting development and in this year's release, several new watches including the Duometre Spherotourbillon.

The Spherotourbillon uses the cylindrical balance wheel and the tourbillon is a multi-axis tourbillon.

The manual winding Calibre 382 has 2 main springs and has a power reserve of 50 hours. Definitely a watch on my "Dream Watch" list if money were not an object.

Next the Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie, another watch from the Duometre range. Sings the Westminster Chime. Probably one of the most complicated wristwatch to be made.

On top of being a Grande Sonnerie, the watch is also a perpetual calendar with jumping hour indicator.

The chiming mechanism consists of four ‘Trébuchet Hammer’ that strikes harder than traditional strikers. On the left side of the watch is the retrograde date display.

A closer look at the striking mechanism.

And on the reverse, there is the double barrel and the flying tourbillon. As beautiful front and back.

Another view of the twin barrel and the finishing on the back of the watches.

Here is the link to the other post I wrote about JLC. I must say that with the Duometre line that JLC has shown real promise - much more to the brand that I had admired when I first started watch appreciation. Finishing was not very much a strength of JLC but with their latest development, I can say they are on the up. Great job JLC!

Jaeger-LeCoultre 180th Anniversary

The year 2013 marks the 180th Anniversary for Jaeger-LeCoultre. Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre, the Grande Maison has developed a Jubilee Collection to mark the occasion.

Amongst some of the new development unveiled in 2013 are the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 Jubilee and the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique A Quantieme Perpetuel Jubilee. First, the Gyro 3.

As with the Gyro 2, the Gyro 3 comes fitted with a spherical balance-spring in the flying tourbillon. Additionally, the Gyro 3 comes with a monopusher chronograph with an instantaneous digital display. Only in platinum, the watch comes as a limited edition of 75 pieces.

The Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique A Quantieme Perpetuel Jubilee is no less impressive. When I first saw the watch, I thought it was one of those "tell-me-what-you-wish-in-a-watch" type. Didn't think JLC could squeeze so many features into a wristwatch. Kudos JLC!

The flying tourbillon comes with a cylindrical balance spring that on top of looking great while it spins also drives accuracy. The watch is in platinum and comes with an automatic calibre 985 and is limited to 180 pieces.

The watch also comes with a perpetual calendar with a four digit year indication. The automatic watch also comes with a silver-grained dial.

At the rear of the self winding perpetual calendar is an 18K pink gold rotor which reveals a representation of the gold medal brought back by Jaeger-LeCoultre from the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889.

Earlier on in the year when we attended the SIHH 2013 collection event, I was really taken by the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual. The dial is clean and very legible and comes with a four digit year indication. I particularly like the rose gold version with the beige dial. Will find time to photo that watch when it becomes available.

Feature of the Month - JLC Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface Bleu

Jaeger LeCoultre is famous for their Atmos but equally iconic is the Reverso range of watches. This year, JLC will be celebrating their 180th Anniversary and that is why they are the Feature of the Month.

When one thinks of a rectangular face watch, the Reverso comes to mind. Invented in the 1930s for polo players to protect their watches during the game, the swivel case Reverso has blossomed into many a complications including my favorite the Gyrotourbillon 2. My dream watch but alas, the watch is priced beyond my budget. So I have a more modest Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface Bleu 1931 ref 378858J. Why Ultra Thin? Because it is only 9.1mm tall.

The Duoface was first created in 1994 and features two time zone. It is probably one of the easiest two time zone watch to set - how more difficult than to just press a button. And with a day and night indicator, it makes it a lot easier to get it right.

The watch comes encased in steel and the front dial is blue lacquered with rhodium plated hour markers. The rich blue lacquer dial was love at first sight. Reminiscent of the Art Deco style, the dial is clean, symmetrical and visually pleasing.

The back dial where the home time shows is white with the Clous de Paris guilloché. I must say that the guilloché is well done. The watch face with the overlapping Day/Night indicator provides a nice symmetry to the watch.

The watch comes with two straps - alligator and calf skin strap with a tang buckle. Pictured here with the alligator strap.

The calf skin strap comes from the famed Argentinian workshop of Casa Fagliano who is one of the top polo boot maker in the world. Somehow, I still prefer the alligator strap.

Even the case back is well decorated - perlage. The "Special Edition" watch has a power reserve of 45 hours. This is a Boutique only piece.

The watch has been tested for 1,000 hours as with all JLC watches. In the 1,000 hours Control test, the entire watch (not just the movement) is subjected to tests approximating normal wear and the standards are said to be much stricter than the COSC as imposed by the Bureaux du Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. And the wrist shot…

I still say to many a friends looking to start a mechanical watch journey that JLC still represents great value for a in-house manufactured movement. Now with the 1,000 Hours Control testing, you possess a great timepiece that assures you of the quality that says Swiss Made.