Jaeger-LeCoultre

Regarding the teasers and the actual JLC Calibre we can observe :

- A rhodium-plated " german silver " caliber that replaces " maillechort ", suggesting that there will probably be a silver color for the case (steel, white gold, platinum, etc.);

- A movement mentioning " 42 jewels " instead of the existing "40 jewels" (to justify a significant price increase);

- A barrel identified as " Regulator " and another as " Hours/Minutes ", as well as a caliber shape reminiscent of the Lunar Calendar, but inverted in relation to the current caliber, which could lead us to believe that it is now a " Regulator" architecture for precision + " Complication(s   ";

- No column-wheel clutch.

And what do the rumors say? 

Well, they speak of a single-pusher chronograph with moon phase (and not Moon Calendar, a priori), with :

- a "Steel" version - white dial, priced at around €70,000 ex VAT - Rumors confirmed by several people;

- a "Platinum" version with a salmon dial - a rumour also confirmed by several people, at a price - in my opinion - that will probably be in the region of €100,000 ex-VAT, given the differences that usually exist between a steel and platinum model.

CONCLUSION, QUESTIONS AND FEARS:

My point of view regarding teasers and rumors :

Years of waiting for a probable overpriced model, not very coherent from my point of view (Steel) and with no real innovation.

This is personal : As I already have a chrono and a QL, so a PDL chrono, but I'll probably pass on this one, not without regrets...

You're going to say "it's all ??"...

Yes, in a way, even if knowing a little about the "Grande" Maison, I think they will also release a "wahoo" model... a crazy "one more thing", in very limited quantities and at a stratospheric price, just to be able to say "We are a Grande Maison" able to rival Patek...

I hope I'm not just talking nonsense... and that I'm not just mistaken or misled by rumors about new products...

Unfortunately, the policy of the watchmaking houses is gradually distancing me from new products... Jaeger LeCoultre, which used to have a special place, is no exception to the trend...

They're all forgetting that luxury is all about dreams and not just about returns via dial changes....

Questions and fears :

In view of the caliber presented in the teasers, we have a barrel regulator + functions.

But according to the information I've been able to obtain... the Duomètre to be launched is a QL/PDL + Chronograph.

Such a combination worries me:

- Either the caliber of the teasers is only a prototype and does not correspond to the final caliber (which is possible because I do not see the column-wheel clutch (Unless JLC plans to put a cam clutch ... in which case ... it will howl in the chaumières)

- Either the information I've been given about the future Duomètre and the photos seen at .... are bogus... (It's always possible, but I doubt it because I've cross-checked my sources).

But if it's the right caliber and they really are releasing a Duomètre Chonographe QL/PDL.... then in a way this amounts to killing the concept.

Let me explain:

On the caliber presented (German Silver), there is :

- a "Regulator" barrel whose energy is used solely for the regulator (as on the current QL) ;

- an "hours, minutes" barrel whose energy - If it's a PDL/QL chrono, this barrel will therefore be dedicated - logically enough - to several complications: Hours - Minutes - Date - Chrono - PDL/QL, which adds up to quite a lot, and consequently a lot of friction...

Let me remind you:

- Duo A Chronograph: 1 barrel for hours and minutes + 1 barrel for the chronograph;

- Duo Quantième lunaire: 1 barrel for QL hours + 1 barrel for regulator;

- Duo Universal travel Time: 1 barrel for hour minutes + 1 barrel for world hour minutes (GMT).

And this was sold during years as a perfect balance of Energy / Complication / Precision.

But if we have the caliber presented and the complications suggested :

- Either the new Duometre will be probably unbalanced, since there will be many more complications on a single barrel than the balance that has been put forward until now;

- Or JLC has managed a "tour de force" that allows the addition of these multiple complications on a single barrel without affecting the pre-existing balance, and I'd be curious to know how.

What's more, it doesn't matter which caliber... if the end result is a Duomètre QL/PDL + Chrono... and there's no explanation of the improvements that explain the possible addition of a chrono on the basis of the QL without disturbance .... well then : 

- Either Christian Laurent, JLC Master Watchmaker, has told us a lot of garbage during the presentation of the Duomètres to the Manufacture (Impossibility of adding certain complications, notably the chrono, without modifying the balance obtained)... which I doubt, given the great skill/knowledge of this gentleman... 

- Either the Grande Maison is now telling us some well-wrapped marketing nonsense....

I have to admit that I'm a little worried... but there's not much time to wait.

Besides, I'm all the more worried that in the latest teaser on "Précision Maker" and the Duomètre... the marketing people have put complications in the plural on the second barrel... 

anyways I can't wait to see what they are offering but I don't think I'm buying. 

The rumor says this new opus will be available at around 80, 000 Euros, taxes included. So, I guess and I hope that for this big jump in price, we'll have a  very interesting, different, innovative ( well a true Jaeger Lecoultre ) watch. and not only the easy combination of a moonphase and a chronograph. You are right about one thing: IF they unveil the Chrono QL, I wonder which barrel will feed what... Without compromising the precision essential to the concept. 

Therefore, I hope that in fact, for this kind of price ( circa 80, 000 euros tax included for a steel version ), we'll have a flyback retrograde OR even better, as JLC can do it ( they are not less good than Montblanc and Minerva ) ), a SPLIT SECOND... But on this matter, let's wait before judging. 

I don't even mention the platinum version with a retail around 120, 000 Euros, which is very ambitious, or do we become their favorite milked cows???  ))

Let's wait and see... 

Best,

Nicolas