Category: Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

High Quality Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon Vs Reverso Skeleton Replica Watch

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 16, 2016

It’s hard to find good replica watches from this brand. But I have a Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon and a Reverso Skeleton replica watches review for you, guys, in case you missed reading about this brand’s watches.

I’ve been searching for a good one for quite a bit now and couldn’t decide to buy any. I have two Jaeger Le Coultre replica watches in my collection: the Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon and the Le Coultre Reverso SkeletonThe Jager LeCoultre replica watches aren’t that popular, so it can be hard to find the best Jaeger Le Coultre replica. That’s one of the reasons why I didn’t add any new replica watch from this brand to my collection of watches.. Even if they are from the same brand, these models are very different and I thought that a comparison of these two would be a useful read for all those that are interested in getting one or the other.

The Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon Replica Review

One of my friends initially bought this model that I reviewed and I likes it so much that I had to get one too. The original watch doesn’t have some of the extra details you can find on this one, but the replica looks pretty good just like it is. The blue dial features a chronograph at 12 o’clock. The Tourbillon imitation at 6 o’clock looks pretty much spot on and this is one of the hardest parts to copy. The markers are imitation stones and they give this watch a more elegant and luxurious feel. The case is made from a combination of brushed and polished steel covered in rose gold.

The movements are Japanese automatic and you can see them through the back case. The rotor has the engravings of the brand and you can also see the tourbillon imitation. The regular seconds hand has a nice sweep, so it does also work well. Overall, this Grand Tourbillon looks pretty expensive and it’s a great accessory when worn with an elegant attire. The original sells for over $70k, so I think that this replica is a good alternative to that.

The Reverso Skeleton Jaeger Le Coultre Replica

This Reverse Skeleton watch is different than any other watch I’ve owned up till this moment. It has a peculiar case and an intricate frame. What’s even more strange about it is that the case can be flipped. Even though it has a classic look and it’s very elegant, the fact that the case can be flipped also makes it a fun watch to own.

The case is made from fully polished steel and it has a good size. If you compare it to the original, you will see that it doesn’t have so many details like the authentic ones has. Even so, it’s a great copy and it feels very high-quality. It has a nice weight and you can easily flip it, but without fearing that it will break. The flipping system feels very sturdy. The case is see-through, on both sides, so no matter how you flip it, you can see its interiors. It has navy blue hands and a small square seconds hand located at 6 o’clock.

This watch looks good, no matter of the side you’re looking at. It features a nice mix of colors. It has a 24 hours power reserve and you will have to wind it every time you wear it since it’s not a casual watch and you will probably wear it less. It has Japanese automatic movements. I didn’t have the time to notice how well it keeps time since I don’t wear it that often.

The Fold

The bottom line is that both these watches are good quality. The Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon is elegant and eccentric, perfect if you like blingy watches. If you want a watch that’s closer to the original, I recommend you the Reverso Skeleton. It’s different and it looks amazing. I hope that this was one lucky replicas review and that you enjoyed it.

Presenting An old IWC Mark X, a GP Rattrapante, a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual and two AP

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 20, 2016

IWC Mark X (1944)

The replica watch we are about to present comes from a company with a great tradition in the development of wristwatches for the military forces of various nations; this harks back to the days when the mechanical replica watch was actually used as a tool. International Replica Watch Company or IWC for short always produced austere and high quality replica watches and this one is perhaps the definition of this design ethos.replicas de relojes

The IWC Mark X’s were perhaps the most prominent of the dirty dozen replica watches. They were 35mm without the crown and had 18mm lugs. They were equipped with the great calibre 83 movement. A 12-lignes (26.5mm) movement with either 15 or 16 jewels, which had a bimetallic screw balance and a Breguet hairspring, and ran at 18,000 vph. The calibre 83 was finely tuned and delivered excellent results while being at the same time extremely reliable and rugged. One peculiarity of the IWC Mk X was that it was the only replica watch from the 12 manufacturers that had a snap-on case-back; all other companies used a screwed case-back design. IWC used a lead seal between the case and the case back to prevent water ingress. For 4 years it was used by a variety of military personnel including RAF pilots and navigators.

In the early 1940s the British Armed forces compiled a set of specifications for military replica watches that they wanted to supply to their troops. The twelve companies that produced replica watches that were accepted by the Ministry of Defence (as in, these replica watches met their specifications), would later become known, among collectors, as the dirty dozen. The Mark X name was adopted by all the manufacturers and in 1944 the IWC Mark X was issued to the military for service. All 12 manufacturers delivered about 150,000 of those replica watches to the British military while only 6,000 were delivered by IWC.

The specific replica watch for sale is a fine example of a truly legendary military replica watch, and it is factory-restored at IWC with nine months’ warranty left. Truly an excellent choice for someone who wants on his wrist one of the most important military replica watches of all time. Check out the auction at Catawiki (by clicking here) and the additional pictures of this extremely rare beauty!

Girard-Perregaux Chronographe à Rattrapante (2001)

The Girard-Perregaux Chronographe à Rattrapante we present today is a chronograph that honours the spirit of the company. It is, in our humble opinion, extremely well proportioned, very well made and technically very interesting. The replica watch measures 38mm in diameter with a thickness of 14mm, and under the sapphire crystal is a very beautiful white dial with golden hands and indexes and blue baton indices. It comes with a crocodile skin strap with steel buckle and is complete with original box and documents. The striking characteristic of the replica watch, beyond its looks, is that it is a chronograph with a rattrapante complication.

Girard-Perregaux, or GP in short for the sake of this presentation, is one of the truly legendary high-end Swiss replica watchmakers. In 1791, replica watchmaker and goldsmith Jean-François Bautte created a manufacturing company in Geneva, grouping, for the first time ever, all the replica watch making facets of that time, which meant starting from the engineering of the replica watch all the way to the final hand assembly and hand polishing of each replica watch. This company eventually, after a marriage, became Girard-Perregaux in 1856.

The company always relied on extensive research and development in order to produce wristwatches that were most of the time, way ahead of their competition. For example in 1965 GP designed the first mechanic movement that ran at a high frequency, with the balance vibrating at 36,000 vibrations/hour: the Gyromatic HF. Two years later, in 1967, the company received the Centenary Award from the Astronomical Observatory de Neuchatelin, as recognition of the accomplishments of the Manufacture.

This type of chronograph has two central second hands and, unlike a standard chronograph, can thereby time multiple simultaneous events, like two people competing in a race. It can also time a series of events, such as the laps a single runner makes in a race. One of the hands, the so-called “rattrapante” hand, sits either directly on top of or underneath the main chronograph hand. The rattrapante hand is started and returned to zero simultaneously with the main chronograph hand. A special push-piece, inside the crown, and an additional mechanism, make it possible for the rattrapante hand to be repeatedly stopped (so that split times can be read) and then instantly brought into renewed synchrony with the main chronograph hand by flying back to catch up with it. All this occurs without affecting the motion of the main chronograph hand. Rattrapante chronographs like this GP from 2001 are regarded as particularly valuable because of the demanding complication.

Here you can find more photos of this stunning GP Rattrapante, and register for the online auction.

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar (2013)

Jaeger Le Coultre is a company that needs no further introduction since it is one of the most important Swiss replica watchmaking companies in history. It has produced, right from the start up to now, exceptional replica watches with all kinds of innovations.

The model we present currently, was introduced in 2013. It measures 39 mm in diameter and 9.2 mm in height. Inside ticks the new calibre 868. It is a replica watch slightly larger in diameter, and slimmer in profile. This Ultra-Thin Perpetual features polished rhodium-plated hour markers and small dots for minute markers. The dial of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual replica watch displays the perpetual calendar indications in a balanced and extremely clear manner: day, month, date, year and moon phase. Only one corrector regulates all the information. Once set, the automatic replica watch will not need any adjustment until 2100. The perpetual calendar mechanism takes into account the length of each month and counts 29 days for the month of February in every leap year.

At the same time Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces were stylish and very well constructed. From the legendary Polaris to the renown Atmos clock, and from the Reverso to the various chronographs, Jaeger-LeCoultre always offered lots of bang for buck in relation to other Swiss replica watchmaking companies that charged triple the price. One such occasion is the replica watch we present today: the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual in Steel.

The perpetual calendar in the old Master Control collection was introduced in 1997 and phased out around 2004. It measured 37 mm in diameter and 10.1 mm in height, and inside ticked calibre 889/440/2. This ‘perpetual instrument’ was based on JLC’s legendary calibre 889/2, which was paired with a perpetual calendar module, and combined that was called cal. 889/440/2.

At the heart of each replica watch is its movement, and what a movement in this case! The Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 868 is an automatic winding movement with a perpetual calendar, and was introduced in 2013. It comprises 336 individual parts, and features a very nice finishing. The bridges are adorned with Côte de Genève, the main plate with pèrlage (circular graining) and all edges are bevelled and polished. The rose gold rotor features the brand’s logo (JL) and the brand’s Gyrolab balance! Quite simply true to its legacy JLC introduced a new lubricant-free movement and a non-circular balance wheel that has less air friction than the regular round balance wheel therefore saving energy and wear, and adding more precision.

This fantastic Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar replica watch in steel from JLC comes complete with all documentation, box, receipt and guarantee and offers unrivalled quality at a relative affordable price taking in consideration what is under the hood. Check out the auction here on the Catawiki website.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Dual Time

The Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet has a mythical status. It belongs to this category of replica watches, few I might add, that transcend fashion trends. From the moment it presented at the Basel World fair in 1972 it radically transformed any notion the industry had up to that point.

Inspired by a traditional diver’s helmet, this revolutionary steel replica watch was characterised by an octagonal shaped bezel secured by eight visible hexagonal gold screws, a visible water resistance gasket and a dial adorned with a petit tapisserie motif. This never-seen-before steel timepiece was more expensive, at the time of its introduction, than a gold Patek Philippe dress replica watch and more than ten times the cost of a Rolex Submariner.

The message was certainly bold: haute horlogerie could come up with prestigious timepieces without necessarily relying on precious metals. From this point forward, it was the design, the precision of the implementation, and the superiority of the movement that counted. Needless to say that this bold statement by AP had a big impact especially among other Swiss replica watchmaking companies. The company continues to produce this myth in every conceivable version, and one of the most uncommon, and I dare to say, complete versions is the Dual time; the replica watch we are presenting to you today.

In 1971 Audemars Piguet received some feedback from the Italian market about possible interest for a steel luxury replica watch. Therefore the management of the manufacture decided it was time to introduce something totally new, a sporty yet elegant timepiece as never seen before. The designer of choice for this task was Gerald Genta. Not a new designer, rather one of the most famous replica watch designers at that time, having created successful replica watches for Universal Genève, Omega and Patek Philippe.

On the eve of the 1971 Basel fair (one year before the launch) Audemars Piguet’s managing director at the time, called Genta at 4 pm explaining that the Italian market was expecting an “unprecedented steel replica watch” for which he needed a design by the following morning. A sports replica watch for all occasions with the most beautiful finish ever seen. By the morning next day a detailed sketch of the replica watch that was to become the Royal Oak had been delivered.

This variation of the Royal Oak is complete since it encapsulates the charm of the model by also adding very useful complications. It is a self-winding replica watch (AP calibre 2329/2846) indicating a second time zone in a sub-dial located at the 6 o’clock position with an am/pm indicator, a power reserve indicator located at the top left side of the dial and a date complication at the top right side. Fun fact: a dual time module developed by aforementioned brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. It has the ideal size of 39mm in diameter with 10,3mm in height and it is waterproof to 50 meters. Its black-toned dial has the “Grande Tapisserie” pattern with rose gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. This particular replica watch is 18kt Rose gold with high quality leather strap and comes complete with box.

To see more photos, the price and description of this Royal Oak Dual Time, check out the auction at Catawiki here.

Audemars Piguet Quantième Perpetual Automatic (1986)

When AP comes up most people will immediately think ‘Royal Oak’ however those who know the brand very well, know that the perpetual calendar models also made name and fame, back in the day. During the 1920’s the firm began to produce stylized and unique perpetual calendar pocket replica watches that were highly differentiated from those being made by other competitors. As the years passed, the very first wristwatches emerged and it was in 1955 that the company produced one of the very first series of perpetual calendar wristwatches that featured the essential leap year indication. During the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s the company introduced a wide variety of perpetual calendar replica watches with the one presented here being one of them.

This specific model is 23,5mm in diameter 7mm in height and despite its small size is a masterpiece. Its movement comprises 292 parts and, notwithstanding the immense complexity of the movement, has a thickness of just 3.95 mm. The perpetual calendar mechanism will tell the correct day, date and month regardless of the number of days in a month and it will also self-correct for the added day in a leap year.

Today, Audemars Piguet is considered one of the top three horological brands in the world for quality, complexity and desirability. This kind of global respect is not earned overnight – it is the result of over one hundred years of hard work and dedication. In order to be a leader and not a follower, Audemars Piguet had to differentiate itself from its competitors, which means taking risks; risks that almost cost the company its own existence.

In the heart of the Vallée de Joux in 1875 Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet established a workshop. Audemars produced and assembled movements whilst Piguet ensured that the completed movements were correctly regulated. The two friends made the Audemars Piguet name successful by being the best at what they did, and over time, the company began to grow, quickly becoming one of the largest replica watchmaking employers in Switzerland. Quality control was where Audemars Piguet excelled, and this allowed them to produce some stunningly complicated movements.

Audemars Piguet literature of the period described how “the tiniest wheel of a Perpetual Calendar is thus polished 3 times. First with a diamond paste, then with the pith from an elder tree, and finally with the softest doeskin cloth. Each time by hand. Such care is justified only for an horological masterpiece”. The replica watch comes with box, warranty and manual with a recent service at AP. Here you can find this lovely small perpetual calendar on auction.

To see more replica watch auctions, keep an eye on Catawiki. Every week a few new auctions start and mainly the “men’s luxury replica watches auction” (click here) comprises the most interesting lots.

Tags Cool Finds

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

HANDS-ON :Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Squelette PinkGold

Post author By ukwatches
Post date December 26, 2015

A number of months back without much fanfare, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a mini-collection of Master Ultra-Thin limited edition pieces that combine skeletonisation and enamelling. Their first big public outing was at Replica Watches & Wonders 2015. There are a total of four references in the new collection – two grand feu enamel decorated models in white or pink gold and two gem-set models which are by virtue of the gems, slightly thicker. We had the chance to see one of the four, the pink gold.

Skeletonising their forty-year old manual-wind Calibre 849 to a thinness of 1.85mm (making this 119-piece movement the 849A SQ), the new 38mm-sized replica watches are a staggeringly scant 3.6mm for their thinnest iteration like this pink gold model. The gem-set models are slightly thicker, at 4.7mm. One advantage of using an old movement is that has been tried and tested.

It is impossible to avoid mentioning the Piaget Ultra-Thin 900P which is a hair’s breadth 0.05mm thicker, at 3.65mm. You may recall a photograph I took comparing the Piaget with a coin. Although regrettably I wasn’t carrying around 1 CHF with me (that comparison would make sense), in any event, here is another coin comparison photo. HKD1. This has granted the Squelette a new record.

The circular band of the case is separate from the lugs, which are secured by four screws. A further four screws hold the movement. The thinness is also achieved by having the movement on the same plane as the enamelled chapter ring (which comes in blue or burgundy). The gem-set versions have an engraved mother of pearl chapter ring.

To handle this was quite an experience. I know that I’ve said this before but when presented with ever-thinner replica watches, it is really something to behold. It’s just incredible how replica watchmakers are able to ‘flatten’ movements to this degree and yet have a wristwatch that is not as fragile as it looks. That all being said, it does feel every bit as thin as it is, and requires a bit of getting used to. You do notice its presence on the wrist, thank goodness, but even for those used to wearing ultra thin replica watches this degree of thickness/ thinness is still something quite different. It is not for everyone, and if you are interested it is, as always, best to try one one first.

Each of the four new references will be produced in a limited series of 100 pieces on alligator straps. Prices start at USD58,500 for this pink gold model and go up to USD75,000 for the white gold gem-set piece. For information on all four references, go to this link.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Tags Hands-on, Hong Kong, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Limited Editions, Watch Profile, watches, Watches & Wonders 2015

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

2016 Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar and Reverso Tribute Duo – the 85th anniversary editions

Post author By ukwatches
Post date December 14, 2015

When talking about iconic replica watches, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso will always come into the conversation because frankly, this replica watch is a proper historical monument. This replica watch, which we explained to you here, was created in 1931… Meaning that 2016 will be its 85th anniversary, a jubilee that Jaeger-LeCoultre will celebrate by introducing several new editions, including two “Tribute” ones. Here are the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar and Reverso Tribute Duo (and the rest of the novelties to follow later this week).

The Morden Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo for the 85th anniversary

The first of the SIHH-2016 novelties is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo. Behind the name “Tribute”, Jeager-Lecoultre intends to create replica watches faithful to the early editions manufactured in 1931 and the following years. The best example of this sub-collection was the Reverso Ultra-Thin Tribute to 1931, an edition almost identical to the very first Reverso created and that even our own editor-in-chief owns for a few years now (just to say that, yes, it’s very good).

For this 2016 edition of the SIHH, the new “Tribute” edition keeps its same classical / historical look but with more complication and a contemporary attitude. More complicated because of the Duo-Face conception. As you know, the main feature of the Reverso is to have a reversible case. Thus, why not using the second face of the replica watch to display a second dial. On this Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo, the main dial, with its silvery white color and its blue baton indexes and hands, tells the time only (via 2 central hands and a small second at 6).

The second face of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo displays a second time-zone and a day-and-night indicator, via a blue guilloché dial with silver hands and indexes. This apparently discreet replica watch (when worn on the main dial) is in fact a very practical traveler’s replica watch when flipped on the other side. The day-and-night indicator even allows you to know if people living in this second time-zone are awake or not. The stainless steel case is 100% in the vein of the rest of the collection and measures 42.8mm x 25.5mm x 9.15mm. On paper, this Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo (like most Reverso replica watches) is a small one but it will have the same aura as the rest of the collection and a great elegance.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo is powered by the manually-wound, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 854A/2, an interesting and well finished movement, with 45 hours of power reserve. Its 3.8mm thick allows to keep this replica watch at a very slim profile, even considering its 2 dials and sets of hands.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar for the 85th anniversary

Once again, Jeager-Lecoultre uses the unique conception of the Reverso to bring another Duo-Face edition, always with the same “Tribute” feeling, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar. To the complications explained with the previous one, this edition adds a calendar function that displays, on the main face, the date and the moon-phases (in a sub-dial at 6) and the day of the week and the month (in two windows over the logo at 12). The integration of these functions is very balanced and the entire design remains very light and faithful to the Reverso spirit.

The other side of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar exposes a second time-zone dial and a day-and-night indicator, this time displayed via a rotating disc with the sun and the moon depicted. While the main face has a silvery-white dial with gold indexes and hands, this second face features an anthracite guilloché dial with gold details.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Calendar will be available in a 18k pink gold. Considering the extra-complications, the case is larger at 49.4mm x 29.9mm x 12.06mm (that is again rather small considering the two dials and the calendar functions). It features the manually-wound, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 853 – basically, the calendar edition of the one explained just before.

Prices for these editions are not yet revealed but due for the SIHH 2016. We’ll go back on these replica watches in upcoming hands-on in January, once the Geneva fair started. Stay tuned, cause the rest of the Reverso novelties will follow later this week. More on www.jaeger-lecoultre.com.

Tags Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Hybris Artistica Duomètre Sphérotourbillon pocketwatch

Post author By ukwatches
Post date December 2, 2015

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Some of you may remember Jaeger-LeCoultre’s monumental Hybris Artistica set of twelve timepieces releases from 2014. As an exercise in saying “hey look at all the things we can do”, it was pretty successful.

Today is about one of those twelve, with which we had the opportunity to spend some time a little while ago.

The Duomètre Sphérotourbillon pocket replica watch is a 48mm white gold case and blue enamel re-imagining of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon wrist replica watch – the first pocket replica watch with a sphérotourbillon. As per the wristwatch Sphérotourbillon, the multi-axis tourbillon is equipped with a cylindrical balance with double terminal curves; in addition to the carriage axis there is a second axis inclined at 20°.

The first big change from the wrist version is of course the moving of the crown to 12 o’ clock, which now places the tourbillon at the bottom. As well as the time at 12 o’clock there is a second time zone on a sub dial between 8 and 9 o’clock, and seconds on the subdial between 3 and 4 o’clock. These three dials are grand feu enamel. There are also two slim power reserve indicators.

As you can see the ring above the crown, case’s side and bezel have blue enamelling work, with ‘sectional’ markers acting both as decoration and hour indicators. Very elegant. However, what I particularly like about the main dial is the plate’s ‘grained’ texture (achieved through hand chiselling), whose ‘coarseness’ is not just attractive in and of itself but also as a textural contrast to the enamel. If you look carefully you will notice that the ‘sectional’ markers aren’t he only things marking the hours; the dial is attached to the bezel at twelve points, making it almost float.

The back shows the beautifully finished movement with the Duomètre dual wings. For those new to the Duomètre timepieces, what is special about them is their movement, which is characterised by two independent energy sources (thus the two independent power reserve indicators on the dial), each devoted to a different function. Two separate gear trains and main spring barrels, one for the time and the other for the relevant complication. The gear trains are connected by a single shared regulating organ.

This is not the only Duomètre Spherotourbillon in enamel that is part of the Hybris Artistica. There is also a wristwatch with a blue paillonne enamel dial for which a block of solid silver is chipped and formed for the dial after which it is heat-treated and polished. Further steps in the creation include an extreme heat treatment and finally its polishing which ultimately makes the dial look as a starry night sky. That wristwatch also has a blue enamel bezel ring.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Artistica was and still is, meant to showcase some of their most significant timepieces, brought together to illustrate their in-house horological and artistic prowess, often in unexpected ways. This pocket replica watch, limited to three pieces, definitely achieves this goal, it is a beautiful piece of horology.

Tags Hands-on, Limited Editions, pocket watches, SIHH 2014, tourbillon, Watch Profile

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015 : Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second and Geophysic UniversalTime

Post author By ukwatches
Post date October 7, 2015

When the talk started about the Geophysic 1958 model being not a one (or rather two) off but part of a new collection, people wondered a bit. The 1958 was a successful and well-received homage/ reissue for Jaeger-LeCoultre that could have sold out several times over, but to turn it into an entire collection? Would it dilute the original meaning? Would new models just, somehow, seem a bit ‘wrong’?

A quick recap.

In 1958 Jaeger-LeCoultre commemorated the International Geophysical Year by creating a robust utilitarian replica watch that was protected against magnetic fields (600 gauss), shock and water resistant, as well as extremely accurate. Fitted with Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 478b, the Geophysic chronometer was presented to the commanders of the Nautilus and Skate, the first atomic submarines to go under the North Pole, with a gold Geophysic chronometer specially engraved for the occasion. Only 1,290 of these were made, and it remains a highly desirable and sought after piece.

Watches & Wonders 2015 showed that there was no need to be overly concerned, although obviously any future models will again be subject to as much scrutiny as these new pieces have been already. Note that Jaeger-LeCoultre have already made these available in their boutiques and dealers, to coincide with their official launch.

First up is one of the most talked-about replica watches in Hong Kong, the True Second, which I keep on absent-mindedly calling it the ‘dead second’, but I am working on this, I promise. This replica watch has been buzzing around the online and offline replica watch worlds already. For those who wanted the Geophysic 1958 but didn’t mange to get it, this is not a bad alternative at all. If I dare say so, I prefer this to the Geophysic 1958.

Whilst the True Second and the more complicated Universal Time may appear at first glance to be pieces that could be at home in another collection line, with their movements they fit here, because of their emphasis on functionality but within the context of movement and precision being key. Precision was criticial to the original Geophysic and is the heart of these new models, through the use of a ‘true second’.

As mentioned, the original Geophysic was launched in 1958 to coincide with the International Geophysical Year, so it was always intended as a functional precision instrument with endurance and accuracy as key. This has again been reiterated with the True Second.

Available in either stainless steel or pink gold (the former is my pick), it has but the time and date. The seconds hand is what it’s all about, with the traditional smooth seconds hand of the mechanical replica watch swapped for the one second tick change that is common to true/ dead beat seconds replica watches (called as such because of the ‘dead’ space between seconds) and more familiarly seen in quartz replica watches. Dead/ true beat replica watches are something of an anomaly in mechanical replica watches, more commonly seen amongst smaller brands such as Arnold & Son, Habring2 and De Bethune. It is a sign of replica watch geekery for Jaeger-LeCoultre to have done this. A sign of replica watch geekery that has made people quite excited.

So, what’s it all about?

It’s about the Calibres 770/ 772, the movement at the base of the True Seconds and Universal Time respectively. Developed in-house to meet the historical expectations of its predecessor as mentioned above – precision, reliability and an automatic movement, both new movements contain the ‘true’ or ‘dead’ beat seconds. There are two gear trains : one for the escapement and one that releases every second for the dead beat – a second hair spring that releases every second.

The roots of this new movement are in the Gyrolab balance of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Compressor Extreme Lab 1, which had been produced to show off what they can do. Six patents and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C that is able to run for years without any wear or deterioration, purportedly even at -40°C.

What had been most discussed at the time of the Extreme Lab 1’s production was the lubrication-free escapement, which people wondered whether was going to make its way into other replica watches. The balance that looks like two arcs (or the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo) was apparently serendipity rather than by design, although it has been turned into as such. With less friction leading to better oscillation and no oil, they’re now calling the descendent the ‘Gyrolab balance’, and is in these replica watches.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s head replica watchmaker does a final check

But it’s not just about the technical aspects, it’s also about the dial, particularly for the True Seconds, which is a classic clean design.

Hour markers are silvered grained, appliqued, and the Super-LumiNova-filled baton hands are polished and faceted, something that features in other Jaeger-LeCoultre dress replica watches. In contrast, the sober dial is matte, giving it a very understated appearance. This replica watch is really not for show, it hides its achievements in a very conservative guise.

Finishing wise there is satin-brushed finishing for the side of the case, and polished finishing for the bezel and lugs. A really nice touch is the lumed hour marker dots around the chapter ring between the dial and the bezel, which adds a bit of visual interest as much as night time functionality.

Another precision point to note apart from the movement is that when the crown is pulled out you can set the hour hand independent of the minute hand, with the date adjusting as necessary. Good for travellers. Good for those who like exactitude.

The Universal Time shares the same basic movement (both with a 40-hour power reserve) and case design, but despite the added world time complication (making it Calibre 772, with a thickness of 7.13mm versus the 770’s 6.57mm height), the replica watch’s height is minimally larger, at 11.84mm as compared to 11.8mm for the True Second. The Universal Time case, however, is 1.5mm larger than the True Seconds, with 39.6mm for the True Second and 41.6mm for the Universal Time.

The elegant blue planisphere of the world (stamped, translucent lacquer, with the continents brushed for a matte finish) uses radiating lines indicating time zones, with Greenwich Mean Time indicated via a red dashed line. The line with an asterisk next to a city (and there are twenty-four cities in total) is a quick easy-to-read way of indicating winter and summer time. In fact you don’t have to re-synchronise cities, the earth and cities do not move. Once you set the world timer, that’s it. The time zones are always the same, all that changes is your reference time zone (the ring between the planisphere and the cities). Night is indicated by the dark blue half.

Comparison with the Memovox International

These new additions to the Geophysic Collection have already been much discussed in the last few days for their design and the ‘true seconds’ movement. Functional and yet with technical skill at their heart, they are available now, and are interesting and good looking ‘watchy’ replica watches that will no doubt have broad appeal.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Tags Hands-on, Hong Kong, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Watch movements, watches, Worldtimer

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

Hands-on with the Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39 Boutique Edition

Post author By ukwatches
Post date September 21, 2015

How would you define a classical, dress replica watch? Sit down for a minute and ask the question to yourself and to people next to you… The definition will certainly evolve around a rather small, elegantly shaped, most probably slim and in gold replica watch. Then, what complication do you want to see on the dial? A chronograph or a rotating bezel? Certainly not. What about a moon-phases indication? And what about a date? That could be quite nice, don’t you think. Well, if that’s what you’re looking for, we might have a solution for you. Here is the top quality replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39 Boutique Edition.

This replica watch is nothing about a proper novelty. It’s even a replica watch that we reviewed recently (short after SIHH 2015) in a stainless steel / black dial combination. What we said about this replica watch was simple: “This replica watch is neither a tourbillon, nor a minute repeater or a skeleton chronograph. Instead, it shows what Jaeger-LeCoultre does on a daily basis, the replica watches that are really produced and sold.” It’s in fact the best example of a classical Jaeger-LeCoultre: technically a quite simple replica watch (even if the movement isn’t void of interest), with a clean and balanced dial and a rather slim profile. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39 was already available (since SIHH 2012) in several editions: in stainless steel with a choice of silver or black dial or in pink gold with a very classical Eggshell beige dial (with or without diamonds on the bezel). It is also possible to have this elegant timepiece in another edition, this time only purchasable in official boutiques, with a 18k pink gold case and a slate dial – and to be honest, without renewing the concept, it looks properly good.

The case of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon is in the tradition of the Master collection: a clean design, with a fully mirror polished finish (quite sensitive to scratches…) and a slim bevelled bezel that leaves a large aperture for the dial. The lugs are typical with their facetted shape that tapered to the end. The dimensions are reasonable, with a 39mm diameter and a 9.9mm height. Of course, it remains far from the 3.6mm height of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Squelette or the 4mm of Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 1907. However, a replica watch measuring less than 10mm in height is always synonym of elegance and has the ability to be worn under a cuff. Same goes for the diameter that allows for a discreet presence on the wrist.

On the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon, the use of 18k pink gold allows a more luxurious and warm feeling than the black dial / stainless steel edition, which can be a bit cold with its monochromatic look. The best remains the combination with this slightly domed dial that here features a soft sunburst pattern and a warm slate grey tone (that can be seen as anthracite grey or dark brown, depending on the ambient light). The facetted minute and hour hands, as well as the long and thin second hand and the date pointer are matching with the case. The small dots for the minutes all around the dial and the 12 hour markers are also using pink gold. Finally, the moon and the stars are gilded. The result is a warm contrast between the bright gold and the dark dial, which never feels ostentatious. It remains a discreet but luxurious timepiece, suitable for every occasions.

The discreetness and elegance of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon also comes from the classical display, with a moon indicator located at 6 and circled with a date, pointed by a hand. This allows for a balanced and simple look – which feels a bit outdated and vintage, like a 1960s timepiece (something that the domed dial, the applied indexes and the facetted hands emphasize). A bit of complication but not too much, the right dosage of inscriptions (even if the “automatic” at 6 feels a bit inappropriate and not needed) and the extra-warmness of the slate dial: certainly the best combo possible on this replica watch.

Underneath the sapphire caseback of the Jaeger-Lecoultre Master Ultra-Thin Moon 39 ticks an in-house movement, developed and manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre. The calibre 925 is only 4.9 mm thick (don’t forget that we’re in front of a self-winding movement, thus featuring a rotor on the top, and 2 complications on the top). It indicates hours, minutes, seconds, moon-phases and date. It comprises 246 parts, of which 30 jewels, and delivers 43 hours of power reserve when fully wound. Finishing is pleasant with circular Geneva stripes, blued screws, polished bevelled angles on the bridges and circular graining on the main plate. The main feature of this Jaeger Calibre 925 is its certification, the ‘Master Control 1000 Hours’, meaning that it is tried and tested on precision and reliability for 1,000 hours (nearly 6 weeks), before being delivered to the client. The Manufacture tests and certifies finished replica watches, reproducing the conditions of real life wear – not only the movements are tested, like in the case of COSC.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39 Boutique Edition is, as suggested by its name, only available in the official boutiques of the brand (boutique finder here). It is priced at 16.800 Euros or 17.300 USD. More details on Jaeger-Lecoultre.com.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

ON THE WRIST : Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin1907

Post author By ukwatches
Post date August 11, 2015

I recently had the opportunity to spend some ‘wrist testing’ time with Jaeger Le-Coultre’s Master pink gold Ultra Thin 1907 courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre Australia. This was a replica watch I’d already seen; if memory serves me correctly I’d crossed paths with it twice. At this point I should probably confess that whilst I’d definitely noticed it, it hadn’t made any dominant impression, as there were other replica watches from JLC that had captured my attention at the time, plus I still had its Pt Jubilee sibling in my thoughts.

There was also something else.

I have great admiration for ultra-thin replica watches and the astonishing technical achievements that go into their creation. However, I am unaccustomed to wearing very thin replica watches, preferring to feel some presence, some heft (yes even for dress replica watches). Perhaps there is an unconscious bias on my part, and not just in terms of what stays in my memory when I am shown a number of replica watches, most of which are not ultra thin.

Comparison with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox International

With this in mind, when I was offered the chance to be able to wear the 1907 for what was meant to be a couple of weeks but ended up being for a month, I jumped at the opportunity. After all, what better way to test one’s horological biases than to confront them head on?

THE REPLICA WATCH

This pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin 1907 was introduced at SIHH 2014. Sharp lines, stylish, thin. 4.05mm thin. Thinner than the pocket replica watch that inspired it. Not just any old pocket replica watch, but a 1907 timepiece that created a new record as the thinnest pocket replica watch movement put in production, a record that still stands.

So, how did it come into being?

In 1903 French replica watchmaker and engineer Edmond Jaeger (1858-1922), who was known for his instruments for aviation, shipping and automobiles, issued a challenge to Swiss replica watchmakers – that they bring into production the ultra-thin calibres he had invented. The gauntlet having been thrown down, Jacques-David LeCoultre (1875-1948), LeCoultre’s founder’s grandson, decided that he was the man for the job.

Not content with just doing a passable job of meeting the challenge, he created many movements, including minute repeaters, chronographs and double complications. His most famous creation was the 1.38mm thin LeCoultre Calibre 145, which ended up being in production for the astonishingly long period of 1907 to the 1960s, but which totalled approximately four hundred in number. The rapport and mutual respect between the two men lead to their partnership and birth of Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937.

So, back to this replica watch, its descendant.

The overall height of the Master Ultra Thin 1907 is 4.05mm; the movement is 1.85mm, which leaves only 2.2mm for the glass, hands, dial, and case back. The hands are only 0.16mm away from the crystal. Think about that.

The use of a knife-edge case on this replica watch is part of what gives it such a particularly svelte figure, but of course there’s the movement, the Calibre 849. There are 123 parts in this 1.85mm thick calibre, and when fully wound it has a power reserve of 35 hours.

At the time of its introduction by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Master Ultra Thin Jubilee was the thinnest manually-wound wrist replica watch in the world. It has since been beaten by Piaget’s Altiplano 900P which in turn has just been beaten by (you guessed it) Jaeger-LeCoultre, with a newly released a 3.6mm thin Master Ultra Thin Squelette, whose non-set model is 0.05mm thinner than Piaget.

But seriously, when we get down to this level of thinness, there’s a point at which it almost becomes a blur.

The dial is white with a finely grained surface and features printed minute dots and single stick hour markers, with double stick markers at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. This was a point raised by a few people who saw this replica watch during my loan period – why printed? Well it’s all about the ‘thin’ thing. Applied markers, which are arguably more attractive, will add height. More height means no record for thinness, plus it is the ‘Master Ultra Thin’, not the ‘Master Thin’.

The dauphine hands are polished on one side and micro-blasted on the other, giving them an attractive ever-changing look when light (particularly sunlight) hits them.

WRIST TIME

During the month or so during which I had the Master Ultra Thin 1907 I wore it about 90% of the time, a more than long enough period to give one a pretty good feel for it.

The start of my 1907 adventure was, unexpectedly, one of constant concern, a state that lasted for the first 36 hours straight, but which re-appeared a couple of more times during the first week.

Why? Well I had not expected an adjustment period.

What happened was that I needed to get my head around wearing such a thin replica watch. I was simply not used to it and, daft though it may sound, irrational thoughts went through my head about it snapping in half, so to speak. Not literally of course, as I knew that there was no risk of that, but it taught me that I have been conditioned to certain type of wrist wear, and it taught me that such habits can run deep.

For the time during which I had it on loan I also wanted to see how replica watch people responded to it. Quite a few local collectors and enthusiasts had the opportunity to see the 1907, at GTGs and a Jaeger-LeCoultre dinner. What was interesting was that many of them had the same immediate reaction (to mine) when I handed it over – worrying (the word ‘snap’ was mentioned a few times) until they put it on their wrist, let it sit there for awhile, and became accustomed to it.

It proved to be a broadly popular piece amongst both men and women. For the women, the thinness meant that even if they were normally wearers of women’s replica watches they found this replica watch both attractive and comfortable, even for those with petite wrists. For a photographic example of this, click on the link above to the dinner post.

CONCLUSION

In wearing the Master Ultra Thin 1907 there were several things that I thought about that weren’t related to the technical aspects. One of these was versatility. I know many people who own multiple replica watches, but I also know many who only have the replica watch that is on their wrist, and one of the most important things for them is that it can be worn when dressed up or down, with suits, evening outfits, or jeans.

The reality is that most people who own a replica watch only own a single replica watch, so if they are going to invest five figures in it, they will want to feel that it is suitable for most of their wardrobe and lifestyle. I say ‘most’ because swimwear, diving gear, heavy gardening work involving powered equipment etc probably require a different sort of replica watch. I may of course be wrong, but I’d wager that most people who only own the one replica watch tend to choose a dress one.

I wore this 1907 with a variety of outfits, in particular to see if I would feel that it was too much to wear with jeans and sneakers. My instinct at the outset had been that it would be far too dressy to wear with (black) jeans and sneakers, that it would somehow not feel quite ‘right’. I do wear classically-styled dress replica watches with jeans, but they are ones with more heft.

Unexpectedly, it did not feel somehow ‘inappropriate’ to wear it with casual clothing. It stood out more and its dressy elegant presence was felt more strongly when I wasn’t in jeans, but I realised that I was enjoying it so much that it was all about that, and not about my outfit.

This is a very comfortable replica watch to wear once you become accustomed to its thickness; in fact you almost forget that it is on your wrist. This is not a bad thing. It is probably important, nonetheless, to bear in mind that this has been worn during a Sydney winter, and thus wearing long sleeves. Had it been during the 30+ degree heat of Summer, in short sleeves, I may have been more conscious of having it on my wrist, of its thinness.

This is a replica watch with a discreet presence, but it generates interest when attention is drawn to it. Although we appear to be veering towards slightly smaller replica watches again, ultra thins are still an anomaly, so when its presence is noted, people are intrigued and want to try it on.

If you’re looking for a thin, elegant luxury replica watch that you will be able to wear for years without looking dated then the Master Ultra Thin 1907 is one that you can put on your short-list. There was a boutique white gold version that was also released, and if I was to choose one from the two metals I would probably choose the white gold because I find white metals more versatile, but the pink gold version has a lovely warm glow to it, and I found myself missing it after its return.

The Australian RRP is $21,200.

Tags Hands-on, Jaeger-LeCoultre, On the wrist, SIHH 2014, Sydney, watches

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

Replica JAEGER-LECOULTRE : Rendez-Vous IvyTourbillon

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 14, 2015

The Rendez-Vous collection, which has been a rather huge success story for luxury replica Jaeger-LeCoultre, has also been characterised by some special releases of complicated models such as a tourbillon, perpetual calendar and, last year, the Ivy Minute Repeater, which made its informal debut in Sydney during a visit by CEO Daniel Riedo.

Earlier this year at SIHH 2015 we were fortunate enough to see the latest in the ‘haute’ part of the Rendez-Vous line, the Ivy Tourbillon, which has now been launched (and thus the embargo lifted) during the Shanghai Film Festival (13-21 June 2015), of which Jaeger-LeCoultre is a supporter.

The key to these special pieces is the combination of a complication and an art, a craft – what Jaeger-LeCoultre call Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts). In this new model the ‘art’ part is again the use of the ivy motif, with another stunning result.

When the minute repeater was launched last year, one of the reasons given for the choice of ivy was that it was in part a reference to the Vallée, the diamonds representing the first frozen ice crystals on the autumn leaves announcing the arrival of winter, but it appears that they have used an ivy decoration as far back as 1890 on a pocket with with a crimson enamelled case back which had a diamond-set ivy pattern and more recently, a 2008 piece unique jewellery set featuring ivy.

In this piece, the ivy seems to (by design, presumably) grow out of the tourbillon. A nice touch.

Rather bemusingly, Jaeger-LeCoultre have referred to this new piece as having “bucolic charm”. With two types of guilloché on the dial and leaf veins, enamelling and lace work decoration, this is about as far away from ‘bucolic’ as I can imagine. It is, however, indeed charming.

Inside the 39mm white gold case is the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978 that is also used in the simpler Ivy-free Rendez-Vous tourbillon, with a 45-hour power reserve. There are, not unexpectedly, diamonds set in the bezel, crown and buckle, and it comes on a matching satin strap.

The dark richness of its deep colour makes this a more muted piece than the Ivy Minute Repeater, but it is equally stunning. The ivy design is, no pun intended, really growing on me, but one final thought :

Dear Jaeger-LeCoultre,

Please keep these Ivy pieces special by not releasing too many models with this motif and dial.

Regards,

Horologium

Tags Hands-on, Jaeger-LeCoultre, SIHH 2015, Watch Profile, watches

Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

JAEGER-LECOULTRE : Master Grande Tradition à RépétitionMinutes

Post author By ukwatches
Post date May 11, 2015

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Jaeger-LeCoultre recently launched a new pink gold 39mm Minute Repeater for which we had the opportunity to see the (then embargoed) prototype during SIHH 2015. An addtion to the Master Grande Tradition line, the Master Grande Tradition à Répétition Minutes may remind you a bit size and movement wise, of the Ivy Minute Repeater.

So with this complication clearly not being new to high quality replica Jaeger-LeCoultre, what is special about this one? Well it’s the first automatic minute repeater in the Master Grande Tradition collection.

Minute repeaters are obviously all about the sound and how it is transmitted from the gongs through the replica watch.

For the Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie (2009) traditional hammers were replaced by what are called ‘trebuchet hammers’, and this new minute repeater uses these patented hammers, which strike two crystal gongs connected to the sapphire crystal via the ‘heel’. To read about trebuchet hammers, go to this link.

The ‘heel’ (or ‘foot’, people seem to vary in terms of their preferred body part) of the gong has a rather unusual placement – it is welded to the sapphire crystal on the top of the replica watch so that it can act as a ‘louspeaker’ to amplify the sound of the gongs. It is that small blank ‘plaque’ in the photo. Bear in mind that this was prototype that we saw; there has been text (‘Sonnerie’) seen in official photos that have been subsequently released. Whether or not you like this ‘signage’ will be subjective. You will note that on the Ivy, the text is branding.

What is interesting however, is that if you look back through some of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s minute repeaters you will notice other appearances of similar plaques/ feet/ heels, but situated in a variety of places both in front and on the rear of the replica watch. I admit that when I saw different placements for replica watches using the same movement I could not work out why – surely, I thought, if it is the same movement and if it is about sound magnification, then this ‘heel’ would be in the same/ very similar location in all the replica watches containing the same movement?

Well it seems that this is not the case (no pun intended) and it also reinforces why, for so many reasons, I could never be a replica watchmaker – the differences are because the acoustics of each minute repeater model vary according to the materials used (especially the composition of the dial) as well as any additional features. So given that minute repeaters are replica watches that are individually ‘tuned’, as it were, the positioning of the heel will vary even between this model and the Ivy Minute Repeater. These gongs with their heel/ crystal attachment have been used since the Master Minute Repeater (2005).

As was the case with the Ivy, the repeater function is activated not by a traditional slide which is often the visible identifier that a piece is a minute repeater, but by a pusher, adding to the slimness of this piece. The rationale given for this is that the pusher is designed so that once activated, it cannot be re-activated whilst operational, say by an over inquisitive toddler, thus preventing any damage to the movement.

In terms of the sound, and again it needs to be emphasised that this was a prototype piece, it was reasonably loud and clear even with constant background noise from a nearby presentation. We listened to two Jaeger-LeCoultre minute repeaters during this meeting and both preferred the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication soundwise but as a replica watch, this new one. If you want to hear the same movement but in its finished elder sibling (better than listening to the prototype), click here.

As mentioned, the Cal 942 movement used in this new model is the same as that used in the Rendez-Vous Ivy Minute Repeater which Sydney was fortunate to first to see before its formal launch at Replica Watches & Wonders 2014.

The Ivy Minute Repeater clearly isn’t for everyone, not least of all because of pricing limitations, but for those liked the movement and who want a cleaner aesthetic, this just might be the one for you.

The Cal 942 is a 26 mm in diametre, 7.17mm thick, consists of of 437 parts, has a 28,800VPH, and a power reserve of 40 hours. It is finished simply, but perhaps this is to match the simplicity of the dial.

Is 39mm (and 12.1mm thick) too small? Most definitely not, and it is of a size where it will be accessible to a greater range of people, as well. Is it too big? Well there are definitely those who think that classic dress replica watches are preferable perhaps 1-2mm smaller than this but really, there’s not that much in it for this particular replica watch when it comes to how it will look on the wrist.

The case is a combination of polished and brushed parts. Its dial is silver grained which gives it some good textural interest, and its hour markers are applied pink gold. The dauphine hands are faceted, which means that one side is polished, the other brushed. It is very classic, elegant, and understated.

Pricing is 140,000 EUR (ex VAT), which makes it a fraction under AUD200,000 (ex GST).

Tags Hands-on, Jaeger-LeCoultre, SIHH 2015, sonnerie, Switzerland, Watch movements, Watch Profile