IN EARLY SEPTEMBER OF 2016, I FOUND MYSELF INSIDE THE JAEGER-LECOULTRE BOUTIQUE AT THE FOOT OF THE SPANISH STEPS IN ROME. IN TYPICALLY FRIENDLY JAEGER- LECOULTRE FASHION, BOUTIQUE MANAGER CLAUDIA CIANFRACCO WAS MOST HOSPITABLE AS SHE SHOWED ME THE STORE’ S INVENTORY OF COMPLICATIONS.
As I was leaving, however, she offered me two gifts, one of which went well beyond the usual definition of swag. She handed me a nice loupe with the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo on it, and then extended an invitation to visit the manufacture in Le Sentier. I accepted, and below is an outline of my tour of the manufacture.
OFF TO GENEVA
A year later, on November 12, 2017, I joined a group to make the manufacture tour in Geneva for brunch, compliments of our hostess from the boutique in Rome. After brunch we had a little break for free time in Geneva, so I visited the nearby Sotheby’ s watch auction and witnessed the closing lot up for bid: a Patek Philippe white gold automatic astronomical wristwatch with sky( Ref 5102G) from 2004. It went for CHF 156,250, and I even spent some time talking with the winning bidder.
Tag along on a collector’ s dream trip to Le Sentier
LE SENTIER
The trip from Geneva was a scenic wind through twisting, narrow mountain roads through vineyards to the snow-covered Jura Mountains. Upon arrival, we were all given white Jaeger-LeCoultre lab coats to wear through the duration of our visit.
We began our tour by learning Jaeger-LeCoultre complications from Joël Viot, who showed us a number of complicated watches using a microscope connected to and projected onto a wall screen. He started off with a memorable piece, the Duomètre Chronograph. The showed us the dual barrels, one for winding the time and one for winding the complications, in great detail on the screen. He next brought out a Duomètre Sphérotourbillon and gave it the same treatment, with the tourbillon simultaneously moving in different directions— absolutely marvelous! We were all just astounded by this complication and the ability to see it projected on the big screen.
The only drawback for me was that his commentary was in French, while an interpreter gave an Italian translation. This was the case all day, so for me, the tour overall was experiential, rather than technical, as my perception was shaped by explanations in French and Italian, both of which I speak to some extent, but hearing both languages( the explanation and translation) simultaneously( with occasional English interpretation) hindered my overall understanding.
Above: A peak from the window overlooking the sprawling Jaeger- LeCoultre manufacturing facility.
Left: The Jaeger-LeCoultre beehives, in the snow.
SUMMER 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 61