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 .
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