With high-grade engineering and state-of-the-art designs, Jaeger-LeCoultre watches represent watchmaking perfection. The Swiss watch manufacturer has helped the watch industry reach new heights by setting the standards high since the beginning. Here’s why you should definitely add one to your collection.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Inquire about Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre, more commonly referred to as JLC, is a brand like no other with a rich and fascinating history. Founded in 1833, the brand has given the watch industry a considerable contribution. The name of the brand Jaeger-LeCoultre has been driven by the two founders, Edmond Jaeger and Antoine LeCoultre.
LeCoultre family moved from France to the Swiss mountains in the 16th century where they established the community of Le Sentier. Interestingly, the company’s manufacturing is still based there even today. The LeCoultre family played a predominant role in the political and economic development of the region. While that was just the beginning of what was going to happen, it is still a fact worth mentioning.
Coming to the man himself, Antoine Lecoultre was born in the year 1803. He became a self-taught watchmaker as he took training at his father’s forge. Later, he came on to become a bright inventor and a technical pioneer. He found the manufacture at the age of 30 where he brought his revolutionary tool for making pinions for watches and clocks.
Antonie and his brother Ulysse worked together to build the first building. Initially, the workshop had just four craftsmen. But this was just a start. From hereon, a lot was set to take place and form this into a brand.
In 1844, Antonie invented the Millionometer, which was the world’s most precise measuring instrument at the time. It was the first instrument that had the capability of measuring a micron. This invention was considered a big one in the watchmaking industry as it helped refine the manufacturing of watch parts. It also established the metric system as the standard for watch measurement.
LeCoultre always had this thing for advancing the way watches were being made. While the Millionometer served a huge contribution to the watch industry, he came out with another invention in 1847. He discovered a system that allowed watchmakers to finally get rid of the key to rewind and set watches. Now, a single “lever” crown was able to serve these two purposes. Up to this date, major mechanical watches comprise this system.
For both his achievements, Antonie LeCoultre even received multiple awards at the first Universal Exhibition in London. At the same event, he even won a gold medal for the gold chronometer he crafted. By the year 1851, he even received awards for the unorthodox production processes as well as the excellence of components favorable to interchangeability.
At just the age of 15, Antonie’s son Elie LeCoultre started working at the manufacture in 1858. Bring a lot of watchmaking and industrial traits from his father, and he also created numerous complicated Calibres and promoted new manufacturing processes. Soon, he was able to transform the small family workshop into the very first Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux.
By the year 1874, the watchmaker had over 200 employees working for them. Realizing that the company is now in safe hands, Antoine LeCoultre gave his shares to his three sons in 1877. In that year, the three brothers renamed the company to LeCoultre & Cie.
The company kept on growing and in 1890, they had over 500 employees working. The employees had created an impressive range of 125 simple Calibres and 31 complicated ones. This helped the company master the game of watch movements and they even developed relations with Patek & Philippe offering them movement blanks for 30 years starting in 1902.
While the story till now has been focused on LeCoultre, Jaeger also played a major role in shaping the future of watchmaking. Edmond Jaeger, who was a great French watchmaker, founded his company in Paris in 1880. He served as the official Horologer to the French Navy, thus donating his life to mechanisms for measuring speeds.
In 1903, Edmond Jaeger made a plan to make ultra-thin watches. Jacques-David LeCoultre decided to take on the challenge and that’s where the cooperation and friendship between the two began.
Both of them worked together to create the world’s thinnest pocket watch in 1907. It was equipped with the LeCoultre 145 movement and the movement was used for the next 50 years. Jaeger and LeCoultre both worked together on various projects for the next several decades. Their work together also included the popular partnership with Cartier.
In 1925, they also created the world’s smallest movement called the Caliber 101. The movement consisted of nearly 100 components and interestingly weighed about one gram. While they both were working together on numerous projects, it was not until 1937 that they officially formed a partnership.
With a rich history in watchmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre has crafted some of the best watches in the world. From the insanely famous JLC Reverso collection to the modern Polaris, JLC has an option for every type of watch enthusiast. Here’s a list of all the popular Jaeger-LeCoultre watch collections available:
It goes without saying that Reverso is the most popular iconic watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The watch was first launched back in 1931 and it was originally developed for polo players. At the time, the crystals of the watches were fragile and the Reverso’s reverse mechanism allowed the polo players to protect its crystal while on the field.
While the dials have now become stronger, the JLC Reverso still has its own fanbase due to its unique design. Over the years, the company launched various versions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso including the ones that have dials on both sides.
One of the more popular options in the Reverso lineup is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Taille. These watches feature the iconic swivel case and offer great legibility.
After the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, if there is any popular collection by the Swiss watch manufacturer, it is the Master collection. The collection has 10 different models and each of those models are incorporated with different complications. These watches were made to showcase state-of-the-art designs. Some of the popular models under the Master collection included the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control, Master Ultra-Thin, Master Grande Tradition and more.
Simply put, Polaris is a collection of modern sports watches from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The collection is a combination of sophisticated internals and a modern style. The timepiece brings the elegance of JLC with a bold twist. These timepieces also come with some complications including date, chronograph, perpetual calendar and more.
As for the design, the Polaris collection features hours marked by trapezoidal indexes and Arabic numerals. Setting the watch apart from the crowd, the dial gets three finishes that offer refined elegance.
While there are watches for women in the JLC Reverso collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre has dedicated the Rendez-Vous just to women. The timepieces in this collection feature an automatic movement and they come with a sapphire case back revealing the technical complexity. Many of the watches under this collection also come with precious stones on bezels or dials.
The Geophysic line was introduced back in 1958 to give more options to people looking for Jaeger-LeCoultre men’s watches. It was the first international Geophysical year giving the watch lineup its name. At the time, it was one of the most durable and precise watches available. In terms of technical features, the watch came with a self-compensating balance spring and an anti-magnetic cage.
The timepiece was produced only for one year in limited quantity, which makes the original quite difficult to find. Since the watch was adored by watch enthusiasts, JLC decided to re-release the watch in 2014. Many of the Geophysic watches now come with a true second complication. Also, some of them come with a Gyrolab balance wheel.
The Duometre collection arrived in 2007 in the form of a chronograph. The timepieces seen in this lineup usually have truly unique designs. The design of the movement used in these watches, called the Dual Wing design, comes with two separate main springs. This was done to offer two independent power sources to complex movements.
Jaeger-LeCoultre makes some of the top-notch timepieces in this world. With that being said, if you are a watch aficionado, you ought to add one to your collection. Whether it’s the all-time favorite Reverso or the more classic Master, you can get any of your favorite watches at WatchMaestro. Besides getting exactly what you need, here are a few reasons why you should pick your next JLC watch from us:
WatchMaestro is a pioneer in the luxury watches market and we have established a huge customer base over the years. With our contacts and connections all over the world, we can source any watch for you, and that too at the best price possible.
When it comes to pricing, Jaeger-LeCoultre watches are still priced better in the secondary market when compared to something like the Rolex prices in Dubai.
WatchMaestro accepts all types of payment options, including cash and bank transfers. As a very rare option seen in the luxury watches industry, we also accept payments in cryptocurrency, which includes BTC, ETH and USDT.
If you are in the UAE, you can always walk into our store and buy Jaeger-LeCoultre watches. We also have the option to get it delivered to your home anywhere in Dubai or other emirates including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. That is not just it. With our courier partners, we can also get the watch delivered anywhere in the world.
Jaeger-LeCoultre watches have been spotted on the wrists of some famous celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, Nicholas Hoult and Lionel Messi, among others.
Jaeger-LeCoultre watches are manufactured in Le Sentier, Switzerland.
In Dubai, you can purchase any of your favorite JLC watches from WatchMaestro.
Absolutely. You can sell a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch or any other luxury watch in Dubai at WatchMaestro.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is available in the UAE for a starting price of just AED 16,900. These prices can go all the way up to AED 262,000.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie was the most complicated watch back in 2009 and it was sold for USD 2.5 million (roughly AED 9.18 million)
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer that has always been at the forefront of innovation and design, and that is what makes them special.
Absolutely. Though they are not well-known as investment pieces but the type of watches they produce, it is worth having one in your collection.
Find a watch you own
Browse our catalogue
