Any love for Jaeger-Lecoultre?

JLC after sales service is top notch. It’s white glove from start to finish. Very impressive. 

I have the Reverso. A fantastic watch. I’d love to add a Polaris. JLC is a favourite brand. Many used to say the punched way above their pricepoint. The last 12-13 month they raised their prices very aggressive, so I don’t know to what extent that is valid today. Still great watches though.

The Polaris Automatique is a lovely watch. I love the three different dial textures within the dial. 

Tons of JLC love here :-)

My first serious watch, after a lot of research and reading back in the day, was Ultra Thin Moon. To date it is still one of my favourites, even though because of its dressy nature, it doesn't get to be worn too often, especially in post-covid work-from-home era. 

Couple of years back, we got our first Reverso (Duo Face in medium size) for my wife; and it has replaced her DateJust as the go-everywhere watch. Especially during international travels. Because of the verstality of the size and strap, I even use it when she is not looking :-)

Lastly our common / family piece is a beautiful Atmos clock which is always a pleasure to look at. 

That's a gorgeous watch!

Today is a JLC Master Geographic day.

I am one of those rare JLC owners that doesn't really like the Reverso but loves the less trodden upon parts of their collection.

I think, without any question in my mind, JLC makes the finest steel dress watches in the world.  Period.  I think their design language is so refined at this moment that everything else seems a little overwrought in comparison.

JLC servicing is generally excellent and reasonably quick now for US based folks given the service center on TX.

Comparatively, they're also tremendous values.  JLC gets absolutely killed in the used markets (particularly complicated watches) so you get amazing things like JLC triple annual calendars selling used at maybe 50% of original retail price.

That is an absolutely lovely watch! It should look crowded with all that going on but it doesn't. Thanks for showing it to us!

Yeah, I'm not really interested in the Reverso though I do find it to be an ingenious solution to the problem it solved. I'm quite smitten with the blue dial Polaris and its three zones of texture, I guess you'd say. Their dress watches are just gorgeous too. I'll check them out on the used market. 

Also, I just looked at the Master Thin on Chrono24. The prices are crazy! 

Absolutely love the Polaris and they too are not the most popular watches.

Had my eye on this one for a bit but I can't justify another JLC sporty model at this moment.  😉

https://davidsw.com/shop/watch/jaeger-lecoultre/polaris/jaeger-lecoultre-q9008180-polaris-automatic-2/

And also this beautiful JLC Master Chronograph with perfect sizing (40mm x 47mm x 13mm) and a exceptional movement.

https://delraywatch.com/jaeger-lecoultre-master-chronograph-q1538420-inventory-3621/ 

It's worth digging deep into the catalog especially the recently retired or changed things. There's some beautiful watches that I never see anyone wear.

I have the JLC Tribute Duoface and the Polaris Mariner Date. I used to have the Reverso Medium Small Seconds, but sold it when I got my Duoface. The Tribute hour markers really is worth seeing in person in that it shines in so many angles. The Polaris Mariner‘s dial is also unique in that there are multiple sectors. 

I really like what they offer and have become my favorite brand even though I have Tudor, Rolex, Cartier, and Vacheron in my collection. I live in NYC and you can easily spot Tudors, Rolex, Patek, and Cartier around Manhattan. They’re great watches, but sometimes you just want something different especially in a sea of Submariners in the city (pun intended). I have yet to see anyone in the city with a Reverso or much rather a Polaris. 

My only gripe with JLC is that they have been a little crazy with their price increases within less than a year and a half. You used to be able to get a Monoface medium Reverso small seconds for $6500 USD, but now that model is either close or is $9k now. No improvements just massive price hikes. 

one of my favorites in the collection. It’s a watchmaker’s watch. Nuff said 😆

In my core collection of 5 watches, 3 are from JLC😊

My very first serious watch was JLC Master Control Geographique that I bought in 2000 to commmorate promotion, which remains my go-to watch for business meetings.

This year, to streamline my collection, I sold quite a few watches and added Reverso Classic Duoface medium and Polaris Automatic in black.

I didn't intentd to add JLCs. It just so happened that I liked those two watches best in the categories I was trying to fill - elegant sport, and dress/formal.

I think I am attracted to "understated elegance", which is a characteristic common to all watches in current JLC collection.

One thing to note is Reverso is far more versatile than you would imagine. With calf leather or fabric straps available from JLC, they look great with casual clothing, like jeans. And straps can be changed without any tool.

How do you like the Polaris Automatic? That's a lovely watch.

@NCExpat

I like it a lot, especially the texture of the dial and how it plays with the light.

Some would look at the picture and dismiss it as “too plain and boring” but you really need to see it in metal to see the beauty, and hopefully under natural light.

Polaris Date in green is superb too. But it was a bit too big on my small wrist (15.5cm/6.1inch) and I prefer the symmetry without the date window.

@NCExpat

Tried to capture it. iPhone doesn’t do justice but hope you get some idea.

While it's difficult to point to just one favorite brand, you don't have to twist my arm for me admit that it's probably JLC. Though, it just cost too much for someone like me to make a collection out of it. It's one of those brands that if I get one I can probably die in peace. That said, I do have a vintage Jaeger LeCoultre and I can't say with all honesty that I'm ready to die in peace. I want a more modern JLC -- the Reverso in particular. I don't consider it a grail because grail implies it's close to impossible to get. At least, that's how I see grails. I can get one, just really really difficult and sacrifices will need to be made, like eating properly for a year.