Celebrating tradition

Jaeger-LeCoultre is capitalising on its 180 years of heritage in fine watchmaking by unveiling its signature Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. The manufacture will showcase the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Blue at Watches&Wonders.

"The concept behind Watches&Wonders is to bring the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie [SIHH] exhibition from Geneva to Asia-Pacific, so that the general public from Asia-Pacific can visit and learn more about fine watchmaking," says Guillain Maspetiol, Jaeger-LeCoultre's north Asia managing director. "It is a good platform for us to educate the end clients in the Asian market about the brand's heritage and fine watchmaking skills."

Featuring an 18ct white gold case crowned with baguette-cut diamonds, the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Blue plays with light and shade to set the complication. A revolutionary dual-wing concept is reflected on the dial by the presence of two separate zones and the arrangement of baguette-cut diamonds accentuates the duality. An opening, revealing the movement, sits on the left of the novelty, surrounded by a fan-shaped array of precious stones in a fascinating art-deco spirit, giving an unparalleled view of the tourbillon mechanism. The main dial has been placed to the right, indicating local time and the date, subtly placed on a lower level. An additional 24-hour subdial, occupying the upper part of the watch, serves to display the time in another time zone, while the small seconds appear in the lower part of the dial. The shimmering blue aventurine stone paved inside and outside the subdials enhances the contrast and highlights the functions.

A push-piece at two o'clock, accompanied by diamonds, serves to bring the small seconds hand, positioned beneath the tourbillon, back to zero, according to the fly-back principle, which does not halt the operation of the regulating organ. When the small seconds hand is reset to zero, it begins running again instantly, and the watch maintains precision.

The signature characteristics of the Duomètre line are preserved in this model: a transparent caseback provides an unobstructed view of the intricate workings of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 382. The mechanical Calibre 382 is handcrafted and assembled, decorated with nickel silver bridges and a main plate. It has 460 parts and 55 jewels and gives a 50-hour power reserve - it is a mere 10.45mm thick. Jaeger-LeCoultre's signature decoration, côtes soleillées, gives a clean-cut exterior and multiple internal angles. A hand-sewn crocodile leather strap and an 18ct white gold pin buckle rounds up the tourbillon.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is celebrating its 180th anniversary this year, which is commemorated by the introduction of exceptional timepieces, introduced under the "Jubilee" collection.