A bit delayed, but here’s a real beauty from leading Swiss watch manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre that was introduced a couple weeks ago at SIHH.  While the Master Memovox and Memovox International perhaps captured much of the spotlight this year for JLC, the Master Chronograph is  no less equal a watch in the brand’s classic collection.  Below is the pink gold version (Ref 153420), but the watch will also be produced in stainless steel (Ref 1538420).  The 40mm case size is just right, too.

Movement: Automatic movement, 277 parts, 28 800 vibrations per hour, 65-hour power-reserve.

Functions: Hour, minute, small second, date, chronograph (hour-counter, central second, 30-minute counter).

Case: New case with the Master Control logo stamped on the case-back,18-carat pink gold, stainless steel.

Size: Diameter 40 mm.

Water Resistance: 50 meters.

Strap/Bracelet: Alligator leather.

Materials Available: 18-carat pink gold, stainless steel.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre: JAEGER-LECOULTRE CALIBRE 751 A/1.

Ref. 1532420, 18-carat pink gold/alligator leather.
Ref. 1538420, stainless steel/alligator leather.

Watch Videos Done Right

This post is less about the watch and more about its presentation.  Last week I showed you the “sneak preview” video of what turned out to be Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new Master Compressor Extreme Lab 2 watch.  And this week JLC introduced a second short video to highlight the official unveiling of this new watch.  Actually I am going to post both videos below – and I do this because I really like these videos.  The music is very cool – kinda pumps me up, motivational kinda music.  But more importantly because this is an excellent example of how to make a video that highlights a watch.  Most/many brands simply produce a video of the watch in isolation – usually we see watch parts spinning around until they become a whole watch or we go through an intricate tour inside the case of the watch.  But the disappointing thing with most of these videos is that they lack context, and make me think “If you have seen one, you have seen them all.”

In contrast, what I like most about these JLC videos is that they are the near perfect example of how to present a watch in the context of its intended use.  And I just love how the watch is seamlessly interwoven into the mountaineering scenes and we understand what this watch is about.  One of the better watch videos I have seen in awhile.   So what do you think – do you like this style video or do you have another one that comes to mind?

Video 1 – Jaeger-LeCoultre Pre-SIHH 2010 “Sneak Preview” Teaser Video (watch identity unknown)

Video 2 – Jaeger-LeCoultre SIHH 2010 Video Highlighting the New Master

And here’s a shot of the watch itself:

If you want to look at some more pics of this watch – or its rose gold brother, click here for our SIHH 2010 Jaeger-Lecoultre thread.

Well today we finally got to see Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new watches for 2010.  For those of you who are fans of the Master Compressor collection, you may appreciate these new variations.  For the new Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph (available in 2 variations), JLC introduces “Texalium™” for the dial which it claims is extra durable/extreme.  Seems like a bit of a marketing ploy to me but still it does look pretty cool!  The new Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph is powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 752 automatic movement.  It comes in at a very hefty 46.3mm case size, too.  Below is the stainless steel/titanium version.  To see the pink gold/titanium version, just click here and scroll down.  Also just a quick note for those of you perhaps just reading this blog for the first time, I recommend you check in on our Official SIHH 2010 forum which is where we have dedicated most of our efforts these recent days – there we have posted hundreds of watches as introduced by the 19 prestigous brands exhibiting at this year’s SIHH.

Well watch fans this is it!  Just a quick note to tell you that all the action for the next few days will be over on Pereptuelle.com’s Official SIHH 2010 Forum.  The best thing for you to do is check in and check back often because these pages are being updated CONSTANTLY over the next few days.

Quick tips:

1) in any given thread, the newest watches posted will always be at the top.

2) EVEN BETTER – If you sign up / register with Perpetuelle.com, the threads are actually marked so that you can see which brands have new watches since you last viewed/checked in.  Makes it much easier to browse the forum!

Quick word – Don’t be surprised if you see just an image or two – we have so many watches and specs to post but sometimes the image is worth a thousand words!!  But don’t worry for all you detail-oriented  guys – we’ll be back around to fill in the specs or other interesting details as soon as we can!

For now, here’s just a few that caught my eye:

IWC Da Vinci Ceramic

Jaeger-leCoultre Extreme Labs

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix

4 more days.  Wanna get a glimpse of a new model from Jaeger-leCoultre?  By my count I think there are 7 glimpses in this video….watch carefully:

Under the patronage of the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux, the team of three mountaineers Swiss guide Stéphane Schaffter, renowned Apa Sherpa and Little Karim Balti have successfully scaled a Nepalese virgin summit, christened Antoine LeCoultre Peak.

Three exceptional Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces were part of the adventure: the famous 1958 Geophysic Chronometer; the Master Compressor Extreme LAB; along with a third creation to be unveiled 18 January 2010.

Jaeger-LeCoultre:  Totally Cool, Totally Unprecedented, Totally “With It”

Watch owners, collectors and enthusiasts:  Sign-up and sign-up now!  This is your chance to see in real-time more than 15 new and exceptional Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces that will be unveiled in less than a week’s time at the 2010 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva:

I would like to heap oodles and oodles of praise upon whomever at Jaeger-LeCoultre came up with this idea.  You rock!  And I do not say this just because I will not be at the event.  This is a really important advancement for the watch industry.  Over the past couple years Jaeger-LeCoultre has demonstrated as well as any other luxury watch brand that it knows how to connect and interact with the online watch community (good website, “LeClub”, good YouTube channel, good communication with bloggers, etc…..what about Twitter ). And this just puts the icing on the cake.

So again – YOU (yes I’m talking to You) can view Jaeger-LeCoultre’s LIVE webcast on the 2010 Collection on 19 January 2010 starting at 10:15am U.S. Eastern Time (that’s 4.15pm CET), and if you want you can even submit your entries for the Q&A session with Stéphane Belmont, Marketing Director.  As I say all you need to do is Sign-up and sign-up now!

This is truly unprecedented and I hope Jaeger-LeCoultre has doubled its web server capacity because I expect the participation in this event to be every bit as unprecedented as the event itself.

Live shots of a pre-SIHH 2010 Prototype!

UPDATE:  More details and an official image from JLC (and another nod to KronosBlog for excellent work on bringing this one!):

Limited to 750 units in steel and 250 in rose gold

List price:  $12,500 (8,250 €) for the steel and $23,800 (16,100 €) for the rose gold version

The table stand (prototype pictured below) to be sold separately and exclusively at the Boutiques as an accessory for $1,500 (1,000 €)

Courtesy of KronosBlog, here is another winner that is coming in 2010 from Jaeger-LeCoultre – the Memovox International.  Although I do not have all the specs or official pics from JLC yet, KronosBlog offered some “live pics” and states that the watch is 40mm and will come with a “desk-stand” that is a throwback to those sold with the original Memovox’s back in the day.  The desk-stand is specially designed to help amplify the sound of the Memovox’s alarm.   Hopefully I’ll have some more specs, soon, but until then, please enjoy the great pics below (there are a few more if you want to click through to KronosBlog), and if you missed it – you can see my recent preview of another spectacular (and 40mm) watch coming from JLC next year – the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox – here.

In what is sure to be one of the highlights of 2010, First In Watches is pleased to tell you all that it is now official:  Jaeger-Lecoultre is bringing back the Memovox.  For those of you not familiar with the original Memovox, it has the distinct and privileged honor of being the first wristwatch with an automatic movement with alarm function (enabled by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 815), achieved in 1956.  Prior to this achievement, Memovox first made its debut in 1950 (with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 489, sans alarm) and the model was maintained in production until 1968.  Since this time, production of the Memovox has been, well, dormant – but make no mistake it’s possession is today highly prized!

I’ll leave the rest of the history of this watch to those more knowledgeable than I – instead let me fast forward to 2010 and what the world will soon behold!  The 2010 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox is powered by a Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 956 (first introduced in 2008), a descendant of the Caliber 815, and delivering 45 hours power reserve.  Available in stainless steel or rose gold case – with a very well chosen case size of 40mm – this watch will fit nicely on the wrist.  The silver dial of the Memovox is punctuated by numerals marking the 6, 9 and 12 hours, while the 3 o’clock position gives way to the date.  Note the inner disk of the Memovox – the signature of the watch – marked with an arrow symbol to indicate the alarm time.

The 2010 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox

Limited to 750 pieces in Stainless Steel and 250 pieces in Rose Gold (pictured)

Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX fans will want to book a flight to Paris – and fast! Jaeger-LeCoultre announced today that it is releasing 24 AMVOX2 racing chronographs to be sold exclusively at its Paris boutique.  This exclusive edition features a black PVD-coated grade 5 titanium case (44mm diameter) with black and white dial, and black luminescent numerals. The dial decoration revealing the movement reproduces the characteristic gridwork motif of car radiator grills and is framed by a black flange. The movement (Calibre Jaeger-LeCoultre 751E) bridges and plates are coated with ruthenium, while the chronograph levers in orange eloxed aluminium appear through an opening between 4 and 8 o’clock.   Power reserve of 65 hours.  Price?  About $20,000 (13,500 EUR).

According to JLC, the AMVOX is still the only chronograph operating without push pieces thanks to its revolutionary patented vertical-trigger system (see our prior coverage of the AMVOX and the beautiful Aston Martin Rapide here).

Thanks to my friend at JLC for these excellent “in person” pictures – must be nice to get the first look at these in the metal!

A huge treasure trove of items formerly owned by now disgraced $50 billion-or-so Ponzi scheme ringleader and provacateur Bernie Madoff will be up for auction this weekend in New York.  Sure there will be all the furs, diamonds, and sports memorabilia you can handle (and even a few vintage duck decoys) – but my interest in this one-of-kind auction is, of course, the watches.  Now, being a man of means – that is, a man of means with OPM (other people’s money) – ole’ Bernie managed to assemble himself quite the watch collection.  In fact, The Wall Street Journal reports today that:  ”A collection of more than 40 watches, including some women’s watches, 17 Rolexes and several Audemars Piguets, Franck Mullers and Jaeger-LeCoultres, will be auctioned off. ”  The Journal actually singles out one of the more notable big ticket watches, “an 18-karat yellow gold, black-faced vintage men’s Rolex, the Monoblocco, valued between $75,000 and $87,500…” and went on to quote Antiquorum Auctioneers SA Watch Director and Expert Julien Schaerer as saying “It’s a pretty rare watch and it’s pretty desirable” suggesting that an all original timepiece could fetch as much as $75,000 to $100,000.  Not bad for a Ponzi-scheme’s work, eh?

After just a few minutes reviewing the lineup one will see that Madoff had an incredible collection of vintage Rolex watches (I wonder what my vintage Rolex-wearing friends at Hodinkee think?), but he also had quite a few other nice modern and vintage watches as well – Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Hublot, Frank Muller, IWC, JLC….the list goes on and on.  As for all these, I can make not attestations to their authenticity (do you really want to take Madoff at his word?), nor what kinds of prices they may fetch (but don’t expect to steal any of them at bargain prices)…and so while online bids will be allowed, I would highly recommend you preview these watches in person before making a purchase.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the lots that look interesting, shall we?

LOT 237- ROLEX:

Gents 18ky vintage Rolex O.P. “Monoblocco” chronograph wristwatch; aka “Prisoner Watch”; domed plastic crystal; black dial w/ rose tri-sticks &; Arabic numerals; gold hands; polished bezel; 35mm round case; dk brown alligator strap (tang); Model 3525; 17 jewel Rolex mechanical winding mvmt; Serial 380223 (1945).

The meaning of the moniker “Prisoner Watch” – Rolex offered similar timepieces to prisoners of war in Germany during World War II, including those involved in “The Great Escape.”

LOT 235- ROLEX:

Gents 18ky vintage Rolex Oyster chronograph wristwatch; Monochrome motif; gold dial w/ luminous sticks &; Arabics, 3 gold sub-dials; 35.1mm round case; Brown stitched Alligator strap (tang); 17 jewel Rolex Geneve mechanical winding mvmt; Case 4048; Serial 58105 (1935). Note: Professionally restored.

LOT 255 Audemars Piguet

Gents st.steel Audemars Piguet chronograph wristwatch; silver dial w/ 2 sub-dials (at 3 &; 9 positions); 38.81mm round case; brown alligator strap w/ AP deployant buckle; Automatic mvmt; Serial D99198.

LOT 253- Patek Philippe

Gents 18kw Patek Philippe Annual Calendar wristwatch; black dial w/ silver Roman numerals; date at 6 position; 3 black sub-dials; syn saph crystal front &; back; 36.95mm round case; black alligator band w/ 18kw deployant buckle; Model 5035G; 35 jewel Patek Philippe automatic mvmt, Cal. 315/198, Serial 3059777.

LOT 254- Audemars Piguet

Gents 18ky Audemars Piguet Huitieme chronograph wristwatch; crème colored dial &; sub-dials (3); date at 3 position; gold hands; 40.4mm round case; dkBrown alligator strap w/ 18ky AP double deployant clasp; Automatic mvmt; Serial C54966.

LOT 265- Jaeger-LeCoultre

Gents st.steel Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatch; Master Control Collection, Master Geographic model (discontinued); 38mm round case; silver dial, day at 3/24 hour GMT at 6/power reserve at 10; polished bezel; brown crocodile band w/ deployant buckle; automatic mvmt; Case 142.8.92; Serial No 1401

All pictures and lot information from Gaston and Sheehan.  I would also note that the auction is being conducted by Gaston & Sheehan Auctioneers on behalf of the U.S. Marshal’s service (not Antiquorum), and I could not yet confirm if all the watches listed are Madoff’s or if other lots are also included (will let you know if not the case).

If you happen to go to the auction, would love to hear your thoughts.