While you consider the model Jaeger-LeCoultre, the primary issues that can pop into your thoughts are probably the phrases “class”, “Reverso” and even their well-known appellation, “the watchmaker’s watchmaker”, however you’d be forgiven for not immediately leaping to the model’s previous in sports activities and gear watches. However the newest travelling exhibition that Jaeger-LeCoultre has produced does precisely that, trying again at 80 years of instrument and sports activities watch growth that’s illustrated by simply 12 rigorously chosen items.
As talked about, this assortment has been on the transfer, and it at the moment finds itself in London’s Bond Road boutique. And there’s no lacking it because it takes up each of the curved partitions as quickly as you stroll in. You begin with two items that date again to 1945 and present the model’s previous work within the army sector, akin to their model of the famous “Dirty Dozen” field watch. These instrument items should not spoken about typically within the model’s historical past, as they aren’t constructed into the trendy assortment in any respect – in contrast to different Richemont stablemates akin to IWC, which have very a lot saved the spirit of their World Battle II items alive. In fact, there may be an instance of the unique Geophysic with its deal with legibility and reliability in robust situations, too.
Then, we transfer on to the dive watches. The very first piece you see is the Memovox Deep Sea from 1959, which was the very first dive watch to include an alarm perform: a useful instrument to have while you want a reminder of when to floor! There may be additionally a later Memovox Polaris, which is the inspiration for the brand’s current dive watches; and a little bit of a cult legend within the Jaeger-LeCoultre collector neighborhood, the Shark Deep Sea, which includes a chronograph and three interchangeable bezels.
Subsequent, you come throughout three characterful sports activities watches. These, for me, are the actual highlights of the exhibition as they show a number of the most artistic designs that Jaeger-LeCoultre has ever accomplished: a vivid blue Memovox Polaris II, a monochrome Memovox Velocity Beat GT and an intriguing built-in bracelet Memovox Snowdrop. All of those show that attribute ’70s flair we noticed throughout the business at this era, and one thing I might like to see return to {the catalogue} right this moment.
Lastly, we get to the high-tech, hyper-modern examples of what Jaeger-LeCoultre is able to that every one got here into existence after the millennium. The Grasp Compressor Memovox kicked issues off in 2002 and launched the compression key, a Jaeger-LeCoultre invention that ensured final water resistance. The ultimate two go a bit wild with the Grasp Compressor Excessive Lab 1 and a couple of. Each dispose of lubricants, one other world first, and add layers of complexity from one to the subsequent.
If you wish to take a look at these unimaginable timepieces and you will be in London between now and October 18th, I extremely advocate you e-book on-line on the brand’s website and get down there as they’ve achieved a terrific feat in telling a complete story in such a compact assortment of timepieces. After your go to, you’ll come away with a a lot fuller sense of what Jaeger-LeCoultre is able to. Take pleasure in the remainder of your weekend!
Russell and the Time+Tide Crew
Watch meme of the week: acquired your again
It’s at all times good to know you can depend on a bro when you may’t get the response you wished on your NWA out of your family members.
Wrist shot of the week: reflections
Capturing watches will be exhausting. And taking pictures extremely reflective watches will be even more durable, so when Louis Vuitton introduced out the Tambour Convergence with its absolutely polished dial overlaying, I knew it was going to be a nightmare. However right here, Mark Cho proves it doesn’t need to be; you simply want to search out the best angles.
Time+Tide Store decide of the week: Norqain Freedom 60 43mm Off-White
Just a few months in the past, Norqain purchased us the smash-hit Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Enjoy Life, and it turned out to be the right beach-ready watch. However sadly for us within the Northern Hemisphere, the summer season season may be very a lot coming to an finish. With the altering climate, we’re starting to place our summer season watches away and are reaching for one thing extra autumnal. Fortunately, Norqain as soon as once more have our seasonal watch wants lined. This chronograph’s creamy off-white panda dial is complemented by wealthy crimson gold accents, with a Sellita SW510a beating inside.
The Norqain Freedom 60 43mm Off-White is obtainable now for pre-orders within the Time+Tide Shop, and is restricted to 300 items worldwide. Worth: from A$7,000
Accent of the month: Charles Simon Hudson 1 Watch Stand
Half objet d’artwork, half elegant watch stand, the Hudson 1 from Charles Simon artfully shows your favorite watch in your house. Constructed from strong aluminium that has been lined in tender one-cut nubuck leather-based by hand, it options padded show areas that optimise consolation and defend your watch from the hurt that builds up from placing it on exhausting surfaces over time. This sage inexperienced instance is especially trendy.
The Charles Simon Hudson 1 Watch Stand is obtainable online in the Time+Tide Shop. Worth: A$920
Our favorite Time+Tide protection of the week
Henry Cavill on Longines: from Superman to Swiss valleys, and why we nonetheless want watches
Watch ambassadors are a humorous breed. We speak to them a few matter they probably knew little or no about earlier than signing up with their chosen model, but we grill them as if they’ve been in it for all times. On this newest interview between our founder Andrew McUtchen and Longines ambassador slash Hollywood famous person, Henry Cavill, they talk about what it’s like stepping into this passion and discovering all of the delights it has to supply – particularly for somebody as passionate as Cavill is already about subjects akin to Warhammer 40,000… It’s an interview that’s well worth reading here.
Frederique Fixed expands the Traditional Perpetual Calendar Manufacture vary with two new dials in metal, plus an opulent gold halo mannequin
For nearly a decade, Frederique Fixed has delivered essentially the most reasonably priced mechanical perpetual calendar in the marketplace – which is one hell of a boast. 2025 has seen the model provide essentially the most substantial enhancements to its in-house perpetual calendar motion since its introduction, with this 12 months’s Geneva Watch Days seeing additional growth with three crowd-pleasing new takes becoming a member of the vary. Read Jamie’s review of this trio of QPs here, or watch on YouTube above.
Audemars Piguet declares they’ll be at Watches and Wonders 2026
The massive information of this week was that Audemars Piguet will be returning to the halls of Palexpo for Watches and Wonders 2026. Admittedly, this won’t be of nice curiosity for those who don’t make the yearly pilgrimage to Geneva, like we do, however having them re-enter the fold of the official commerce present marks a big turning level, ever for the reason that reveals broke aside and Baselworld ended. Now it simply begs the query, which model can be subsequent on the truthful?
