====== Jaeger-LeCoultre ======
{{wst>menue|Jaeger-LeCoultre}}

{{wst>image_r|LeCoultre, Charles Antoine|Charles Antoine LeCoultre (1803-1881)\\ © [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]]|190px}}

{{wst>image_r|Jaeger, Edmond|Edmond Jaeger\\ © [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]]|190px}}

**Jaeger-LeCoultre** is a Swiss watch [[manufacture]] established in [[1833]] and currently one of the Specialist Watchmakers of [[Richemont]].

{{wst>image_cr|Jaeger-LeCoultre|Atmos|Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos [[table clock]]}}

===== The Foundation of LeCoultre =====
The watch company **LeCoultre** was founded in [[1833]] by the brothers [[LeCoultre, Charles Antoine|Charles Antoine LeCoultre]] and François Ulysse LeCoultre in [[Le Sentier]] in the [[Vallée de Joux]]. The former was a brilliant craftsman who invested all of his energy into developing new manufacturing processes and production methods. His [[Millionometer]] of [[1844]] made it possible for the first time to measure mechanical components to the thousandth of a millimeter. His [[crown winding]] mechanism, developed in [[1847]], dispenses with the winding key then required by all other watches. At the 1st World Exhibition in London, LeCoultre won his first gold medal with a pocket chronograph, thanks to this new invention.

The company grew steadily, bringing all functions of watchmaking in-house for the first time. By [[1860]], LeCoultre already had 100 employees and came to become a dominant manufacturer of movements and watches. The company, now led by the sons of the founder, began building [[repeater]] watches, [[chronograph]]s and calendar watches and provided complicated watch movements to other companies. About [[1890]] the number of different LeCoultre watch movements had already reached 125.

===== The cooperation of Jacques-David LeCoultre and Edmond Jaeger =====
By the turn of the century, LeCoultre was the leading [[manufacture]] of the [[Vallée de Joux]]. The company's leading position was due to the following masterpieces of watchmaking 

  * [[1903]], the flattest watch movements in the world mechanical movement with height 1.38 mm, chronograph movement with height 2.8 mm, repeater with height 3.2 mm
  * [[1929]] smallest watch in the world with 74 parts and a weight of only 0.9 grams

In the year [[1903]] [[LeCoultre, Jacques-David|Jacques-David LeCoultre]], grandson of founder Antoine, in Paris meet the Alsatian [[Jaeger, Edmond|Edmond Jaeger]]. This partnership brought LeCoultre to the luxury watch market. After decades of friendly relations with the [[manufacture]], the company name was officially changed to Jaeger-LeCoultre in [[1937]]. Fearing anti-German sentiment due to World War II, the LeCoultre name was retained in the U.S. market.

Jaeger-LeCoultre became and remains a leader in the development of so-called [[form movement]]s, in which the form of the movement, if necessary, takes advantage of the entire form of the case. For instance, rectangular watches can have wheels and gears pushed to the corners. Another noteworthy development was the [[1925]] launch of the //Duoplan// watch, which boasted sensational accuracy and the possibility to exchange the entire movement in minutes. The term, "Duoplan", refers to the fact that the movement is constructed on two levels. Thereby the [[balance wheel]] at the lower level can be made ​​larger and thus ensures greater accuracy. Another milestone was the [[1928]] launch of [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos|Atmos]], a [[table clock|desk clock]] fitted into a glass globe, which derives its winding energy solely from changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature.

===== The Reverso and further watch classics =====
Introduced in [[1931]], the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso|Reverso]] entered the market with a flip-over case and art déco design. Today, the Reverso line amounts to approximately 40% of Jaeger-LeCoultre's production, with many variations introduced. The Reverso line today includes dual-face "Duo" or "Duoface" options, traditional small models, larger "Grande" models, a Grande Ultra Thin variation, both men's and ladies' options, in steel and in gold, with or without [[complication]]s (up to a model with [[tourbillon]]), and in [[1999]] even a sports series, Reverso Gran'Sport.

Jaeger-LeCoultre was a pioneer of [[automatic]] movements, with the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematic|Futurematic]] sporting a rear crown in the 1950s, a series of [[bumper]] automatics shortly after, and finally a full central rotor automatic. Jaeger-LeCoultre was also involved in sports and diving watches in the 1960s, with the historic [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris|Polaris]] and [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic|Geophysic]].

The company became well-known for alarm watches with the release of the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox|Memovox]]. This was recognized as the industry's leading [[alarm]] movement in the 1970s, with a comprehensive redesign for 28,800 A/h operation and central rotor automatic winding. The company also produced a successful line of pocket alarm clocks for travel using the same movements.

===== Decline and Rise =====
The [[quartz crisis]] presented unique challenges for Jaeger-LeCoultre. The company was known for its high-quality mechanical movements, yet these were no longer valued in the 1970s. Like most Swiss companies, Jaeger-LeCoultre worked to create a quartz movement of their own, launching a 32 Hz quartz movement in [[1973]]. But the market no longer looked to fine Swiss watchmaking and finances suffered. The Memovox was perhaps the only Jaeger-LeCoultre product to remain relevant in the mid-1970s, since it offered a feature unmatched by quartz competitors.

Jaeger-LeCoultre had been combined with [[Favre-Leuba]] in the [[SAPHIR]] group in [[1965]] but 65% of Jaeger-LeCoultre was sold to [[VDO Automotive]] in [[1978]] to finance a restructuring of the struggling company. It was restructured, with new lines launched including the long-dormant [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso|Reverso]] line in [[1979]]. Jaeger-LeCoultre was also able to launch a long-running project, [[JLC 601|Cal. 601]], one of the most compact quartz movements ever made.

VDO had purchased [[IWC]] the same year they gook control of Jaeger-LeCoultre, and VDO engineer, [[Günter Blümlein]], took on responsibility for the two watch brands in [[1980]]. He engineered a refinancing of the brand, buying out the 20% owned by a local bank and the 25% owned by [[Vacheron Constantin]] and selling 40% of the company to [[Audemars Piguet]] in [[1986]]. This combination would become [[Les Manufactures Horologères]] (LMH), the forerunner of [[Richemont]], one of the signature luxury goods trusts of today.

{{wst>image_cl|Jaeger-LeCoultre|Reverso Tourbillon|Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tourbillon, one of many Reverso variants}}

IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre were largely responsible for the resurgence of mechanical watches between [[1985]] and [[1995]]. The two companies focused on differentiating their products with [[complication]]s and displaying their finely-finished movements. One of the first examples was the [[1983]] [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Moonphase Watch|Moonphase Watch]], [[1987]] [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Perpetual Date|Perpetual Date]], and [[1989]] [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Le Grand Réveil|Le Grand Réveil]], which demonstrated the company's capabilities. Jaeger-LeCoultre leveraged the renewed interest in the Reverso brand to launch a [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Complications|a series of complicated models]] that excited the watch world in the 1990s. Along with partner companies like [[Audemars Piguet]] and [[Corum]], this laid the foundation for today's [[haute horology]] trend.

===== Jaeger-LeCoultre Today =====
Jaeger-LeCoultre brought the classic [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Grand Réveil|Grand Réveil]] to the market in [[1989]] it has an [[automatic]] movement with [[alarm function]] and [[perpetual calendar]].

[[1990]] the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Géographique|Géographique]] is presented. It features an automatic movement with [[power reserve indicator]] and [[dual time-zone]].

Other well-known models are the alarm watches [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox|Master Memovox]] and [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Reveil|Master Reveil]].

A classic of the ultra-slim watch is the elegant model [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin|Master Ultra Thin]] with in-house [[manual winding]] calibre [[JLC 849]].

In the recent history of the company, the presentation of the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control|Master Control]] marks an important step. Every watch provided with this designation will be thoroughly checked for 1000 hours prior to delivery to the customer, and that means that it must pass tests that are much sharper than those in the [[chronometer certification]] guidelines.

The latest innovations in the model range include the development of a new approach to the crown sealing, called the compression key system. This patented invention takes the place of the usual, awkward-to-use system of the [[screw-in crown]], which is still common practice for most manufacturers. Especially for chronographs with their mostly two additional [[pusher]]s the traditional system is proving to be extremely impractical. Whit the compression key system a short push of a lever is enough, and immediately the crown and pusher openings are completely sealed.

===== One of the most prestigious manufactures =====
{{wst>image_r|Jaeger-LeCoultre_Master_Ultra_Thin|[[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin]] with super-flat movement JLC Calibre 849|300px}}
  *See also [[Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres]]

Jaeger-LeCoultre bears the designation '[[manufacture]]', which is highly regarded in the watch business, with full right since the company is known not only for building watches, but also for producing the corresponding movements used. These movements are coveted due to their quality and are also delivered to other famous watch companies which in turn integrate them in their own models. [[IWC]], for example, has long used JLC movements, as did [[Vacheron Constantin]], [[Patek Philippe]], and [[Audemars Piguet]]. Indeed, Jaeger-LeCoultre was combined with [[Vacheron & Constantin]] from [[1938]] through [[1965]] under the holding company, [[Société Anonyme de Produits Industriels et Commerciaux]].

Jaeger-LeCoultre was struggling by the 1980's after the [[quartz crisis]]. In [[1986]], the German VDO Group (known for its automobile speedometers), brought IWC and 60% of Jaeger-LeCoultre together as [[LMH]], adding [[A. Lange & Söhne]] in [[1991]]. The company's rebirth centered on the iconic [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso|Reverso]] watch, with many complications introduced in the following decade. After VDO was integrated into Mannesmann, it in turn was bought by Vodafone. Not wanting to be in these industries, Vodafone sold LMH to the Swiss [[Richemont]] group.

===== Success through persistent focus on excellence =====
In the 1990s, Jaeger-LeCoultre at first focused on the classic [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso|Reverso]] line, as an example of the company's unique history. The company revitalized the Reverso with the new [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Grande Taille|Grande Taille]] case and [[complication]]s. But when the young [[Jérôme Lambert]] took over as CEO in [[2002]], he directed a diversification. Together with designer [[Magali Métrailler]], Lambert refocused on the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor|Master Compressor]] and other sports models, [[haute horology]] like the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica|Hybris Mechanica]], and women's watches like the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous|Rendez-Vous]]. Jaeger-LeCoultre also opened a number of [[boutique]]s around the world and improved profitability and volume.

Jaeger-LeCoultre scores particularly with the superior manufacturing quality of its models, from [[manufacture movement]]s to high-quality cases and dials. Where other brands try to draw attention to themselves with loud PR campaigns, Jaeger-LeCoultre lets the watches speak for themselves and their high production standards stand at the center.

===== Sensational complications =====
{{wst>image_cl|Jaeger-LeCoultre|Uhrentrilogie Hybris Mechanica 55|Jaeger-LeCoultre Watch Trilogy Hybris Mechanica 55|450px}}

Another branch of production is focused on new inventions and projects in the highly complicated specialties. These include the models [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1|Gyrotourbillon 1]] and [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2|Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2]] with [[Gyrotourbillon|spherical tourbillon]] as well as the award-winning model [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Chronographe|Duomètre à Chronographe]] that in [[2008]] was chosen [[Uhr des Jahres|Watch of the Year]].

In the fall of [[2009]], this parade of world news and exclusive complications is even extended by presenting the trilogy 'Hybris Mechanica 55', which comprises in total 55 [[complication]]s, and between [[2010]] and [[2014]] comes in an edition of 30 sets. The collection consists of three watches, which, by themselves in their own way, surpass anything ever in the watch world-famous the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie|Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie]] (at this point the complicated wristwatch in the world), the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica à Triptyque|Hybris Mechanica à Triptyque]] and the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Gyrotourbillon|Hybris Mechanica Gyrotourbillon]]. But that's not all For each set, there is a purpose-built, expensive watches safe vault of the German manufacturer Döttling.

A year later, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication|Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication]] featuring minute repeater, flying tourbillon and zodiac calendar.

===== Survey over the most important models and ranges =====
{{wst>image_cl|Jaeger-LeCoultre|Master Compressor Diving Pro Geographic}}

==== Long-Running Models ====
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso|Reverso]] --- the classic flip-over watch
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox|Memovox]] --- the alarm watch
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic|Geophysic]] and [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Geomatic|Geomatic]] --- watches for science and exploration
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor|Master Compressor]] --- the sports series
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin|Master Ultra Thin]] --- the elegant dress watch
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre|Duomètre]] --- "dual wing" power

==== Specialty Models ====
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre_Reverso#Complication_series|Reverso Complication series]]
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica|Hybris Mechanica]] series, including [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1|Gyrotourbillon 1]], [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso grande complication à triptyque|Reverso grande complication à triptyque]], and [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Grande Sonnerie|Duomètre à Grande Sonnerie]]

==== Atmos ====
  * [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos|Atmos]] --- the unique [[table clock]]

===== Literature =====
  *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0

===== Address =====
Jaeger-LeCoultre SA\\ Rue de la Golisse 8\\ CH-1347 Le Sentier\\ Tel. 021/845 02 02

===== Weblinks =====
  *[[http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com|Jaeger-LeCoultre]]
  *[[http://jlc.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-2/pi-5873708/ti-863148/s-0/t-jlc-ensuring-the-future-learning-from-the-past-jaeger-lecoultres-re-ascent-and-the-reverso/|Ensuring the future - learning from the past: Jaeger LeCoultre's re-ascent and the Reverso]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Manufactures LMH Richemont Le_Sentier Vallée_de_Joux FHH Luxury_watch_brands}}