Why no love for Jaeger Le Coultre?

[tigerpac]

Bumping this one up --- I think people would be hard pressed to argue that JLC movements are not on par with any - including PP, VC or Lange etc.

Fit and finish is more subjective but would say it is closer than they're getting credit for --- sounds like a lot of people fall for the 'Mercedes effect' thinking higher price must be better!

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by tigerpac

Bumping this one up --- I think people would be hard pressed to argue that JLC movements are not on par with any - including PP, VC or Lange etc.

Vacheron Constantin uses Jaeger-LeCoultre movements in a few of their watches, I wouldn’t be jumping so quickly to pip one above the other.

[sidkane]

Originally Posted by conrail

took a stroll through the boutiques in Beverly Hills a few weeks back and was really excited to see some of the models I'd only seen pics of. I was really disappointed in person and wasn't blown away and didn't have that "wow" feeling, like I got with the IWCs next door and the Breguets around the corner...

I'm in the same boat on wow factor. I had a geographic and it ticked all the boxes on paper, but never really wowed me.

[craniotes]

I love me some JLC:


Frankly, I'm hard pressed to see how any WIS worth his salt wouldn't.

Regards,
Adam

[Al1988]

Big fan of JLC here. For under the radar elegance and beauty JLC is a winner!

[incontrol]

Me loves JLC! Wearing this one as we speak!




Sent from Kevin's IPhone

[Ditch]

Originally Posted by McLovin

One factor is that JLC hasn't been around as long as PP/AP/VC. It was a movement maker until the late 1920s. People pay a premium for the old 3. Furthermore, the Reverso went out of production for a couple of decades (1960s-70s), in which JLC largely faded from public consciousness. Another factor is JLC produces in small quantities, so it simply does not have as many rabid fans as a company like Rolex, which gets its watches on a lot more wrists. JLC also traditionally did not focus on the US market, but it is very popular in France and Switzerland, and at least at one time was very big in the UK, whose military officers inspired the design of the Reverso. Queen Elizabeth wore a JLC at her coronation. Someone already mentioned the lack of marketing. You will not see basketball players and philandering golfers peddling JLC. Finally, to answer Fiery, no -- JLC's quality generally does not match Patek's perfection. The finish may be equal on parts of the watch you and I can see, but my understanding is that JLC will not apply the same degree of finishing on parts of the watch that only the watchmaker will see. That is, PP's doubled price accounts in large part for its perfect finishing of the side of the movement that cannot be seen through a caseback. JLC's finishing of the unseen side is of course very good, and this does not affect functioning at all. Unlike PP, JLC also produces steel dress watches, which while more affordable are not, IMO, designed to compete with Patek's gold watches. Personally, I like it that JLC is not as well known -- the company hits all the right notes for me.

Nothing further of value to add to that already faultless answer, so here's a pic of Don Draper's Reverso in Mad Men.

[DFM1]

Lots of love for JLC here....

[veganburger]

these are my favorites too

[kilyung]

Of all the watches I have/had, my JLC is the one that I know will be with me to the end. It's not the most complicated, expensive, best finished, or flashiest. It just "fits". There's just something "right" about the brand and this particular model.

[wokafu]

JLC is awesome...although it doesnt make me desperately wants one...REVERSO i'll get next..