Jaeger-LeCoultre’s strength on movement R&D is undeniable. It is one of the very few modern wristwatch brands that have never used ETA movement. It is also one of the famous brands that provide in–house movements to Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Panerai and other big brands. Therefore, I have reason to believe that any movement is possible for Jaeger-LeCoultre.
However, the launch of Duometre a Chronographe still greatly surprised me. Beyond any possible dounbt, Jaeger-LeCoultre is so wonderful and great. Let alone the 1/6 second display, the new Jaeger-Lecoultre is enough to take you minutes to admire. The dial has 9 hands, three subdials and one aperture. The central golden hand is local second hand while the central blue hand serves as a chronograph seconds hand. The subdial at 9 o’clock displays local hour and minute and the subdial at 3 o’clock is the chronograph dial: the the outer scale is to time 60 minute while the inner ring is to time 12 hours. The aperture at the bottom is also used to time. The operation rule is as follows: After the central blue hand turns a circle, the chronograph minutes hand jumps one measure and complete one-minute timing. When 10-minute timing is finished, the aperture runs one numeral. And when the subdial completes 60-minute, the chronograph hours hand jumps one measure. And the like, they together can undergo the timing of 12 hours.
At 6 o’clock, there is the third subdial,the essence of Duometre a Chronographe, which is 1/6 second “Lighting Chronograph” subdial. At its left side, a gold small hand shows time-travel power reserve; At its right side, a blue hand hand displays chronograph power reserve.
Beneath this complex dial, there beats the new Cal. 380 manual wound chronograph movement. The movement has two independent barrels to separate the barrel power of time-travel and chronograph, which prevents time-travel from being influenced when the chronograph function is started. What is more, both barrels are able to independently provide 50 hours power reserve.The movement is so complex that it has 390 pieces of spare parts. The chronograph part is equipped with six-teeth star wheel. It passes escapement frequency to star wheel through a 30-teeth gear which located above escapement wheel. Ad star wheel turns one circle every minute, the 30-teeth gear pass escapement frequency once in every second to star wheel. By this way, the display of 1/6 lighting chronograph is achieved.
This time, even Jaeger-LeCoultre itself feels that the R&D of Cal.380 is really something to be proud of. The new Duometre a Chronographe, which is available in yellow gold, rose gold and PT 950, marks the wording of Cal.380 at the bottom of the dial. Of course, every piece asks more than 300,000RMB. This price, actually, is quite reasonable. Just imagine what a remarkable movement it has!
