Jaeger-LeCoultre | Astonishing Ultra-Thin Minute Repeater & Tourbillon

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Astonishingly Slim Minute Repeater & Tourbillon

Jaeger-LeCoultre's masterpiece, an ultra-thin minute repeater and tourbillon, debuts at this year's SIHH. It achieves a case thickness of just 7.9mm, surpassing even the thinnest hand-wound models.

Text by SHIBUYA Yasuhito

Case Thickness of 7.9mm, Surpassing Thinnest Hand-Wound Models

Among complex timepieces, the minute repeater demands the highest level of skill and craftsmanship in its design, assembly, and adjustment. It accurately chimes the time using two sets of hammers to strike circular gongs, powered by a mainspring, when prompted. This mechanism is particularly challenging. It involves determining which hammer to strike and how many times, precisely regulating the intervals between hammer strikes, and then having the hammers hit the gongs. In addition to the standard watch movement, the minute repeater requires these additional mechanisms.

Due to the large number of components, the difficulty in miniaturizing the mechanism, and the need for all parts to function in perfect harmony, it has been the norm in the high-end watch industry for minute repeaters to be hand-wound to achieve a slim profile. However, Jaeger-LeCoultre has challenged this convention with this model and brilliantly overcome it.

This automatic watch, equipped with a tourbillon mechanism, achieves a case thickness of 7.9mm, surpassing even the thinnest hand-wound models. Furthermore, innovative features shine through, such as a slide cover on the activation pusher to enhance water resistance and prevent accidental operation, and a reduced time lag between pressing the pusher and the chime. This is truly a groundbreaking model that will be remembered in watchmaking history.