Timepiece News - George Pragnell

NEW 2012 MODELS
NEW 2012 MODELS
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duométre
This year Jaeger- LeCoultre maintains its intensive pace of innovations with the unveiling of a
new edition to the highly acclaimed Duomètre line, comprising the Duomètre à Chronographe,
the Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire and the all new Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire 40.5.
I
ts new-generation movement
is based on an unprecedented
concept nicknamed Dual-
Wing. A genuine revolution in
terms of watchmaking precision,
the Dual-Wing concept is
composed of two separate watch
mechanisms connected by a
shared regulating organ.
The Duomètre à Chronographe
is the highest expression of the
art of the chronograph. A true
masterpiece of micromechanics,
its Jaeger-LeCoultre ‘Dual-Wing’
Calibre contains two independent
power reserves, one of which is
devoted solely to a chronograph
possessing unique functions:
hours, minutes and seconds
hands, a display of units per
minute, and a “foudroyante”
seconds display with zero reset.
As the first model in this
prestigious lineage, the Duomètre
à Chronographe watch is available
in pink gold and platinum, while an
18ct yellow gold edition is available
in a limited series of 300.
Arranged on the elegant and
easily readable dial, the hours,
minutes, seconds and moonphase
displays appear to make the
Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire a
classic watch model. But inside
the case and partially hidden
from view beats Calibre 381, a
prodigious movement boasting
unprecedented precision based on
the Dual-Wing concept and which
propels the watch firmly into the
spheres of Haute Horlogerie. The
Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire
was voted the Watch of the Year
by the collectors and watch
connoisseurs of Timezone.co.uk.
The Duomètre à Quantième
Lunaire is available in 18ct
pink or yellow gold on either
a matt black or chocolate
brown alligator leather
strap. For the more fashion
conscious male, the
Manufacture have also added
an 18ct white gold model in
a limited edition of 200 with
a black dial to the collection.
The Duomètre à Quantième
Lunaire 40.5 is a slightly
smaller case at 40.5mm
diameter and is available in
18ct pink gold on a chocolate
toned alligator leather strap.
The Duomètre vividly
illustrates Jaeger-LeCoultre’s
unassailable position in the
highest spheres of technical
watchmaking.
Far Left Duomètre à Chronographe
- Ref. Q6012420
Top Middle Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 381
Left Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire
Ref. Q6043570.
Above The new Duomètre à Quantième
Lunaire 40.5 - Ref. Q604252
A TANK IS A TANK IS A TANK
IS A TANK IS A TANK*
T
he Tank watch was created
in 1917 out of a vision, a
solid concept that was the
culmination of a lengthy process of
deliberation. Here was an instrument
for telling the time that completely
eschewed tradition, turned custom
on its head, brought modern
design into the ateliers and took its
place as a quintessential model for
watchmaking. It was said that “a
tank had stormed Cartier”. As it went
on to segue between decades and
straddle the century, this trailblazing
watch and its revolutionary form,
style and elegance were to pioneer a
decisively modern lifestyle.
Paris, London and New York.
1847, 1902 and 1909. The Cartier
brothers wasted no time in setting
out to conquer the world. The entire
Cartier back catalogue is coloured
by this quest to open up to the
international stage. The story of the
house’s iconic tank watch typifies
the pattern: following in the footsteps
of the Tank Américaine and Tank
Française, the Tank Anglaise was
a logical progression.
Tank Américaine
Designed in 1987 and launched in
1989, the Tank Américaine watch
followed in the footsteps of the Tank
Cintrée, borrowing its curved case
while updating the design with a
more compact rectangular form and
rounded brancards.
*Gertrude Stein
Tank is a registered trademark of Cartier
The power and elegance of its
elongated, slightly arched form
made this watch a classic. In its
display of strength, the piece
may be considered a tribute to
the Tank watch presented to
General Pershing.
Tank Française
The Tank Française watch,
launched in 1996, updated the
classic Tank legacy of the
parallel-set lateral brancards,
Roman numeral dial, cheminde-fer
chapter ring, bâton hands,
and a fluted winding crown
Tank Wristwatch 1919
decorated with a sapphire
cabochon. In a bold departure,
the curved case was set in a
chain-link bracelet.
As functional as it was stylish,
boasting seamless lines, this
archetypal wristwatch was a true
feat of design.
Tank Anglaise
The Tank Anglaise watch is
pure, distilled Tank. Featuring a
concentrated form and emboldened
lines, the fortified design offers
proportion to spare. Cartier pairs
this generous, ample volume with
Tank Américaine
characteristic Tank features such as
the strap seamlessly incorporated
into the case, Roman numerals,
chemin-de-fer chapter ring, and
blued-steel sword-shaped hands.
The signature parallel brancards
now house the winding crown,
which is perfectly streamlined.
The Tank Anglaise watch is
available in three ladies’ and men’s
sizes in three colours of gold. The
large models are powered by the
Manufacture MC 1904 movement,
visible through the open back.
You can view a selection of the
Tank Anglaise on page 19.
Tank Française
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