We all talk about the ‘Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’ composed by Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet, and for years I have debated if it should be called the ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’ instead. Since it seems unfair to drop Audemars Piguet out of the trinity and include Jaeger-LeCoultre in its place, I think that making it a quartet seems more fair and reasonable.
While the three brands composing the trinity have made major contributions to the horological world, Jaeger-LeCoultre aka ‘La Grande Maison’ —the great house— has created more than 1,260 calibres and registered over 400 patents. They have created exceptional calibres which were sold to the great Swiss watchmakers, earning Jaeger-LeCoultre the nickname of the "Watchmaker of Watchmakers".
Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the most legendary watch brands with a very rich history that dates back to 1833, when in the remote mountains of Jura, inventor Antoine LeCoultre revolutionized the art of horology and turned the Vallée de Joux into the cradle of fine Swiss watchmaking. The JLC Manufacture is located in the small village of Le Sentier, Switzwerland —population of 3,000 next to Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux— and only about an hour away —depending on traffic— from the Geneva airport or Lausanne by car.
Le Sentier, Switzerland
The Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture is composed of several buildings dating back to 1866 and built during different eras as the manufacture grew in size. Today, the manufacture is 25,000 square meters in size—roughly 270,000 sq. ft.—, employs 1,300 people in Le Sentier, and makes close to 100,000 watches a year.
At the manufacture, a team of 45 master horologists works at its Grand Complications department where pieces like the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon, the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel or the Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique à Quantième Perpétuel are created. The Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpetual Calendar is one of the best examples of a watch that shows the prowess of JLC with a multi-axis tourbillon, a Westminster carillon minute repeater that replicates the melody of London’s Big Ben clock tower, and a perpetual calendar.
In addition to the impressive number of patents and calibres developed by JLC, some of their timepieces have been part of the history of humanity, like the special Reverso dedicated to Amelia Earhart —the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic—, watches like the Deep Sea Alarm, the Memovox, the Shark, the Futurematic, the Geophysic, and the Reverso are true icons that have changed the course of watchmaking.
Another perfect example of the mastery of Jaeger-LeCoultre and why it should be part of a ‘Holy Quartet’ of watchmaking is the Atmos clock, the clock that is powered solely by changes in the ambient temperature and its movement is virtually perpetual.
From its calibre to its case, every Jaeger‑LeCoultre watch is designed, manufactured, and assembled under one roof, at their Manufacture in the Vallee de Joux. Their obsession with quality is renowned as every Jaeger‑LeCoultre watch undergoes strict ‘1,000 Hour Control’ testing. This unique program provides internal certification tests that far exceed official chronometry tests. Their thousand hours control program includes movement testing before and after casing and extends throughout the assembly, according to conditions that match daily wear. A quality seal is engraved on the back of every watch once it meets their strict standards.
Now, after all that I’ve shared with you, do you agree with me that we should have a ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’ instead of the ‘Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’?
Honestly, I really hope that you do, because, without JLC, many of the most iconic watches from Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and even Patek Philippe wouldn’t be here today. Lastly, just remember that Jaeger-LeCoultre was the one who created the most legendary automatic movement calibre 2120 off of its calibre 920 and delivered it as an ebauche to Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet.
Let’s start using the ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’ in our watch conversations hereafter.
For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.
