One aspect that makes the world of luxury watches and watch collecting so beautiful is the variety of models and watch brands – there’s truly something for every style, budget, and preference. But what if you had to choose just one watch brand for the rest of your life? We set our authors to work getting to the bottom of this. The rules are as followed:
- You have to choose one watch brand to wear for the rest of your life
- Money is no object
- Twist: You get one “wild card” watch, i.e., you can swap one watch from your chosen brand for a watch from another brand. Which one would it be?
I chose one of the icons of Swiss watchmaking. This brand is easy and discreet to wear, offers watches for every occasion, has a great selection of collectible vintage watches, and suits me and my style: Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Why Jaeger-LeCoultre?
Let’s start at the beginning: I love Jaeger-LeCoultre because the brand has been actively involved in the history of watchmaking since its creation in 1833. The Reverso was the first watch with a reversible case. The Memovox was the first wristwatch with an alarm function. Jaeger-LeCoultre also created the Gyrotourbillon, a three-dimensional tourbillon that perfects the precision of timekeeping, and the Atmos, a self-winding table clock that reacts to the slightest changes in temperature and air pressure. And these are just some of the highlights for me – the idea of having all these icons in my collection is wonderful. The brand also offers great visual variety. The flagship model is the Reverso with its edgy Art Deco design. The timepieces in the Master collections are classically elegant; the round cases have a timeless feel and lie beautifully flat on the wrist. At the same time, they’re so visually minimalist that they’re easy to wear every day, while their sophisticated complications draw attention. The Polaris models on the other hand are sportier and more robust – and still not oversized or conspicuous. And for women, there’s the Rendez-Vous collection, which combines the beauty of jewelry with haute horlogerie.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is also the brand whose vintage models I find to be the most attractive as collector’s items. In the 1950s, for example, there was the Futurematic, one of the first fully automatic watches without a winding crown. Or the Geophysics, a high-precision, anti-magnetic watch. Each of these models is a piece of watchmaking history, and an impressive demonstration of how Jaeger-LeCoultre watches stand the test of time.
A Convertible JLC Model for Life
If I had to choose a model for life, I would choose Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most famous watch – the Reverso, or more precisely, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph. There are very practical reasons for this: the Tribute Chronograph has a typical classic Reverso side that can then be converted into a skeletonized chronograph. It’s two amazing watches in one. At the same time, it’s easy to swap straps, so you can style this watch to suit every occasion and mood. The Reverso Tribute Chronograph embodies everything I love about JLC. Its reversible case and classic Art Deco design evoke the brand’s visual DNA and hark back to the past. Everything else about the watch however points to the future. The chronograph is powered by the Calibre 860, which is particularly accentuated by the skeletonized look. Developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre, this movement has a retrograde 30-minute counter, truly a very special feature. At the same time, great care was taken to ensure that essential parts of the movement were visible. For example, the column wheel that controls the chronograph mechanism is on full display. Strong attention was of course also paid to the timepiece’s finishing. All edges are beveled, and the typical Geneva stripes can be found on the bridges. For me, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph is not only a technical masterpiece, but also a tribute to the brand’s rich history. It skillfully combines sporty elegance with the highest level of watchmaking artistry. In the stainless steel version, it’s a perfect everyday watch for any occasion.
The Wild Card: I Need a Daily Beater
Choosing my “wild card” watch was much harder for me than choosing a watch brand for life. The thought of being able to choose a Steve McQueen Daytona from Rolex, or a Patek Philippe World Time is very tempting. But I must confess, my wild card watch would probably be a Casio G-Shock. You may be wondering why I chose a watch that doesn’t fall into the luxury category. After all, it’s often said that the longer you spend in the world of luxury watches, the more unusual your tastes become. Fair enough: I do in fact admire unusual watches. But the longer I spend in the world of luxury watches, the more I appreciate a simple, robust quartz watch. My ideal collection therefore includes a watch that doesn’t need to be serviced regularly, and only needs the occasional battery change. Because I never leave the house without a watch. At the same time, there are many occasions when I don’t want to be out and about with a mechanical timepiece. Whether I’m exercising or playing with my dog, a G-Shock accompanies me in the moments when robustness is most important. And I love having it on my wrist as a partner when I just want to wear a watch without a care in the world. And let’s face it, this watch has a cult vibe like no other!
