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    Re: HM QEII receives diamond watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre Archived Message

    Posted by Nellie on June 5, 2012, 6:47 pm, in reply to "Re: HM QEII receives diamond watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre"


    Thanks Rachel. That has helped clarify more for me.

    That site could benefit from your experience in the topic - in distinguishing between the wearable item and its inner workings.

    My reading suggested the Queen's previous, replacement watch could not be found but I would think HM still has that one.



    : --Previous Message--
    :
    : Just some general information that may add
    : to the discussion.
    :
    : In the early part of my career, I worked on
    : a magazine devoted exclusively to clocks and
    : watches. It was fascinating (I can see the
    : fascination with clocks now!), and I got to
    : learn a lot about horological matters
    : through the editorial articles.
    :
    : The watch itself (the face and bracelet) is
    : a whole different consideration from the
    : watch works or watch movement (internal
    : mechanism). The watch may not be the
    : smallest in the world, but the watch works
    : in this case apparently are.
    :
    : "The white gold watch is set with
    : baguette diamonds and is powered by the
    : smallest mechanical watch movement in the
    : world, the JLC Calibre 101. First built in
    : 1929, the Calibre 101 is so small that its
    : 98 tiny parts only weigh one gram and its
    : assembly is a specialised process that only
    : three watchmakers in the Jaeger-LeCoultre
    : manufacture can master."
    :
    : Also, it is quite common to see ad listings
    : in these horological magazines for e.g.
    : "Cartier watch with Patek Philippe
    : movement" or "Tiffany watch with
    : Jaeger-LeCoultre movement." Many of the
    : finer jewelry firms did not care to get into
    : the watch works business (and who would,
    : given that there are already undisputed
    : masters willing to sell their works!), but
    : certainly wanted to offer their clients
    : beautiful or precious watches. So they would
    : design the watches and buy the works from
    : these master houses.
    :
    : Otherwise, I'm kind of with Boris, it's a
    : bit of self-promotion on Jaeger-LeCoultre's
    : part, and kind of clunky in design to boot.
    : But the real value of the watch, no doubt,
    : is in the scarcity of the tiny watch works
    : which can only be produced by a very few
    : people and by hand using special
    : instruments.
    :


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