Jaeger-LeCoultre has climbed in worth lately, with out clearly enhancing what it presents concerning model supplies, ending, innovation, or let’s be trustworthy — status or resale worth.
Whether or not it’s the results of value and is inflation-based or if it’s opportunistic and a results of so-called “greedflation” is one other matter of dialogue. Neither JLC nor IWC ought to bear the brunt of the criticism from shoppers, on account of, almost throughout the board, Swiss watch worth will increase — however in a approach they’ve.
Wherever I’ve learn a number of feedback about IWC’s choice final 12 months to relaunch the Gerald Genta-designed Ingenieur, with an outsourced motion, at a beginning worth of $11,700, there’s virtually common criticism of the worth tag being far too excessive. When there’s that a lot criticism of say pricing of a brand new digital camera or lens, typically that may result in brand-wide reductions sooner reasonably than later. Swiss manufacturers function in another way and their perspective is nearly not possible to elucidate — you’ve obtained to see it to imagine it. However this pricing technique precisely illustrates how audaciously they assume and act.
As a client, you maybe must be as audacious as the big company and ask for the low cost, as a result of although the technique at manufacturers of this ilk is usually to disclaim even the existence of a reduction — on the finish of the day, they’d most likely reasonably have you ever as a buyer than taking place the road to Breitling, Omega, or Rolex.
With the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic, the motion is no less than in-house and has a number of luxuries to justify the worth. Mockingly, with that stated, the motion is outdated although (that is model 2 with an upgraded energy reserve), and doesn’t fill out the case so Jaeger-LeCoultre needed to set up a hoop on the within of the caseback to cover the surplus space on the edges. Nonetheless, the 282-component 4Hz automated caliber has engaging Geneva stripes, perlage on the mainplate, blued screws, a skeletonized rotor, a 70-power reserve, and a crescent-shaped energy reserve indicator on the dial — the latter of which is useful for many who wish to observe how a lot energy is left at any given time (extra manufacturers ought to embrace this).
The Polaris Geographic is available in a 42 mm x 11.54 mm chrome steel case that wears properly and is predominantly brushed, with polished accents, for a refined look. The ocean-gray lacquered gradient dial options opaline, grainy, and sunburst finishes and is an space the place increased prices could possibly be justified. For example, there are 35 layers of lacquer, which is extra complicated than a typical watch dial. Nevertheless, no matter how eye-catching the dial is, it’s nonetheless laborious to argue the worth is eye-watering.
On a superb word, working the twin time system, which shows the native/foremost time on the bigger main dial, and a second time zone on a smaller subdial, is comparatively easy. A crown at 3 o’clock units the native time, whereas a crown at 10 o’clock adjusts the second time zone show. The motion is designed to permit for simple adjustment of the second time show: as soon as the native time is ready, use the ten o’clock crown to pick out one of many 24 cities of the second time zone and the fingers shall be set accordingly.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic (Ref. Q9078640) has a sapphire crystal, a sapphire caseback, is water-proof to 200 meters, and comes with a textured black rubber strap and a blue-gray canvas strap, each interchangeable and with an interchangeable folding clasp.
The retail worth is $16,100.
Photographs by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
