Jaeger Le Coultre Master Tourbillon 1658420
A pioneer and innovator of many watchmaking technologies, Abraham-Louis Breguet developed a new kind of complication based on an idea by John Arnold for a more accurate escapement. The problem faced by watchmakers in the pursuit for ultimate accuracy was the imbalance caused by gravity on the balance wheel. In an ideal situation, a balance wheel would operate exactly perpendicular to the pull of gravity, thus applying equal force on all parts of the balance wheel at all points of its rotation.
As wrist watches – and in that period, pocket watches – spend much of their time with the balance wheel in parallel to gravity’s effect, the offset forces on it introduce another factor for inaccuracy. Breguet’s tourbillon movement seated both the balance wheel and escapement in a rotating cage that performs a full rotation every minute, therefore eliminating the effect of unequal forces on the balance wheel.
The calibre 978 tourbillon movement in this Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Tourbillon is a single axis tourbillon, in that the tourbillon cage rotates around one axis, and it is wound via a solid 22-carat pink gold rotor. The tourbillon cage is visible through the front of the dial and also through the sapphire crystal in the caseback – the rotor even has a window cut out in it so as not to obscure the view. The cage itself is made from grade 5 titanium and therefore weighs just 0.28 grams, minimising the amount of energy required to overcome the inertia.
As well as being extremely intricate and stunning to look at, the Master Tourbillon has its fair share of functions. In addition to hours, minutes and seconds, a date – with a hand that skips the tourbillon window so as not to obscure it – and a second time zone with twenty-four hour display grace the dial. If the allure of mechanical watches is what drives you, a tourbillon is a must for your collection.
Panerai Radiomir Manual
Previous Item
IWC Ingenieur
Next Item
- Manufacturer: Jaeger Le Coultre
- Range: Master Tourbillon
- Model: 1658420
- Age: 2011 (1 year old)
- Gender: Gents
- Case: Steel
- Bracelet: Leather - Brown
- Size (MM): 41
- Dial: Silver Quarter Arabic
- Retail Price: £39500.00