The 2020 Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication by Jaeger Lecoultre
The latest iteration of the timepiece that features a fresh new look along with packing the combination of the most technically challenging complications in horology – a minute repeater and a celestial vault. Share
In the heart of the Swiss Jura, the Vallée de Joux embraces a serene and calm atmosphere through its forests and mountains. The sky’s purity reveals its most profound mysteries, making it the ideal place for astrologers to study the astral phenomenon.
The new Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication harnesses more than a century and a half of accumulated expertise. This masterpiece of mechanical engineering incorporates two of the most romantic yet technically challenging complications in horology – a minute repeater and a celestial vault. The complex mechanism is further elevated by an orbital flying tourbillon.
Considered by watchmakers to be the most challenging – and rewarding – of all horological complications to master, a minute repeater is not only a timepiece but also a miniaturised musical instrument. One of the most important elements of a chiming watch is the way in which sound is transmitted from within the watch to be heard by the human ear.
The calibre 945 gathers all the accumulated expertise in chiming mechanisms of the Grande Maison, since its foundation in 1833. Capitalising on the superior acoustic qualities of synthetic sapphire crystal, Jaeger-leCoultre’s patented ‘crystal gongs’ are soldered directly to the sapphire crystal, which acts as an amplifier. The square-profile gongs as well as the articulated trebuchet hammers ensure more consistent and powerful strikes.
The new Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication embodies Jaeger‑LeCoultre’s mastery of astronomical complications in its celestial vault complication. In order to depicts a stunning sky-chart of the Northern Hemisphere night sky as seen from the 46th parallel – the latitude of Jaeger‑LeCoultre’s home, Jaeger‑LeCoultre talented watchmakers have invented a complex mechanism based on the sidereal day. Slightly shorter than a solar day (on which we base civil timekeeping), a sidereal day is based on Earth’s rotation measured relative to the ‘fixed’ stars, which takes precisely 23 h, 56 min and 4.1 seconds. The sidereal day is used by astronomers to follow the apparent movement of the stars across the night sky.
Ensuring the utmost precision of the watch, the Orbital Flying Tourbillon makes a complete, anti-clockwise circuit of the dial in one sidereal day. An exceptional movement merits an exceptional habillage and the new Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication brings fresh artistic expression to this marriage of complications. A multiple-level dial amplifies the beauty of the celestial theme while also showcasing the orbiting tourbillon. The delicate filigree which forms a dome, represents the connection between astronomy and horology. This structure echoes the pattern of the constellations, which highlights the complications of this calibre.
The Master Grande Tradition case is a perfect complement to the artistry of the dial and the sophistication of the movement. Comprising more than 80 parts, its convex bezel is complemented by broad bevels on the lugs; the hollowed-out sides of the lugs add dynamic tension, while the repeater slide is tapered to harmonise beautifully with the curving case sides. The elegant finishes complement the sophistication of the dial embarking the timepiece into the elevated galaxy of High Watchmaking.
