Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel exemplifies Art of Precision

The SIHH 2019 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel is the art of precision personified. First expressed in the 2004 Master Gyrotourbillon 1. The exquisite complication eventually made its way into the brand’s icon in the guise of the 2008 Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2. By 2013, the quixotic gyrotourbillon found its way into 2013’s Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon 3 Jubilee. In 2016, the brand revisited the exquisite gyrotourbillon once again Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon. This makes the 2019 Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel, the fifth in the series, joined with a high complication perpetual calendar and minute repeater system.

The latest Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel exemplifies technical precision thanks to its three immense complications. Chiefly, the unique Jaeger LeCoultre innovation goes beyond a conventional tourbillon with modified axes, instead, the Grande Maison devised a system to ensure perfect equilibrium between its perpendicular, what results is a tourbillon of such chronometric precision that it deviates by a maximum of -1/+1 second a day against the average deviation of -4/+6 seconds a day for your traditional tourbillon.

That said, the gyrotourbillon was not always equipped with a spherical hairspring. The initial execution featured a flat balance spring and it was not until the third iteration that the spherical balance requiring even more precision construction replaced the cylindrical hairspring. I digress but the new limited edition Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon is not merely tool for chronometric precision, its raison d’etre for perfect accuracy begins from the source of its power supply – a remontoir d’egalite or constant force mechanism which supplies the gyrotourbillon escapement with a steady flow of energy, even if the new Jaeger LeCoultre SIHH 2019 novelty approaches maximum entropy. in other words, amplitude is kept steady thanks to the uniform delivery of energy even as the mainspring winds down.

Second, the perfect functioning of the perpetual calendar complication requires that gears and clockwork accurate translate the passage of years, months and day with mathematical precision computing 30th and 31st days of the month with nary human intervention, as well as account for leap years before requiring an adjustment until the year 2100.

“It cannot be disputed that repeater-work is really the scientific part of horology. Therefore it requires more theory for design and more delicacy and precision in manufacture. This is why those who know it and practise it, carry it out with more perfection than other types of work.” – Francois Crespe, Essay on Minute Repeater watches

The art of precision is further enhanced with the careful tuning of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel;  The last time we saw such a highly complex timepiece with gongs soldered to the sapphire crystal, in order to amplify the vibrations emitted outside the case, was the Hybris Mechanica à grande sonnerie comprising no fewer than 1300 parts. All precision cut and assembled to ensure not just crystal sounds but also careful marshalling of power from its mainsprings to avoid overtaxing the entire novelty.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel price and specs

18 piece limited edition

Movement Manual winding  JLC 184 with 52 hours power reserve
Case 43mm white gold case with 30 meters water resistance
Strap Blue Alligator
Price € 800,000