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Lot Essay
The property of an Important Private Collector, the present watch is only the third Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon to be offered at Christie’s. Preserved in very good overall condition, the timepiece can be considered as one of the most charismatic and coveted watches of Jaeger-LeCoultre's modern production.
Purchased from the famous French retailer Dubail, located on the prestigious place Vendôme in Paris, the wristwatch is offered with its original guarantee, accessories and presentation box. Launched at SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in 2013, the model was developed based on two innovations, both included in its name, the “Duomètre” as well as the “Sphérotourbillon”.
The Sphérotourbillon: a precision adjusted tourbillon
Precision is the cornerstone of the Dual-Wing concept and was the watchword for the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers in their reflection leading to the creation of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. The result is a watch that can legitimately claim to be the first tourbillon watch adjustable to the nearest second.
There are indeed very few tourbillon models with an extremely readable display of the seconds in a dedicated subsidiary dial, and even fewer with a stop seconds device. Certainly none until now had ever enabled the user to stop the seconds hand and bring it back to zero in order to perform an ultra-accurate time setting.
Using the Dual-Wing concept enabled the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers to create the first precision-adjusted tourbillon. A push-piece at 2 o'clock serves to bring the small seconds hand positioned beneath the tourbillon back to zero, according to the fly back principle.
One special feature of this fly back system is that it does not halt the operation of the regulating organ. The small seconds hand is reset to zero and begins running again instantly. This means the watch maintains optimal precision even when accurately adjusting the time to the nearest second.
A multi-axis tourbillon
Above and beyond its exemplary reliability, the chief characteristic of this Sphérotourbillon watch is its tourbillon. Initially devised for pocket-watches, the traditional tourbillon does not serve to compensate for the effects of gravity in all positions. An additional rotation axis must be added in order to achieve a three-dimensional rotation movement and thus prove itself more effective in all positions that a wristwatch may adopt.
The open worked dial provides a fascinating view of the tourbillon performing an extremely unusual rotation movement. As well as revolving around the axis of its titanium carriage, the tourbillon also spins around a second axis, inclined at a 20 angle. The combination of these two distinct and fast rotations (respectively 30 and 15 seconds per revolution) serves to free the watch from the effects of gravity.
This spectacular tourbillon incorporates all the innovations that enabled Jaeger-LeCoultre to win a brilliant victory in the first official timing competition of the 21st century. The carriage machined from a single block of titanium features a combination of lightness and extreme precision. The cylindrical balance-spring with its two terminal curves beats with a concentricity impossible to achieve with a traditional balance-spring. The balance with its generous inertia oscillates at a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The balance-spring stud-holder is protected by a screw-locking system from the effects of shocks and vibrations to which the watch is subjected.
For enhanced visual pleasure, a transparent case back provides an admirable "backstage" view of the intricate working of the hand-assembled and decorated movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 382.
Purchased from the famous French retailer Dubail, located on the prestigious place Vendôme in Paris, the wristwatch is offered with its original guarantee, accessories and presentation box. Launched at SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in 2013, the model was developed based on two innovations, both included in its name, the “Duomètre” as well as the “Sphérotourbillon”.
The Sphérotourbillon: a precision adjusted tourbillon
Precision is the cornerstone of the Dual-Wing concept and was the watchword for the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers in their reflection leading to the creation of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. The result is a watch that can legitimately claim to be the first tourbillon watch adjustable to the nearest second.
There are indeed very few tourbillon models with an extremely readable display of the seconds in a dedicated subsidiary dial, and even fewer with a stop seconds device. Certainly none until now had ever enabled the user to stop the seconds hand and bring it back to zero in order to perform an ultra-accurate time setting.
Using the Dual-Wing concept enabled the Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmakers to create the first precision-adjusted tourbillon. A push-piece at 2 o'clock serves to bring the small seconds hand positioned beneath the tourbillon back to zero, according to the fly back principle.
One special feature of this fly back system is that it does not halt the operation of the regulating organ. The small seconds hand is reset to zero and begins running again instantly. This means the watch maintains optimal precision even when accurately adjusting the time to the nearest second.
A multi-axis tourbillon
Above and beyond its exemplary reliability, the chief characteristic of this Sphérotourbillon watch is its tourbillon. Initially devised for pocket-watches, the traditional tourbillon does not serve to compensate for the effects of gravity in all positions. An additional rotation axis must be added in order to achieve a three-dimensional rotation movement and thus prove itself more effective in all positions that a wristwatch may adopt.
The open worked dial provides a fascinating view of the tourbillon performing an extremely unusual rotation movement. As well as revolving around the axis of its titanium carriage, the tourbillon also spins around a second axis, inclined at a 20 angle. The combination of these two distinct and fast rotations (respectively 30 and 15 seconds per revolution) serves to free the watch from the effects of gravity.
This spectacular tourbillon incorporates all the innovations that enabled Jaeger-LeCoultre to win a brilliant victory in the first official timing competition of the 21st century. The carriage machined from a single block of titanium features a combination of lightness and extreme precision. The cylindrical balance-spring with its two terminal curves beats with a concentricity impossible to achieve with a traditional balance-spring. The balance with its generous inertia oscillates at a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The balance-spring stud-holder is protected by a screw-locking system from the effects of shocks and vibrations to which the watch is subjected.
For enhanced visual pleasure, a transparent case back provides an admirable "backstage" view of the intricate working of the hand-assembled and decorated movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 382.