Is Jaeger LeCoultre a good watch: Reviews of Jaeger LeCoultre watches

Jaeger LeCoultre is a prestigious brand in the world of Swiss automatic watches. And if you want to protect your watch while playing, you should try their most iconic watch, the Reverso. It has a reversible, protective dial.

We have listed the top five watches from JLC in this article, and the list begins with Jaeger LeCoultre Men's Master Memovox Watch. The brand has a reputation for inventing the world's thinnest pocket watch with LeCoultre caliber 145.

They also invented the smallest movement caliber 101 with nearly weighed around one gram only. Now move on to the next segments to know more about the brand and the watches.

Are Jaeger LeCoultre watches good?

When you need a luxurious watch and want something prestigious, you can easily rely on JLC or Jaeger LeCoultre watches. Although it is not part of the three top watch-making brands, it has a reputation in this field as a luxurious watch brand.

JLC started their journey back in 1833, and still, now their watches are loved by watch enthusiasts. Here are some crucial aspects of why one should go for Jaeger LeCoultre watches over other luxurious watch brands.

• The iconic Reverso watch has one reversible and protective dial.
• The automatic alarm wristwatches have extra value.
• The watches have a chronograph feature.
• Both crocodile leather strap and stainless steel bracelet are available.
• The watches have a sapphire crystal dial window.

These few reasons are simple enough for one who is searching for a luxurious watch. Especially with the reversible dial feature, one can protect the favorite watch while rough playing.

1. Jaeger LeCoultre Mens Master Memovox Watch

User experience

To complete your outfit, this memovox watch can come in handy. With the classy dial and leather band, it creates a traditional look on the wrist. It has a date showing a small window on the main window that keeps the user updated.

So far, none has found the watch window poorly performing as it has a scratch-resistant window. The automatic watch movement also provides accurate timekeeping.

More details about the watch

It is a classic watch, with a silver-tone dial and black leather strap. The stainless steel case has a sapphire dial window. The bezel is fixed here. It has silver-tone hour and minutes handles. However, the second’s handle is blue.

The dial window has nine silver-tone markers with three numerals at six, nine, and twelve o'clock positions. To make it more functional, the watch has a small date display at the three o'clock position. It has a push or pulls crown.

The good

1. The sapphire crystal dial window provides a scratch-resistant and long-lasting service.
2. It keeps the user updated with the date showing a small display.
3. The leather band forms a proper fit on the wrist.
4. With the silver-tone dial, the watch provides a classy look to the wearer.
5. It ensures accuracy in timekeeping with the automatic movement.

The bad

The water-resistant limit isn’t enough to take while swimming.

Alternative

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Automatic Black Dial Black Fabric Men's Watch is an ideal alternative to this watch. It has everything the same as the listed watch offers to you. However, it has a rotatable bezel in addition.

Moreover, the watch has luminous markers and handles of night visibility. However, the date showing display is located in the middle of the 4 and 5 o'clock position. It has a black fabric band with a black dial window.

2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Mechanical (Hand-Winding) Silver Dial Watch

User experience

Being pre-owned, the users are pretty satisfied with what it offers at this price. The chronograph features enhance the beauty and functionality of the watch. It has an alligator leather strap that gives a traditional look on the user’s wrist.

The case is enough large, and the thickness is also moderate making it useful for most watch enthusiasts. The leather strap with an 18k golden buckle ensures a perfect fit. It also comes into a complete box.

More details about the watch

The watch has a platinum case with silver-tone bezels. In the watch dial, the most eye-catching feature is the inclusion of a chronograph. Moreover, it also shows the hour, minute, and seconds accurately.

The watch dial also comes with a duometre. The main dial window is white-colored. However, the markers and handles are black. It has numeric markers with thinner handles. The alligator leather strap is completed with an 18k gold buckle.

The good

1. The inclusion of the chronograph feature.
2. It has increased the watch's beauty with the 18k gold buckle.
3. It provides accurate timekeeping of hours, minutes, and seconds.
4. The water resistance is enough to withstand normal water splashes.

The bad

Because of the less water resistance, it is inappropriate for showers or swimming.

Alternative

You can say Rolex Vintage Manual Wind Silver Dial Watch 6234 (Pre-Owned) is the perfect replacement or alternative to the watch. It is another pre-owned by one of the most renowned watch-making brands. Also, the cost of both these watches is similar.

Moreover, it has a chronograph feature and a leather band like the listed one from JLC. However, the watch case comes with stainless steel construction that is different from the platinum case. You also need to know; the stainless steel case is better than the platinum case.

3. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Manual Wind Silver Dial Watch

User experience

The most attractive side of the watch is the flipping stainless steel case. The user can flip over the main dial and use the second one to bring back a new look on the wrist. However, the secondary dial keeps the user updated about day and night.

The traditional alligator leather strap with stainless steel buckle ensures a convenient fit on any user's wrist. Even after being pre-owned, users are delighted with the service it offers.

More details about the watch

It is the most iconic watch model from JLC, and it comes with a full box & paper. Inside the box, there is the iconic Reverso watch model. It has a double dial window setup, which lets the user have dual-design from the same watch.

The watch dial comes surrounded by a silver-tone non-movable bezel, and the bezel is slightly thicker than most watches. The main dial window is an off-white color, and the secondary one is blue. The main window has eleven markers, whereas the second one has nine.

The handles and markers are blue in the main window and sliver in the secondary. Both the windows have day & night showing sub-dial. The alligator leather strap has a stainless steel buckle.

The good

1. The watch comes with a dual window setup.
2. It keeps the user updated about day and night.
3. The stainless steel buckle on the leather strap ensures a snug fit.
4. It can withstand sudden rain or normal water splashes.

The bad

1. The thickness of the case feels uncomfortable on thinner wrists.
2. The water resistance is not adequate for swimming or shower.

4. Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control Grande Ultra Thin Men's Watch

User experience

Buyers, who love lightweight and simply designed watches, will fancy putting this one around the wrist without any second thought. The thickness of the watch dial is the most attractive side of the watch.

Moreover, it doesn't have any numeral markers or any extra handles on the dial window. Having the simplest design brings elegance to the wearer's wrist. It is also loved as a fashionable watch because of the stainless steel bracelet.

More details about the watch

The watch has a stainless steel dial with a silver-tone bezel, markers, and handles. Even the strap comes in silver-tone color. It provides a simple design with twelve markers on the dial window.

Moreover, there is an extra small dial window available above the six o’clock position. It shows the movement of seconds. It also comes with a transparent case back, which is not common in JLC watches.

Moreover, the stainless steel bracelet is another uncommon addition to this watch. It has a push or pulls crown.  

The good

1. The thinner case is perfect for lightweight watch lovers.
2. It has a simple but elegant dial window.
3. The stainless steel bracelet increases the beauty.
4. It ensures the accuracy of timekeeping with the automatic Swiss movement.
5. The water resistance lets the watch withstand sudden water splashes.

The bad

1. The watch dial is not ideal for giant-size wrists.
2. It is not recommended to take the watch into the water.

Alternative

It seems Blancpain Villeret White Dial Black Leather Men's Watch 6606A-1127-55B is the most appropriate alternative to this JLC watch. It has a simple dial with a silver-tone, non-movable bezel. There are Roman numeric markers with two hour and minutes handles.

Moreover, the main window has a sub-window for seconds’ movement. Except for these similarities, the watch also has a small date showing the display. However, you will miss the stainless steel strap as it has a leather one.

5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Mechanical (Automatic) Blue Dial Watch

User experience

For those guys who love to wear simply designed watches find this watch useful to complete the outfit. With smoothen leather band with a blue dial, it provides a classic look on the user's wrist.

Even though it has a simple dial window, there is a small date showing display available. Moreover, most users find it a long-time usable because of the scratch-resistant crystal on the case.

More details about the watch

It is one of the most liked classic watches from JLC. It has a thinner case with ideal measurement. The dial window has a silver-tone, the non-movable bezel around. This geophysic watch has silver-tone markers and handles designed on the blue window.

It has twelve markers and on the three o’clock position, there is a small date showing display included. The strap is smoothened and brown-colored, which brings a modern vibe to the classic watch. It also has a steel pin buckle for proper wearing.

The good

1. It has a date showing a small window to keep updated with the moving time.
2. The sapphire crystal window keeps it scratch.
3. With the automatic movement, it provides accuracy in timekeeping.
4. The steel pin buckle ensures a proper attachment.
5. It can withstand normal water splash or sudden rain.

The bad

The water resistance doesn't support using the watch while swimming.

Alternative

You won’t find the exact alternative to this watch, but Rolex Explorer II Black Dial Stainless Steel Rolex Oyster Automatic Men's Watch seems to do a bit better job here. It is one of the simplest watches from Rolex but still looks far gorgeous.

It doesn’t have any extra sub-dials in the main window. Moreover, there is a date showing window on three o’clock position. However, there are two noticeable differences in these watches. Rolex model has numeral markers on the bezel and stainless steel bracelet.

Things to consider before buying Jaeger LeCoultre watches

Now that you have a lot about JLC and their watches, you might be thinking of purchasing one. Well, there's no trick to spend for the right watch as long as you don't know exactly what you are looking.

A quality JLC watch should have certain specifications and features. And as a buyer, you must ensure having these on the watch.

• The main dial should have a chronograph or sub-dials.
• Don’t purchase anything but stainless steel dial.
• It should have 50 meters of water resistance.
• The reverse dial is a must for athletes.
• A quality leather strap or stainless steel bracelet is necessary.

It may be still a bit confusing for the new buyers to understand what exactly he needs or what. Now let's dive deep into these things.

Watch dial construction

You will find stainless steel and platinum watch dials mainly in JLC. However, comparing these two dials, stainless steel will always remain on top. When you are looking for a durable watch, stainless steel dial is a must.

However, you can still go for platinum watches if it has other features on the highest peak. Except for the construction, one needs to check out the size and thickness as well.

You should choose the diameter of the dial depending on the wrist size. However, the thickness depends mostly on personal preference. A thicker dial will feel a bit bulkier on the wrist for sure.

Functional dial

Before going further, you need to ask yourself whether you need a simple watch or a functional one. A simply designed dial will mostly put importance on the classic or traditional look. However, it should lack features like a chronograph.

The highest functionality you can get in this type of watch is the date showing a small window. However, a functional watch can have a chronograph or sub-dials for days & seconds.

However, the most astonishing extra feature on these watches is the addition alarm. It is a rare thing in wristwatches. The choice of dial color, markers and handles color, Roman numeral or Numeric number markers everything varies from user to user.

Water resistance

To be honest, JLC doesn’t produce highly water-resistant watches. Most of their watches have 50 meters of water resistance. However, some rare models also offer up to 30 meters of water resistance.

None of these watches are good to take beneath the water. So, it is better to go for the highest water-resistant one. It means the buyer should go for a watch that offers water resistance up to 50 meters.

Although they are not suitable for swimming or diving, they can still maintain their performance after normal water splashes. Still, the user needs to be conscious while using the watch while going near the water.

Iconic watch

If you don’t want any conventional watch, just don’t think much and go for the iconic Reverso watch. It has the special feature of reversed dial. It is mostly suggested for the athletes who don't want to leave the watch behind while playing.

The Reverso watch was introduced to protect the watch in polo fields by reversing the main dial. The reverse dial was metallic that can withstand rough playing. However, sometimes the reverse dial also has another extra dial showing the time.

It gives another look on a similar watch, and you don't have to purchase another one for it. One can simply reverse the main dial by flipping it over.

Strong band

The band strength decides how long and how snugly it can hold the watch on your wrist. Mainly two types of bands are available in JLC watches, leather strap and stainless steel band.

Leather straps can come in two different designs, crocodile surface and smooth surface. The first one provides a traditional and classic look. On the other hand, the second one brings a modern vibe to the traditional strap.

About Jaeger LeCoultre

Jaeger LeCoultre or JLC is a prestigious watch brand, and from the beginning, they have used innovative ideas to produce several unique watches. The journey started back in 1833 in Le Sentier, Switzerland, and Antoine LeCoultre is the founder.

However, this Swiss watch-making brand turned to Paris and created a partnership with Edmond Jaeger. Edmond, later on, turned into the co-founder of JLC that we all know. In 1937, a partnership between Edmond Jaeger and Antoine's grandson Jacques David got official.

Here are some crucial facts and records of the brand before and after becoming JLC.

• They invented the thinnest pocket watch in 1907 with LeCoultre caliber 145.
• In 1925, they invented the world's smallest movement caliber 101, with nearly 100 components weighing around one gram.
• They introduced the Reverso watch in 1931.
• Their first automatic watch came in 1946.
• The world's first automatic alarm wristwatch Memovox came in 1956.
• In 1958, the first Geophysic chronometer got introduced.
• In 1982, they invented the worlds' thinnest quartz movement caliber 608.
• In 1987, hybrid quartz and mechanical movement named Mecaquartz got introduced.

Alternative to Jaeger LeCoultre watch

When you are looking for an alternative to Jaeger LeCoultre watches, you should for watches from other prestigious brands. When the question comes about prestige, Rolex is the most appropriate alternative to JLC. However, the list of alternative watch brands can also include - 

• Omega watches
• Puttick Philippe watches
• Blancpain watches 
• Aquaswiss watches.

All these brands have so far produced high-quality wristwatches with chronograph features and sub-dials. However, Rolex will even remain top of JLC in terms of prestige. On the other hand, JLC is not the part most renowned watch brands trinity.

Since it's not one of the trinity, you may think the watch brand is not worth comparing to Omega or Puttick Philippe watches. But in terms of prestige, JLC surpasses these two brands and the other listed brands.

But the problem is none of these brands produced reversible watch dials. It is okay to find rectangular watch dials in a few affordable brands as well as luxurious brands. However, the Reverso watch with a reversible dial remains unique.

Types of Jaeger LeCoultre watch

Throughout this long journey of watch-making, JLC has introduced many unique watches. Here, we will briefly talk about the different watches produced by JLC.

• Reverso watch
• Geophysic watch
• Master line watch
• The Duometre watch
• The Polaris watch
• Master Memovox watch

Reverso watch is the iconic watch from JLC, and it came out in 1931. It was made for the polo players to let them protect the watch in the field. The reversible mechanism flips down the main dial.

However, the watches can also have a secondary dial on the other half. Later on, a tribute to this iconic watch model came on as an ultra-thin Reverso model.

Geophysic watch came with the first international geophysical year on the main dial. It used technologies like self-compensating, balance springs, and anti-magnetic cages. It is supposed one of the most durable watches at that time.

JLC introduced the master line watch in 1992. It went through testing of 1,000 hours for the master naming. The watch offers pure elegance to watch enthusiasts.

JLC introduced another sensational watch in 2007, which is called the Duometre. It came up with a unique watch dial that contains a chronograph. It separates the different time zones. The use of blued and gold coloring made the watch easy to read.

Polaris watch was introduced back in 1968. However, JLC re-produced the watch in 2018. It features a world timer chronograph and a date showing sub-dial. It has a unique rotating bezel.

Master Memovox is another unique addition to JLC watches as it offers a built-in alarm feature.

Cost of Jaeger LeCoultre watches

The cost of JLC or Jaeger LeCoultre watches ranges from $4,500 to $60,000 or more. The cost mainly depends on the particular model you are looking to buy.

Reverso is the iconic watch from this brand, and it will cost more compared to other watches. However, you can also look for pre-owned watches.

FAQs

Is Jaeger LeCoultre watch better than Cartier watch?

Yes, Jaeger LeCoultre watches are always better than Cartier watches. The reason is that Cartier is not a specialized watch brand, rather a jewelry brand. Also, it can’t match the prestige of JLC in the watchmaking field.

Do Jaeger LeCoultre watches hold their value?

Holding the value of watches is a relative thing. If the comparison is with any brand other than Rolex, JLC will hold a better value. However, Rolex does the job in a far better way than JLC.

Which is more prestigious, JLC or IWC?

Of course, JLC is more prestigious than IWC. They have been making watches since 1833, and throughout these years, they have brought uniqueness to these inventions.

When Jaeger LeCoultre started their journey?

Jaeger LeCoultre started their journey back in 1833, Sentier, Switzerland. The founder of this Swiss watch-making brand is Antoine LeCoultre. Later on, Edmond Jaeger became the co-founder.

Which brand created the smallest caliber in the world?

JLC or Jaeger LeCoultre created the smallest caliber in the world, which is known as caliber 101.

Final verdict

JLC is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious watch brands. And there is no comparison with the iconic Reverso watch. Now let’s quickly go through a few crucial things from the above discussion.

• The Reverso watch has double dials to protect the main dial.
• JLC invented the world's smallest caliber.
• It has an alarming feature in the Memovox watch.
• The watches have 50 meters of water resistance.