Jaeger-LeCoultre has long dedicated itself to the mastery of precision, with the manufacture spending the better part of the past two centuries in pursuit of unparalleled accuracy. While the manufacture is perhaps best known for its iconic Reverso—which it served up several iterations of last year—this year sees Jaeger-LeCoultre hone in on this core principle, debuting three new Duomètre references at Watches & Wonders 2024.
Introduced in 2007, the patented Duomètre concept was developed to address the fundamental issue with any complex mechanical watches; namely, that any complication (think a chronograph or minute repeater) naturally uses up some of the power provided by the barrel, thereby disrupting the constant supply required by the regulating organ to fulfil its function as accurately as possible. The solution? Two barrels, each with a separate gear train, housed within a single calibre and linked to a single regulating organ; one barrel powers the time indications while the other is used for any additional functions.
The trio of new releases for 2024 from Jaeger-LeCoultre showcases the Duomètre concept paired with a different complication. Here’s what you need to know.
Duomètre Heliotourbillon Perpetual
- The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Heliotourbillon Perpetual pairs a tourbillon regulating mechanism with a perpetual calendar with a grand date display
- The tourbillon rotates on three axes, creating the visual effect of a spinning top
- It’s housed in a 44mm rose gold case with powered by an in-house manually wound movement
- Powered by the in-house manually winding calibre 388
Despite featuring both a perpetual calendar and a grade date display, the eye is immediately drawn to the regulating mechanism taking up the left side of the dial of the Duomètre Jaeger-LeCoultre Heliotourbillon Perpetual. The triple-axis tourbillon moves in a manner akin to a spinning top, however the decision to place it on three axes was functional rather than visual. Originally devised with pocket watches in mind, the traditional single-axis tourbillon does not account for the effects of gravity in all positions; this multi-axis tourbillon is designed to be more effective in the positions that a wristwatch may find itself in.
The perpetual calendar is one of the most complex complications to master; with the mechanism accounting for leap years and only requiring a correction in the year 2100 (a centenary year which is not a leap year). Notably, the in-house manually wound calibre 388 powering the timepiece allows the hours and minutes to be set backwards or forwards without compromising the perpetual calendar; typically the former desynchronises the calendar and can damage the mechanism. The namesake mechanism powers the watch through two barrels, each individually generating 50 hours of power reserve.
Model: Duomètre Heliotourbillon Perpetual (Q6202420)
Case size: 44mm
Movement: 388 (manually wound)
Functions: hours and minutes, seconds, heliotourbillon, perpetual calendar (day, date, month, year), moon phases, two power reserves
Power reserve: 50 hours per barrel
Duomètre Chronograph Moon
- The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Chronograph Moon is equipped with a 1/6th of a second chronograph and a moonphase display
- It’s housed in a 42.5mm case; with a choice of rose gold with a silver opaline dial or platinum with an copper-toned opaline dial
- Powered by the new in-house manually winding calibre 391
A moonphase and a chronograph are an atypical pairing; one complication looking to the heavens and the other firmly rooted in practicality. However, Jaeger-LeCoultre does it in style, with the Duomètre Chronograph Moon housing both complications on an attractive—if slightly cluttered—dial. The mechanism powering the mono-pusher chronograph beats six times a second, allowing for accuracy to 1/6th of a second; indicated via the flying seconds display at 6 o’clock. Meanwhile, the upper half of the dial contains the moonphase and night-day complications.
Two open-worked sections on the lower half of the dial allow for a glimpse at the mechanism, the full complexity of which is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.
Model: Duomètre Chronograph Moon (Q622252J and Q622656J)
Case size: 42.5mm
Movement: 391 (manually wound)
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; chronograph with 12-hour counter, 60-minute counter, 1/6th-second counter, and central chronograph seconds; moon phases, night & day, two power reserve indicators
Power reserve: 50 hours per barrel
Duomètre Quantième Lunaire
- The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire is a novel addition to the range, being the first Duomètre crafted from stainless steel
- The 42.5mm case is inspired by the savonette pocket watches of the 19th century, named so for their resemblance to small palm-sized soap discs
- The new case is common to all three 2024 Duomètre releases
The most pared-back of the trio, the Duomètre Quantième Lunaire is encased in stainless steel which complements its deep blue dial. The simplicity of the design puts symmetry and impeccable finishes at the forefront, with the three subdials forming an inverted pyramid. The subdial at 3 o’clock displays the time, the subdial at 9 o’clock displays the date with a hand and features a moonphase aperture, and the smaller subdial at 6 o’clock houses the flying seconds counter.
Model: Duomètre Quantième Lunaire (Q604848J)
Case size: 42.5mm
Movement: 381 (manually wound)
Functions: hour, minutes, central seconds, 1/6th of a second, moon phases, date, two power reserves
Power reserve: 50 hours per barrel
Albert Review will be covering Watches & Wonders 2024 as it unfolds. For more novelties, horological news, and new releases, check out our Watches & Wonders coverage here.
Words by Henry Blake
