At the SIHH 2010, Jaeger-LeCoultre has introduced several collections designed for the most beautiful part of humankind. Among the new offerings, is a gorgeous (I know the word is rapidly losing its value, but the adjective seems to be the most appropriate in this particular instance) Master Lady Tourbillon Feathers that looks the most appealing thanks to its innovative dial design that includes, well, pieces of real feathers.
I am not the greatest expert on what women find beautiful, so, to make the experiment more scientifically correct, I showed pictures of this little piece of expensive gadget to my wife. Friends, what a terrible mistake it was!
Although preferring watches from 12-millimeter to 20-millimeter in diameter, she fell in love with this model, which is presented in an oversized, but slim rose gold (Ref. 3412401) or white gold (Ref. 3413401) body whole 39 millimeters in diameter.
After all, it is that rare example where a larger case serves a certain purpose. Featuring a painstakingly crafted tourbillon carriage with a mirror-polished bridge and tiny blued screws, as well as sporting an extremely refined decor of its face, the finely crafted dial demands a greater dial opening for us to fully appreciate its beauty.
The Tourbillon Feathers is animated by the relatively new (it was unveiled about three years ago) self-winding JLC Caliber 978.
Crafted in-house and sporting a tourbillon escapement, which is clearly visible at 6 o’clock, this Master Lady Tourbillon Feathers still doesn’t look overly complicated. Well, it is a complex mechanism, but it was designed to look as understated as possible in order not to rival the beauty of the timekeeper.
Unlike many other watches that are designed for men who are constantly obsessed with bridges and levers and planetary gears, this one features a tourbillon carriage that doesn’t intimidate you with its technical sophistication, but rather entertains with its dozens of diamonds set in the sub-dial rim, blued screws and meticulously crafted parts.
Of course, featuring numerous mother-of-pearl inserts that look like an Art deco representation of the Manhattan skyline, real feathers (omfg), and about half a pound of diamonds, this one is a pricey gadget and is certainly not among the most affordable gift ideas for the Valentines Day, which is rushing on us with a terrifying speed of a MagLev train.
See also: Patek Philippe Calatrava 4897 R for Ladies
Photos: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Lady Tourbillon Feathers specification
Price range: $145,200 (MSRP, ref. 3413401 in white gold)
Movement: JLC Calibre 978, automatic, 302 parts, 33 jewels, 28,800 vph, in-house, 7.05 mm high, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds (tourbillon)
Complications: Tourbillon regulator
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case: 18-karat pink gold (Ref. 3412401) or 18-karat white gold (Ref. 3413401)
Bezel: Studded with 315 and 341 diamonds respectively
Shape: Round
Transparent back: Yes, sapphire crystal
Size: 39.00 mm
Dial: Mother-of-pearl, feathers, and diamonds
Hands: White or pink gold
Strap: Satin, alligator leather with gold folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 meters