JLCs Place in the Watch World

[iammatt]

JLC has the reputation of being the best value among the fine watches available. Where does their quality fall as far as the finishing of the movements and the movements in general? Also, how is the quality on the Limited editions such as the Master Platinum series?

Thanks.

[pchong]

JLC is one of the gems of the industry. Their finishing detail is not up to the highest levels of the trade, but they finish their watches to very high standards, and way above what is generally known as industrial standard - something personified by IWC, a sister company.

I think JLC deserves commendation for their work for the following reasons:

1. the Reverso is an icon. Nobody makes a watch which swivels on its own case, and immitators fail miserably. The Reverso case is made inhouse at their factory in Le Sentier, and is very well finished, and operates smoothly.

2. the value of inhouse addition is extremely high. All movement calibers used in a JLC watch are designed and made inhouse. They do not purchase ebauches from any other company.

3. the range of products they offer are immense, from the Reverso in several sizes, to the Caliber 101 which Queen E wore for her coronation, to the Master series of round shaped cases, and the only watchmaking company who still makes clocks. The Atmos are marvels, and run on their own, without intervention - no winding, batteries...it works by changes in room temperature.

4. creative and ingenious complications, and under the present management - Jerome Lambert's imaginative leadership, they have allowed genius like Eric Corday free hand to create interesting movements like the Gyrotourbillon and their latest minute repeater.

Hope this helps, and if you have other questions, please ask. Cheers.

[SJX]

For most of its existence, up till the 1990s, JLC was in the shadow of the more prestigious houses like Patek and Vacheron. JLC supplied exceptional quality movements to all the major houses but was you rarely see the JLC names on exceptional vintage timepieces.

Today, JLC is a very different company, it is run by a young and ambitious CEO, who wants to push JLC into the top tier of watchmakers. You'll see in recent years, JLC unveils technically impressive products every year, the Gyrotourbillon, Reverso Grand Comp, etc etc. In spite of all that, JLC has managed to more or less retain relatively reasonable pricing compared to the rest.

The only thing that leaves me uncomfortable is the large quantities in which JLC makes its complications, the Gyrotourbillon is an edition of 75 and the platinum 2 tourbillon is 500(!); annual JLC brand output is not public knowledge, but it is very large compared to Patek, VC, AP etc. Of course compensation comes by way of excellent pricing, the Platinum 2 was a bargain and is now sold out.