It is absolutely evident that JLC is in very good hands: passionate, elegant, visionary, respectful to history, innovative, and with that indisputable touch of class. The Lady is the ideal representative of and leader for JLC! Thank you Mrs Rénier!
Imagine having a CEO this passionate in every company! Viel Glück, Catherine! Hope you can achieve everything you aspire to in this legendary manufacture
BP Thank you for the feedback and the compliment you made to Catherine... I am sure she will get noticed about such comments... If you want to visit and join our group let us know ...
This Lady is great representative for the company, you can tell Her love and passion for the company-great. Its very cool they are open to visitors too, I like JLC even more now.
Thank you for the feedback! What I liked is that you really felt her excitement talking about "her" brand... I got goosebumps when listening to her ...
Another wonderful video Alexander. I love JLC and seeing the enthusiasm of the CEO for the brand and its artists just reinforces that love. Thank you so much.
Great interview with a very attractive CEO of Jaeger LeCoultre. The holy trinity is not there anymore. It should be the holy five! Patek, A Lange & Sohne, AP, JLC and VC. Just my two cents.
Greetings from Newfoundland, Canada! To echo some of the other comments here, it is so refreshing to see an executive with such sincere and enthusiastic passion for the company she works for and the products they build. I have been a fan of quality time pieces my whole life but would never allow myself the indulgence of treating myself to one until a couple of years ago. Like a lot of people, family and household obligations always took priority. It took some heath issues to finally convince me that I should not put it off any longer so I did what I could to put away a little extra money until I could finally make it happen. The buying experience was wonderful. I hope to one day find a way to do it again and purchase a Reverso Duoface as I am so in awe of that exquisite watch. As it did for me, this interview should only heighten the watch community’s respect for a company that obviously takes such pride in their traditional craftsmanship. Very impressive indeed!
R P Greetings from Vienna Austria! What a story, thank you so much for sharing it with us! I try with what I do to inspire you guys too take a closer look at watches and to help you to make up your decisions. Since I collect watches too and I know how hard it is sometimes to achieve the next goal and buy another ticking baby I fully understand what you went through and you are going to go through again...
What an articulate and passionate lady. I hope she can steer Jaeger-LeCoultre in the right way to assume its position among the watch-making giants. A good video indeed.
Bravo B Catherine does a great job so far. Jaeger-LeCoultre needs continuity and a clear vision for the future. After Jérôme Lambert left there followed two CEO’s only for a short period. A balanced mix in-between elegant women’s and men’s watches, complications and super complications is what suits the brand best. Not to forget a small choice of superb sports watches...
What a wonderful choice for C.E.O. This lady is a dynamite of enthusiasm for: jaeger Le Coultrer & epitomises the timepieces --class-. They are for me, my first choice of watch. My first Jaeger Le Coultrer. Was my father's ; a simple , elegant caliber, manual wind, set in a rose gold case. It's 60 years old & still gets admiring remarks ( not the reason for wearing it) yet a couple of others I have don't seem to elicit the same comments-yet beautiful pieces, which of course delight me. Truly, are :Jaeger Le Coultrer, the watchmakers of watchmakers ; & are in good hands. As always excellent video.
John Hughes I think Catherine will like to read this comment! What I see is that she focuses on the core values of JLC and there with she will be successful...
Great interview. Your enthusiasm is genuine. Did any else notice the picture of the Great Wave off Kanagawa that was on one of the work tables? Maybe someone from Seiko had visited recently 🙂
Andy I can confirm you that the people of the manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre are in fact special. For at least 25 I come to the Vallée de Joux ... I have met hundreds of employees (watchmakers, engineers, technicians and workers) and between us there was always a particular friendly atmosphere ...
Great to see such passion and craftsmanship embodied and appreciated by Catherine and La Grande Maison. Fantastic interview! While I like many watch brands, I think JLC is my favourite. Such design perfection, quality, watch making brilliance and restraint. Understated brilliance. A shame restraint is not so appreciated in the current market, but maybe things are improving as people become more educated by content like this. I for one would love to visit the factory one day.
Thanks a lot for the program I really enjoyed it . I first got to know the brand JLC from a TikTok video . Ever since i tried to learn more about the brand . I can’t deceive you guys , I really found in love with the brand most especially the Duo reverso . I am planning to buy one though it’s very expensive but I think it’s worth the money 💰. Am a Nigerian 🇳🇬 watching from Germany 🇩🇪
thanks a lot for the reply I really appreciate you sir . Please I have some questions relating to this brand sir , i would like to write you on your email address on not RU-vid sir thanks
The best JLC pieces were made in the past, the era of Riverso Art Deco that I am privileged to own, keep it haute horology and do not compromise. Thanks to this gorgeous lady and brand!!
JLC must be positioned much more as a brand developing and manufacturing so called “Haute Horlogerie” pieces ... People want to buy real ticking luxury and this is what JLC will have to offer in the next years...
I have to revalidate my choice before purchasing a new watch. I didn't know that every part of a JLC was made inhouse. That makes a watch like the Polaris almost a bargin. Thank u for charing your knowledge with me.
As a Jaeger LeCoultre owner and passionate enthusiast I wish Mrs. Rénier all success and a bright future to Jaeger LeCoultre. My wish: bring back the Master Compressor family as well as Magali Métrailler for new designs.
In my opinion they are the best behind Patek. I own 2 Grand Seikos and a Reverso. My goal was to stay under the radar with my collection but the reverso is a conversation starter every time I wear it and it gets a lot of attention. Absolutely amazed at the craftsmanship and it’s an unspeakable joy every time I wear it which is why I haven’t made the jump to Rolex.
Why would you want to add a Rolex if you want to stay under the radar? A Rolex is a VERY, VERY, VERY good watch, but unfortunately manufactured in very high quantities and used by to many just to show off... A Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is a clear statement of excellent taste and on top you wear a design icon manufactured in very small quantities at a top notch quality...
Great interview with a very sympathetic CEO! As I collect JlC since nearly 20 years I'd love to join a visit at my Favorit manifakturer! Greetings from Graz Christian
Great video. Appreciate how you controlled your gushing and allowed her to share. I fear I'd have had a hard time shutting up. I'm a colossal fan of the Polaris line and this summer plan on getting the magical Polaris Automatic in blue for my ten-year wedding anniversary. If we weren't going to Italy already I'd try and to swing by to Switzerland to visit JLC. Mrs. Reiner is impossibly charming and her enthusiasm is infectious. Maybe one day. That would be truly amazing.
I would love to visit JLC’s facilities, I have just bought a JLC Polaris date and I would like to see how it was made. As an engineer it fascinates me the level of detail and engineering that goes into a watch.
The Bearded Yorkshireman If you want you still can join our group visiting JLC September 18th. The only thing you need to do is to arrive at GVA airport the 17th during late afternoon... Then, starting from there, we will take 100% care of you and bring you back to the airport the 18th late afternoon ... Interested? Please send an email to alexander[ad]watchadvisor.com and I’ll send you the complete program of our visit including the CEO joining us...
Alexander you get better and better with your interviews, you have learned the art of asking and then listening. What a beautiful and intelligent women. She is the second one now the last was the head of Piaget both very informative. Just last week I was at a large local AD for JLC and tried on watches. I truly plan on adding one to my meager collection. It will be clearly the center piece. What I'm doing now is trying to pick the one in my price range I can afford. They have some beautiful "NOVELTIES" at my price point. Now to just pick one. I plan on asking your opinion on the final selection when the time comes. Yes put together a trip my friend.
Robert Sullivan Robert, first of all thank you for the positive feedback! Whenever you have made up your mind let me (us) know so I (we) can reflect on your choices... Are you interested in joining us for the visit? Is this possible for you? There is no date yet since I am still waiting some days to see how many we are going to be...
As you put things together let me know and I will see if the timing is right but it sounds great. As a suggestion since many will be traveling a long way, maybe you should think of more than one spot. Kind of like winery and distillery tours in other countries. I know it might be too much work and your not a Travel agent, so it's just a suggestion. @@WatchAdvisor
Cool video. I love JLC for their timelessness romance, class, understated elegance and discretion. I got to know JLC through the Reverso and the Memovox which to me are icons as well as the Geophysic. When I discovered the Memovox Tribute to Polaris 1968 in 2008, I had to have it and luckily I got it immediately at retail. It is a beautiful watch and I love the fact that it sings. It's funny, we were chatting about Rolex but I much prefer the understated elegance and far superior calibre quality and finish from JLC. Oh, and after registering my watches on the JLC website I received an invitation for a watchmaker initiation course in Paris which is my town; it was a fabulous experience to dis-assemble and re-assemble a JLC calibre _ without the balance spring assembly as these are too fragile _ the JLC CEO of the time went to greet us too. Awesome ! Any idea if Rolex allows factory visits and offers watchmaking courses to their customers ?
The image shown is the famous painting by Katsushika Hokusai, “Under the Wave off Kanagawa” and part of his “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” Given the focus of this video is JLC, a web search for the origin of Seiko’s wave logo is a better option. Great video and thanks so much for your channel.
Years ago I purchased a JLC Geophysic 1958. It was a limited edition release and I was fortunate to be able to pick up the reference. One day soon I plan to tour the facility with my watch on wrist. There will be something kind of cool about bringing the piece back home to where it was born.
@@WatchAdvisor THANK YOU! I will definitely take you up on your generous offer. We’re trying to plan the trip in April 2022 so I will be in touch as time draws near. Thank you again!
@@WatchAdvisor Do you happen to know if JLC maintains a record of the specific Watchmaker who assembled a watch? I’d love to be able to visit with him/her and have a picture taken together if possible. That would be really special. I didn’t know if you felt something like that could be arranged during my visit next year?
@@WatchAdvisor Greetings! I wanted to see if I can get your assistance arranging a Manufacturer tour at JLC? My wife and I have now scheduled our trip to Switzerland and looking to arrange a visit/tour of JLC on June 20, 2023. Any suggestions in how to arrange it? Thanks in advance!
I don't like Vacheron and AP, but A. Lange und Söhn and JLC are in my dreams. I can not afford this watches, I just wear Citizen Autozilla and Seiko Tuna, but I look at RU-vid and I dream of a day when I can have something like that on my hand.
Coman Norbert Coman, thank you for your sharing this with us. I know that watches make us dream. I am confronted with the “problem” regularly. As you I can not afford all of them, but still my fascination for them stays alive ...
It’s the unique Brand that I would like to visit.. I’m a military soldier in Italy and I wearing everyday my spectacular Jaeger lecoultre navy seals alarm special boutique edition made in only 62 pieces.. love this watch and love this unique brand.👏
Great place to visit. Have my solid Gold JLC Club edition from 60s. Wearing it from time to time, vintage style is really eye catching and winding it every morning is great ritual creating awareness of time, preparing for another day o life. Great visit and the CEO must be a grear passionate and human being. Greetings!
Merci Alexander for the wonderful look into JLC. It’s would be great to have a follow up video concentrating on the master craftsmen and women who create the magic. I’m definitely interested in a visit to JLC if you can organise it. My wife and I are planning a Swiss horological tour some time in the near future.
Jacques Rizzi Thank you for the input! I should definitely make a deep dive and produce some more films. The visit will take place! It would be wonderful if you wanted to join us. Please do not forget to send me an email...
JLC thanks for giving me the JLC Riverso Art Deco and the Grand Taille, The CEO is the perfect lady to have a cup of flat white coffee with whilst discussing the golden era of JLC in the mid 90s to early naughties.
@@WatchAdvisor Ja, man kann ihre Energie und Leidenschaft wirklich spüren! Ich bin sicher, sie ist eine sehr gute Chefin und wird viel Erfolg haben. (Der letzte Chef - der "interim CEO" - war aber auch ziemlich gut. Der neue Polaris z.B. war sein Projekt, glaube ich?)
Jay Burgess Das sehe ich auch so! Entwicklungen dauern üblicherweise drei bis fünf Jahre, deshalb ist es mitunter schwer zu sagen wer hat was gemacht...
I have researched and fell in love with Jaeger LeCoultre (especially the Reverso). I am working towards a professional goal in December and once I accomplish that goal, the Reverso will be my reward for the hard work I put in.
Jaeger-LeCoultre deserve to be mentioned alongside the Holy Trinity. Considering their incredible history and incredible innovations. I am excited by their current offerings. The future Of Jaeger- LeCoultre looks very bright.
QUARTERS-EYE I like your feedback! Thanks! Is there your favorite JLC-watch? Mine in the moment is the Polaris Memovox, the one they made for the 40th anniversary.
The Master ultra thin moon and Reverso are my favorite. I am looking to buy a very Special Jaeger LeCoultre for my birthday this year. There are so many wonderful choices, it's very hard to decide. I wish I could visit Switzerland and visit the Head Quarters. Perhaps someday. Thank you for the Reply. Best Regards, Steven @@WatchAdvisor
Makes such a nice change when the CEO's of these companies actually have enthusiasm and personality. Enjoyed this access. Am not a slave to any brand so this comment is not biased but I really believe JLC belong at the top table in the industry. It's all subjective of course and the "holy trinity" doesn't really mean anything. But,I think we could say that Jlc,and a lange and sohne certainly make stronger arguments these days than say audemars?
A visit is definitely on my wish list. I have a Polaris chrono and Reverso Classic Large Duoface, small seconds. They are two of the favourites in my collection. I disagree JLC should not be in the big three, they should be above them. 👍
Chris Beckman Thank you for the positive feedback Chris! We will definitely make a (several) video(s) of the visit, so you can see what we have seen...
Dear Alexander, I would love to visit the JLC maison d'horlogerie! If you could organize such a visit, I'd be absolutely thrilled! Thank you very much already in advance.
I will definitely save up for a Jaeger Lecoultre! I hope the 3 dial Master Chronograph is not phased out in the next few years. Or ever! A Reverso Large Classic Small Seconds would also be great.
My question was more a Statement than a question but you did it. Respect! But I am still curious why is this brand not under the top three? This brand has everything! Thank and bye
You wrote. " But I am still curious why is this brand not under the top three?" There was and is a lack in communicating to again and again tell the world about the true values of the manufacture. It is as as the people at JLC are: They are very successful, but still very modest, with their two feeds on the ground...
@@WatchAdvisor I see two aspects about seeing and paying for value... as a matter of fact... people don't see the true craftmanship as the main value... the most of the watchbuyers are seeing acceptance as the most important value... and thats the problem... I think...
Very interesting. I slightly prefer JLC in favour of the others. I prefer simple and elegant with few complications but with a little excitement. I am considering the Master Conntrol Ultra Thin Moon in steel, but there are a few other contenders from JLC. First and foremost I like the idea of wearing a miniature piece of art on my wrist and then there is the secondary practicality that it will tell me the time !
@@WatchAdvisor Dear Sir, thank you for your reply. May l please trouble you with this question. Is the JLC Q1358480, Master Ultra Thin , steel with small seconds, sunburst blue dial still available to purchase new. It looks stunning but l won't be too disappointed if l have to consider an alternative. The ultra thin moon and new Master Control date and Master Control calendar are all equally stunning. The Master Control Calendar has a lot of information on the dial but they have managed to retain an elegant and neat face without it appearing over cluttered with information. I really think this is a remarkable achievement and is probably my favorite. Thank you , and your videos are very well produced and interesting
I am a big fan of JLC and own several pieces. If I may make a suggestion. My Extreme LAB 2 was initially mentioned having a silicon escapement however it eventually came with a normal escapement due to technical difficulty. By now the adoption of silicon parts in watchmaking must surely have created enough knowhow for JLC to overcome the technical issue. So, I suggest JLC offer a complimetary upgrade to a silicon escapement for all Extreme LAB 2 when customers send their watch in for service. It's just a suggestion or rather an idea. But imagine, wouldn't it be taking excellent customer service to the stratosphere?
I’d love to see them greatly expand their Reverso dial options and then let the customers choose. Make mine blue reversing to rouge, marching blue strap with rouge stitching.
It would be an excellent idea to allow customised watch special orders. It would take time though as once the watch is complete then it has to undergo the 1000 hours certification tests.
Thanks for the interesting clip. BTW: I just bought the official last of 1000 Polaris Memovox 2018. May I know if the watch is designed for swimming and/or skin diving? I do intend to swim with it, but I am informed that each crown has only one gasket inside the watch, and that’s seems not a standard design for dive/water sport watches with my limited knowledge. I quite worry about this.
How the company has changed! I remeber my old man's classic JLS coming bck from repair in the 1990's with the wrong colored crown! Interesting to see Hokusai's Okinami / Tsunami wave in the atelier... I do love JLC but they lost my respect when they started producing those ridiculous Navy Seals special editions. OK still have a soft spot for the Geo True Second - how very JLC! Great to see such a lady in charge, I very much hope she'll bring some finess and elegance back to the brand!
ChawenHalo 008 Catherine will focus on the true values of the brand. Don’t overrate these Navy Seal watches, since at the time being they made sense in the JLC collection. It was necessary to inject some testosterone since the brand was much to baroque... Today JLC also needs both testosterone and class ... there are buyers appreciating both ....
My advice for JLC as a customer is to focus on the Reverso line and have a comeback on these. There is so much innovation they can do on the Reverso line. The Duometre is a killing watch but a bit too large. They should try to reduce the size to 40mm and slim it down. Anyway, the Reverso line is the core range which JLC is well known for. Just do some spectacular Reversos again. Bring in different dial and killer movements again.
JLC already once focused very much on the reverso and offered all kind of variations, including sport watches... The main problem of the Reverso is that it is not round... and a vast majority of buyers want exactly this ... I remember Grand Seigneur Helmut Wempe once saying to me: "Only a round watch is a watch" ...
@@WatchAdvisor Thanks for the reply. I think the JLC are so under rated and the quality is superb. It's probably the price point and the competition that means there are so many choices. I do find the prices of the newer pieces are very high so cannot get them. Their older Reverso with 8 days reserve are so good. Build like a tank with the heft like a gold bar. Pity they cannot hold the value as well as others.
being the CEO of JLC is very tough since they have set the standards so high class already it's a matter of further improvisations upon that.and so far she has nailed it!
WatchAdvisor I agree, this year’s releases were rather in-exciting compared to the prior 2 years. This year’s launch looked more like a new line of woman’s dress watches.
Tony Ko Women are as men potential buyers and therefore we will always see differences in the offers year per year... The “Polaris” last year was for men, don’t forget ...
JLC ranks among the top five ticking players in the world I would say. Since almost everything (maybe not the alligator straps, since they have no crocodile farm) is done in-house you get 100 % JLC and not a mixture of a little here and a little there. In terms of quality and finishing the brand clearly is underestimated. Catherine knows that and she will change this ....
I don't think their perpetual calendars are anywhere close to Lange or Patek in terms of quality, but they are at a completely different price point. You can get a JLC Master Perpetual for around 20k retail, which is insane. You won't even get an annual calendar from the other big boys for that price.
Philip A Winged A. Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe are positioned (!) to be in another league, but this must not necessarily mean, that a perpetual calendar from Jaeger-LeCoultre, just because less expensive, offers an inferior quality...
@@WatchAdvisor thanks for responding! What I do know with JLC, since I once owned a Master Perpetual, is that when the year changes, which is obviously the biggest "movement" for a perpetual calendar, the JLC does not change instantaneously. In fact, it took about 3-4 hours for the change to happen with my JLC master perpetual! When watches with a way higher price point change their year, it is instantaneous! Also, what I noticed with watches that cost a lot more, is that they tend to have a more robust movement when it comes to setting the time. The JLC had to add a little indicator to tell you when it's safe to set the time and when it isn't, which while a nice touch, makes it more difficult to use. Watches at a way higher price point (we are talking 6 digits here) often can be set without the user having to worry about damaging the movement. Again, for the price of 20k, it is in my opinion an inferior movement due to the aforementioned points, but still an excellent price for a perpetual calendar, and with a moonphase no less! An incredible timepiece!
Too many newcomers to watches who think rolex is a higher tier than JLC. As a relative oldie who bought watches in the 2000s, JLC has always been as more exclusive than rolex. This obsession with rolex daytonas and subs is super dumb.
The release of the Gryo tourbillon at SIHH was incredible and made even prouder to own a piece from JLC. I would like to see them become a more recognised brand, I feel under their new CEO’s stewardship this may finally happen!
WatchAdvisor visiting JLC is on my post-covid wishlist. Perhaps my sons will accompany me. I thought it would be a good idea to buy my reverso while being there.
Dear Alexander . I wrote proper date meaning big date that can be read easily. Those with moonphase and little circular date i am not able to see it properly. Searching for a reverso with big date . Thank you
