Jaeger LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time

Jaeger-LeCoultre Géophysic Universal Time: Mercator’s idea of universal

With its original approach to mechanics, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Geophysic Universal Time extends a very unique invitation to every possible change of scene in every possible way.

By Vincent Daveau
Contributor

Some wristwatches are proper invitations to travel. With the Géophysic Universal Time, Jaeger-LeCoultre has found the right balance between fantasy and functionality. The aim was to guarantee its wearer the privilege of having the world at their fingertips combined with the reassurance a reliable mechanical watch offers during trips abroad.

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time

Essentially beautiful

It is no understatement that watches are men’s jewels. This is why experts are always so satisfied when they see their choice makes a real impression on observers. Results are guaranteed with the Geophysic Universal Time: the 41.6-mm piece, available in steel or 18K pink gold, sports many interesting features that will no doubt help tip the balance in its favor at the store. The size of its middle is almost canonical and allows for the 11.84-mm thick watch to perfectly fit the wrist of men between 1.70m and 1.85m tall. Further, the piece isn’t extremely thin; just enough to allow its owner to easily slide the watch under their buttoned cuff links to subtly peek at the time.

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time The caliber JLC 772

Complexity with daring simplicity

The visually striking piece features complicated yet user-friendly functionalities and it is driven by a self-winding mechanical caliber so sober in appearance that it makes it difficult to guess just how complicated it really is. All in all, the Géophysic® Universal Time is a paradox in every way, which does nothing but enhance its appeal. Indeed, a less-informed enthusiast might at first think the piece to be driven by a quartz caliber as the seconds hand jumps every second. The truth is, however, the self-winding mechanical caliber ref. JLC 772 was assembled in a way that enables the seconds hand to jump from one index to another. The caliber is equipped with a new balance derived from the one made for the Master Compressor Extreme Lab 1 (Gyrolab) and was developed and produced in the manufacture's workshops. The official name of this functionality is "Seconde Morte". Essentially, it helps to read the particularly precise display of short times. Also, in this case, it is combined with a universal hour complication that globe-trotters very much appreciate. However, to meet the need to rationalize functionality, the operating of the display was simplified to make it easy to implement.

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time

Tested functionality

Novice watch aficionados will thus appreciate the manufacture's choice to focus on simplicity. Once the time is set on the piece, its wearer can read the time in all time zones in the world at any moment thanks to the rotating ring that features numbers 1 to 24 divided into two zones: day and night (the ring's color changes to enhance recognition). It is up to the piece's owner to check that the number facing the city corresponding to the time zone in which they are matches the actual time (if it is 6 p.m. in Geneva, the number opposite Paris  - which is Geneva’s time zone - will have to be 18 and not 6).

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time

A star marked next to some of the cities means that they belong to those time zones where the energy-saving practice of changing the time in the summer, dating back from the oil crisis, is still in place. In those cases, the piece allows for summertime times to be calculated. Purists who are used to handling traditional Universal Time watches will notice that in those cities the plate is fixed as opposed to the usual practice of being mobile. In fact, in order to obtain the time of the country the wearer is travelling to, they only have to pull on the crown of the appropriate notch to make the hour hand jump until it displays the official time that can be seen on the ring opposite the city of reference. Very simple indeed!

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time

Last but not least, the pink gold version of the very-balanced watch comes with an alligator strap closed with a pin buckle whilst the steel version features a deployment buckle.

Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic Universal Time

And receive each week a custom selection of articles.

SIHH 2018: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Collection

By Rhonda RicheEditor-At-Large
Bringing back the legendary dive watch with four fantastic, vintage-inspired timepieces.

The 2017 Passione Engadina with Jaeger-LeCoultre

By Josh ShanksContributor
At the invitation of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new Deputy CEO Geoffroy Lefebvre, Watchonista attended this year’s Passione Engadina in St. Moritz. What...

Everything revolves around the balance - Part 1

By Vincent DaveauContributor
The arrival of a new type of balance at the heart of the regulating organ of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Geophysic prompted us to look into the history of...