The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre Unique Time Travel: Last year we looked at Jaeger’s Duomètre a Chronographe, which employed the manufacture made Dual-Wing first introduced in 2007. Jaeger-LeCoutre literally introduced it as “One watch, two brains”. You see, the concept behind the movement that the Duomètre range uses are two distinct mechanisms within the movement: one ensures timekeeping accuracy – to Chronometer levels of course – while the other powers a range of additional functions, like the moon phase complication in the Duomètre Quantieme Lunair. While dual time zones have been used before in the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon, the new Duomètre Unique Travel Time in pink gold features a dial layout structured entirely around this function.
Like the Unique Time Travel that was introduced in 2013 and made only available at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Paris boutique: the two-time zone dials sit side by side and for a world’s first it enables the wearer to adjust the second time zone down to the exact minute regardless of the difference. The home dial at 2 o’clock features hour and minutes hands on a classic dial configuration with four Arabic numerals in pink gold (at 12, 3, 6, and 9). The travel dial at 10 o’clock is completely different, with large aperture that displays the jumping hours at the sub dial’s 12 o’clock position and a blued minute’s hand. At first glance, the second time zone may not make for easy reading but when considered it only makes sense to ensure no confusion between the time zones.
The striking feature of the Unique Time Travel is the bright blue and gold globe at 6 o’clock, which displays a world map surrounded by the time-zone indications and the day/night ring. The globe works in tandem with the travel time. Adding to its ease of use the single crown is employed to adjust the local time in position 2 and the travel time in position 1, and, as well as to wind the mainsprings when in position 0. Once both time zones are synchronised, the traveller can simply use the push-pieces at 8 and 10 o’clock to adjust the jumping hours in the left sub dial according to the destination.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house calibre 383 sits at the heart of the Duomètre Unique Travel Time. This manual-wind movement with 50-hour power reserve consists of 498 parts all finished and assembled by hand. The hallmark of the Dual-Wing is that the two timekeeping mechanisms has its own power reserve, enabling better accuracy. So on one hand, you have a part of the movement which is only responsible for the time and on the other a part which is only responsible for the additional functions (i.e. Chronograph or GMT function). But what is really nice, when flipped over the calibre 383 can be seen working away through the sapphire crystal case back. The engraved names of the cities corresponding to the world’s 24 time zones are also visible on the outer ring of the crystal case back.
The Unique Time Travel measures 42mm in diameter and 13.65mm thick, made of 18 carat pink gold, with a brown alligator leather strap which fits quite snuggly on the wrist, though some may find it slightly large. When you peer closely at the dial you’ll notice the beautifully grained silver toned dial that is nicely complimented by leaf-shaped hour and minutes hands.
The Duomètre Unique Travel Time truly is a remarkable piece and makes perfectly good use of the Dual-Wing movement. Though some may find the GMT globe at 6 o’clock a bit of a novelty, I actually think it adds great character to this timepiece and places it in a realm of exquisite high-end watchmaking but with a bit more versatility. Though this Unique Time Travel is made of pink gold, I still believe it offers more in the way of options of what sort of attire it goes well with and just like the pink gold Reverso, it can also be worn with formal or casual attire. As mentioned before the only thing that may be a bit of a turn off are the dimensions, which does make the UTT sit a little high on the wrist. The Duomètre Unique Travel Time in pink gold isn’t currently available just yet but will be available to buy within the next quarter of 2014 and is priced at £31,500 incl. VAT.
For more information on the Duomètre Unique Travel Time, visit the official Jaeger-LeCoultre website.
You might also like
