HOLIDAY BUYING GUIDE: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second
Felix Scholz
The first thing you notice is that the second hand lacks the smooth sweep that’s the hallmark of a mechanical movement. This one jumps, in assured, single-second increments just like a quartz watch.
Jaeger-LeCoultre is renowned for slender and refined timepieces, so this year’s focus on the utilitarian Geophysic represents a slight – but significant – change of course.
The Geophysic True Second is simple, round, 39.6mm steel watch, with a new, finely grained dial, baton hands and long, mirror-finished hour markers, small lume plots and a date at three. Many people would be happy enough with this well-finished, clean and versatile watch as is – but this watch has a little something extra to separate it from the pack. In this instance, that something extra is the second hand.
The first thing you notice is that it lacks the smooth sweep that’s the hallmark of a mechanical movement, instead it jumps in assured, single-second increments just like a quartz watch. But turn it over and batteries are clearly not included. Rather, you’ll find yourself staring down the beautifully finished barrel of the Calibre 770.
This movement highlights everything that’s great about modern JLC – in-house, impressively finished and highly technical, packed with technical innovations and user-friendly features. But at the heart of this movement is the True Second function – that gives the watch its telltale tick.
The Geophysic speaks to the quiet confidence and technical capacity that defines JLC, and neatly ties in the brand’s prestigious history.
RRP A$11,800 JAEGER-LECOULTRE.COM