HANDS-ON: Top of the world – the epic, awesome Jaeger-LeCoultre Tourbillon Geophysic Universal Time

Felix Scholz

As far as boss complications go, the world timer is pretty up there. Not only is it technically impressive, it’s also visually arresting: the city ring and typically colourful layout make walking around with one of these on your wrist the watch equivalent of playing Beyoncé’s ‘Run the World (Girls)’ wherever you go.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time takes it to the next level by adding — yes, you guessed it — a flying tourbillon into the mix, for that extra horological pop. But before we get to the tourbillon, let’s take a step back and talk Geophysic. The Geophysic collection, relaunched a few years ago, is a typically sober and not-too-dressy take on a scientist’s watch. A key feature of the line is the true second, which sees the hand move in crisp, one-second increments rather than the typical mechanical sweep. The true second featured on the regular production world timer, but hasn’t made it to this Tourbillon model. In fact, any form of seconds hand has dropped from the equation, to give all the more space for the flying tourbillon (the first ever integrated into a world timer), that forms the heart of calibre 948. For me, the coolest party trick of this watch is how the tourbillon cage moves slowly around the dial as the northern hemisphere rotates.

There’s a great depth to the tourbillon with its Gyrolab escapement, which — sitting in its closed-back dial aperture — captures and reflects every facet of light. But it’s not the only drawcard of this watch. The rest of the dial is stunning in its own right, especially the finely blue lacquered guilloché of the oceans. And then there’s the case, which is large (43.5mm across and 11.24mm high) and heavy, being made from platinum (what else). Simply put, this is a pure power watch, for people who have the world at their fingertips (literally).

Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time Australian pricing and availability

Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time, limited to 100 pieces, $212,000