49 watches from the private collection of Prof. F. A. Porsche of the famed sports car marque and his sons will be auctioned by Bonhams on Dec. 2 in London during its Fine Watches and Timepieces sale. Included are timepieces by Eterna, Porsche Design, Rolex, Panerai, Jaeger LeCoultre, Breitling, Chronoswiss, Omega and more. Of particular note are prototypes and unique examples of Eterna and Porsche Design watches custom made for the Porsche family. The latter includes a fine 18 carat gold chronograph (above) made especially by Eterna (now owned by Porsche) and presented to Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche for his 40th birthday, estimated at £4,000 - £6,000. Also included in the collection is a very rare Rolex Explorer with ivory dial (£,5000 -£7,000), a selection of Panerai watches including a Luminor Flyback (£3,000 - £5,000), and an original Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris from 1960 (£5,000 - £7,000).

[via JamesList]

Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin have been together for more than fifty years, ever since Aston won its first Le Mans in 1959 with a DBR1 sporting a Jaeger clock. The two companies began to make the most of that partnership only a few years ago, when Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the AMVOX1.

The second generation timepieces -- easily remembered as AMVOX2 -- begin with this, the AMVOX2 Chronograph. The vertical-trigger chronograph is the first of its kind to dispense with push-buttons: the timing mechanism can be stopped, started, and reset by pressing on the upper and lower edges of the sapphire crystal face. The chronograph functions can also be locked in position with the 3-position slider on the right.

Other details surrounding Jaeger-LeCoultre's Chronograph Caliber 751B include the red lever mechanism between 4 and 8'o'clock, and black applique numbers on a satin-finish dial that mask the white discs of the chronograph. You can peruse the details of Jaeger's AMVOX2 and survey the five years of timepieces the partnership has produced below.

Interesting that Alfred (A.) Dunhill keeps working with Jaeger-LeCoultre on making timepieces. The first cooperation came with the recent Jaeger-LeCoultre Art Deco Atmos Regulator clock for A. Dunhill, a $70,000 mega-mantle clock using the legendary atmos clock made by Jaeger Le-Coultre. Now comes a more subdued partnership with A. Dunhill designed watches that features Jaeger-LeCoultre movements. This particular timpiece is the newly styled A. Dunhill Facet watch that uses the typical angle cut case and sapphire crystal. It makes for an interesting look, and sapphire crystals such as this are clearly more expensive to produce.

The dial features vertical texturing for decoration and classic Arabic numerals that look like they are done in Times New Roman. The subsidiary seconds dial is inset a bit, helping to add depth to the area. The case comes in either 18k rose or white gold and is 36mm wide by 50mm tall. Inside the watch is a manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 822 movement which is rectangular-shaped as you might have guessed. You might be asking why it is that Jaeger-LeCoultre is helping Dunhill, what is essentially a competing brand by providing them with movements. Plus, there is no mention at all of Jaeger-LeCoultre on the dial of the watch. Why is that? Well The latter question I cannot explain, but because both Dunhill and Jaeger-LeCoultre are part of the same parent company - the Richemont Group, the partnership makes sense. This is not the first time the Jaeger-LeCoultre with its movement making skills has been asked to lend a hand. Some of the brand new Ralph Lauren watch brand timepieces also feature Jaeger-LeCoultre movements inside. The new A. Dunhill Facet watches will be available soon for between 3,600 and 6,900 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

I recently spoke about how the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grand Sonnerie watch and set (the most complex wrist watch in the world that comes with two other watches) was going to arrive in a safe as the presentation box. Well here is what that safe is going to look like, and there will be only 30 of these made. Each safe will be specially made by the German luxury safe company Doettling. Trust me that this is not even the most impressive watch safe that they have done. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica set safe will be made to look like a travel chest, but don't expect to move the 1,800 pound, six foot tall safe around with you easily.

Inside the safe is a watch lover's dream. Well, if you only own a handful of watches that is, and they are all happy being around Jaeger-LeCoultre branding. The innards of the case don't let you forget who "inspired" this horological refuge. The three watches in the Hybris Mechanica collection are prominently displayed in lit cubby holes, while eight watch winders flank the exhibit. The rest of the safe is reserved for other things, but you'll have to include them in between all the books and observation equipment that Jaeger-LeCoultre throws in the mix. Look at the pictures in the gallery and you'll notice various magnifying glasses as well as tools for your watch, plus other items likely hidden about.

The whole experience is pretty impressive for the select few who not only can afford the this ultimate trio of complex wristwatches, including the Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie (26 complications with a total of 55 complications for all three watches), but who place their orders now and can think of a suitable place in [one of] their homes for heavyweight safe to "live." The Jaeger-LeCoultre Hyrbis Mechanica watch set will cost you between $2.5 - $3 million depending on the exchange rate. The first of the 30 sets will be delivered in the fall of 2010 with the final orders being finished in 2014.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Another stunner from Jaeger LeCoultre. Maybe an understatement? Aside from the looks and the complications, this watch will cost a 'stunning' $2.5 million dollars. That's the price you pay for the "world's most complex watch." If you purchase the watch, Jaeger LeCoultre includes two of its other highly complex watches (the Gyrotourbillon and the Reverso a Tryptique watches) as part of a three watch set. What did you expect for $2.5 million? The entire collection of three watches arrives in a full safe which is ossibly the largest (and heaviest) watch presentation box to date. In total, 30 sets of the three watches will be available.

The Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie will hold the Jaeger LeCoultre mechanical Calibre 182 movement with 26 complications and over 1300 parts. All of that will be inside of the 18k white gold 44mm wide by 15mm thick case. I honestly don't know how they will be able to cram the ultra complex movement and complex chiming and gongs mechanism into such a small space. I am starting to understand where the huge price comes into play. The last two "world's most complex watchess" were the Patek Philippe Calibre 89 which boasted 24 complications and cost $6 million, and the Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega that had 25 complications and cost (only) $1 million. Soon these watches will be supplanted by the Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie. The collection of three watches that will come in the Hybris Mechanica set will together hold 55 complications. For the serious collector, and serious price of the watch, it is clear why they will be delivered in a safe.

So what does the watch do? Many of the complications involve the sonnerie functions that include Westminster chimes (will be the only watch that can play the whole Westminster carillon melody), grande sonnerie, petit sonnerie, minute repeater, a silent mode, flying tourbillon, perpetual calendar with a retrograde day, date, and month indicator as well as a leap year indicator. The watch will of course have the time, with an instantaneous jumping hour display, as well as separate power reserve indicators for the mainspring power reserve as well as the power reserve for the sonnerie. There is frankly too much to discuss in terms of all that is seemingly impossibly included in this incredible timepiece. I am most impressed that despite the many complications, the watch still is able to have a large portion of the dial skeletonized and still be highly easy to read. More details soon as the Jaeger LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie is closer to release.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Shortly before Baselworld, I reported on how the German watch magazine Armbanduhren voted the A. Lange & Sohne Cabaret Tourbillon as the best watch of the year. As part of that same contest, other categories of "best watch" included the "best women's watch of 2009." That prize went to Jaeger LeCoultre for its new Reverso Squadra Lady Duetto watch. The Squadra line of watches is for men and women, with the timepieces for both genders being elegant and sporty - as well as true to the Reverso watch line tradition.

The watch is really two-in-one as the case flips around to reveal two watch faces. Both tell the time, but are decorated differently, and one side has a date complication, while the other side has a day/night indicator complication. Two versions of the watch are available in stainless steel or 18k rose gold. Both versions feature guilloche engraving on the dials and strong baton hands. Two different diamond settings are available; 36 diamonds on the steel version and 75 on the rose gold version. The inset diamond cabochon in the crown is a nice touch as well. The strap seen in the images is an articulated rubber strap that should be interesting to wear. An alligator strap, or metal bracelet are also available.

As seems to be the case with recent "best watch" awards - utility and beauty are equally valued when such decisions are made. A clear message to watch makers that people are interested in having a fully functional and comfortable watch when deciding on a luxury timepiece investment.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Wearing what is certainly no slum watch, Sunday January 11th's Golden Globes award show saw actor Dev Patel wearing a high style Jaeger LeCoultre watch. The timepiece was the Reverso Squadra, a sportier rendition of the classic Reverso watch line. The pictured Squadra watch features a chronograph and GMT complication with a big date at the top. As is common on all Reverso watches, they have the ability to be flipped around. The opposite side revealing further complications or a protective metal caseback, as was the purpose of the original Reverso watches that protected the watch crystal from the high impact Polo games.

Patel was likely given the watch personally by Jaeger LeCoultre to wear at the show. Luxury product makers often gift such items to celebrities to be worn in public for publicity and marketing purposes. Patel made out pretty well being approach by Jeager LeCoultre. More established celebrities often have brands fighting for their limited "body real estate," and have been known to offer large sums of money in exchange for exclusive deals. Don't be surprised if Dev Patel is seen only wearing Jaeger LeCoultre watches at events for the next several years.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Check out these two jeweled masterpieces from Jaeger-LeCoultre. These stunning pieces are known and the rose and the tulip. The rose, on the right, is made of a total of 75 carats of gemstones including 1,480 sapphires, 1,370 tsavorites, 120 rubies and 120 diamonds. The movement used in both watches is the manual-wind JLC caliber 846. The tulip is 85 carats of stones including 1,600 tsavorites, 1,900 sapphires and 30 diamonds.