Off the Cuff: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grand Tradition Minute Repeater

It isn’t every day I get to wear a watch from my dreams – but recently, I had the wonderful experience of donning the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tradition Repetition Minute watch – only 100 of which will ever be made. Crafted in titanium, this grand complication houses a mechanical hand-wound movement consisting of a whopping 413 parts that magnificently work together in harmony. The watch not only offers the time, but also lends music to the ear via a minute repeater that chimes the hours, quarter hours and minutes in three tones with two hammers. The perfectly orchestrated musical repertoire is completely visible on the open-worked skeletonized movement.  This watch also offers a barrel-torque indicator of the 15 days of power reserve via two retrograde hands working in tandem across two half-moon-shaped arches. The watch is a joy to wear – it is light in weight and visually delightful, not to mention audibly sensational. Unfortunately for me – but maybe not for you – it costs $176,000.