The Swiss manufacture’s latest masterpiece shows how even familiar complications can be improved upon

Jaeger- Lecoultre unveiled the Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel at SIHH this January; the brand’s proprietary take on multi- axis tourbillons ostensibly negates timekeeping errors due to gravity by constantly rotating the balance and escapement through every possible orientation. The manufacture’s fifth iteration of the device, it’s some 15 percent smaller than its predecessor, which helps create a more wearable watch, but also makes space for other complications. Indeed, the timepiece’s name hints at the rest of its complications, beginning with the Westminster minute repeater, with four sets of gongs and hammers instead of the usual two – so that instead of a pair of high and low notes for each quarter, it plays segments of the Big Ben chimes.

The perpetual calendar in this watch has likewise been modified, with an ability to be adjusted both forward and backwards, making date adjusting a cinch. Finally, there’s the movement’s remontoir d’égalité constant- force mechanism, which uses a tiny secondary spring to “feed” a regulated amount of energy to the escapement once every minute.