Jaeger-LeCoultre raised £13,540 for United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage in an online auction which ran from February 16th to the 20th. On the auction block was the "Number 1" prototype of the model Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm Tides of Time, first unveiled at the SIHH 2009. The extreme diving watch is a symbol of the "Tides of Time" which is a three-year partnership among Jaeger-LeCoultre, Unesco's World Heritage Center, and the International Herald Tribune. They have all joined forces to raise awareness of environmental issues and threats and to gain support of the World Heritage Sites. In the coming months the project will concentrate on eight World Heritage Sites including the Galapogas Islands in Eucador and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa. Jaeger Le-Coultre has always been involved in environmental issues. The "Tides of Time" are dedicated to drawing attention to the plight of the delicately balanced marine ecosystem; therefore it seems only natural that the watch chosen for the auction is a diving watch.
The world beneath the ocean waves is linked with Jaeger-LeCoultre since 1911, when the company patented the first waterproofing system for a watch case. 50 years ago Jaeger LeCoultre unveiled its first collection of diving watches. Jaeger LeCoultre is highly dedicated to protect the marine world.The total proceeds of the funds from the auction will got to the World Heritage site of Tubbataha, Phillippines, located in the Sulu Sea, 181 km southeast of Puerto Princesa, the Palawan Island Province.
Three cities on the outer dial ring of the "Number 1" prototype of the model Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm Tides of Time are replaced with three natural sites - Scandola in France, Galapagos in Ecuador and Tubbataha - all sites on the World Heritage Site List.
The winner of this auction gets to own a watch which has a remarkable patent-filed two part case which is crafted to sustain the highest endurance tests. A unique system connects the case to its support which absorbs shock and protects the movement so that it continues to track time without the slightest change in accuracy. The watch is protected from vibrations and sudden impacts which occur during extreme and challenging environments. The movement within the shock absorbing case is a 36.2 mm diameter automatic movement, Calibre 912 which is a culmination of intense cutting edge research resulting in the inclusion of remarkable technological feats such as a variable-inertia balance fitted with adjusting screws on the outer rim; unidirectional winding; in addition an oscillating weight with ball-bearings in ceramics - which is a high-tech feature which requires absolutly no maintenance or lubrication. The original alarm mechanism of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 912 is subjected to the implacable trial of the striker test to demonstrate its resilience and a 45-hour power reserve.
Intense research went into the acoustic qualities of the alarm, leading to the creation of a unique gong. In the place of the traditional gong which is usually affixed to the case back , this gong surrounds the movement and is fixed to the case middle by two pins. It is struck by the hammer at a particular point near this point of attachment. The geometry has also been carefully revised so as to optimise the acoustic qualities of the sound.
The alarm function is made up of a double push pin piece which allows the wearer to decide whether to start or stop the alarm function.
Finally a unique system on the watch case allows the watch strap to be changed quickly and easily.
The alarm time is displayed by two juxtaposed discs that appear via a clear window at 9 o'clock. The positioning of the hour disc is followed by the minute one, thus enabling the user to select any time in five-minute intervals. The watch dial also displays a date window at 3 o'clock with fast adjustment.
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