We recently featured an exclusive hands-on look at the new for 2013 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Perpetual calendar replica watch. We were excited both by the price and aesthetics of that sexy and slim perpetual calendar with its classic design. That replica watch represented one of the three pillars which we consider to be the strengths of Jaeger-LeCoultre as a brand. The other two pillars are sport replica watches, and wildly complicated replica watches (that may either be sport or classically designed pieces). While I have a lot of love for a Reverso or Master collection piece, my own personal tastes draw me much closer to Jaeger’s sport replica watches such as this new Cermet version of the Deep Sea Chronograph.
What is cermet? It is what it sounds like – an alloy material that is part ceramic and part metal. Cermet was originally brought to my attention by Audemars Piguet, who a few years ago began to experiment with the material on bezels of some Royal Oak Offshore replica watches. According to Jaeger-LeCoultre, the cermet used on this swiss replica watch is a “material consisting of aluminum reinforced with particles of ceramic and then covered with a protective coating of ceramics, has incomparable properties of lightness, resistance, and stability.”
Fair enough. So cermet is lighter than most metal and ceramic materials, but has the strength and scratch resistance of ceramic. Apparently it is also much lighter than titanium. It also seems to not have the shattering properties that ceramic can experience upon high impact. I’ve seen highly polished cermet, but on this Deep Sea Chronograph replica watch, Jaeger-LeCoultre opted for a more matte finish. As a sport replica watch material, cermet seems like a good way to go, although there are other good materials (this is just one of them).
One thing I am not sure of, and sort of forgot to clarify with Jaeger-LeCoultre, was whether or not the entire replica watch case is cermet. I believe the black-colored pieces are, but as you can tell, the Deep Sea Chronograph case has a sort of sandwich construction with the dark gray/black sections between between lighter titanium colored sections. My understanding is that these sections are also potentially cermet as the material can be produced to look like metal – but these sections may also be “merely” titanium. In any event, on the wrist the Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet does feel light yet durable. Some will love the bi-color case style, and others will no doubt prefer a more solid color to the case. Jaeger-LeCoultre has a range of Deep Sea replica watches of both styles.
For me, this was my top replica watch pick at the 2013 SIHH show at Jaeger-LeCoultre. No, it wasn’t the most technically innovative or outstanding replica watch, but it was on a short list of timepieces that in my opinion are desirable and also come with a price that is within the realm of accessibility. I can lust after a Gyrotourbillon 3 for years but that won’t bring me (as well as the majority of other replica watch lovers) any closer to being able to afford it. Pieces like the Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet, and other versions have that Jaeger-LeCoultre prestige, in-house made movements, and a price that is something we could conceivably save up for, and that is why I get much more excited about pieces like this.