Just recently, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled two new timepieces to its coveted Master Control series in celebration of the 30th anniversary of this line. Each of the new watches, the
and the Master Control Calendar, is offered with an interchangeable Novonappa calf leather strap and a steel bracelet for ultimate versatility.
When it was introduced to the world in 1992, the Master Control watches were the first to be put to the brand’s 1000 Hours Control system of testing for endurance, precision and watchmaking excellence. That system was so highly regarded that the brand quickly implemented it across all of its collections as a testament to consumers of its unfailing attention to pinnacle watchmaking.
The 40mm Master Control Calendar is crafted in stainless steel and boasts a beautiful silver sunray brushed pattern. The watch offers a jumping date hand with a red lacquer indicator tip in the shape of the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo. Powered by the automatic mechanical in-house-made movement, caliber 866AA, the watch offers day, date, month and moon phases (via a beautiful blue moonphase disk) in addition to the hours, minutes and seconds. The movement can be viewed via a sapphire case back and offers 70 hours of power reserve. It will retail for approximately $16,300.
The Master Control Chronograph Calendar also offers hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month and moon phases, along with the chronograph functions, 30-minute counter and a pulsometer. The automatic mechanical caliber 759 yields 65 hours of power reserve. This watch retails for just about $19,500 when converted from Euro to dollars.
The Master Control Calendar is a great-looking classical watch that can be worn from work to weekend with ease. Somehow, though, the chronograph/calendar combo seems to make a more important statement on the wrist and has a truly modern and contemporary look to it, especially when paired with the leather strap. Making this decision could prove to be difficult. For me, if money were no object, I would have to go with the Master Control Chronograph Calendar because you get so much more bang for your buck(s).