La Grande Maison of Le Sentier enriches an icon of modern Swiss horology, the Master Control collection, by introducing new interpretations of the two models. Distinguished by deep-blue dials with a sunray-brushed finish, the Master Control Date and Master Control Calendar represent the essence of contemporary elegant watchmaking — subtle, powerful and resolutely high-performance — at Jaeger-LeCoultre.
2022 marks the 30 years of the Master Control, launched in 1992 as a demonstration of the Maison’s commitment to the very highest levels of watchmaking excellence. The Master Control marked the beginning of the 1000 Hours Control certification of internal quality standards at Jaeger-LeCoultre, a system subsequently incorporated throughout the full range of watches and which is now emblematic of the Maison’s fine watchmaking promise to its customers.
In full alignment with this unceasing commitment to timeless quality that maintains Jaeger-LeCoultre at the forefront of 21st-century horological craft, the Master Control collection has been enriched with two stainless steel models with sunray-finished dials in a refined shade of blue. All the essential codes of the Master Collection can be found in the Master Control Date and the Master Control Calendar. These include features such as the combination of applied Arabic numerals with faceted dart markers for the hours, faceted dauphine hour and minute hands, and bevelled case lugs that curve towards the strap attachment point. The slim case bezels bring an open feel to the 40mm cases, symbolic of the inherent versatility in this case diameter.
Legibility and readability are emphasised, using minute scales in a subtly contrasting lighter blue, with distinct minute divisions intercut with dot markers in Super-LumiNova® for an intuitive and precise indication of the time. With the Master Control Calendar, the jumping date indication makes a welcome reappearance. A slender date hand extends outwards from the centre of the dial, ending in a red-lacquered Jaeger-LeCoultre logograph that points towards the date on the outer periphery of the dial. For optimal reading of the dual-display moon phase and small seconds subdial, the date hand makes a 90° jump between the 15th and 16th day of each month. This ensures that the moon phase and small seconds subdial is never bisected by the date hand; a small yet effective detail that increases the design clarity of the Master Control Calendar.
To complete the overall harmonious aspect of these two new models, the date ring of the Master Control Date is also in blue, with white transferred Arabic numerals. The white-on-blue day and month indications of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar provide similar aesthetic integration with the rest of the watch, with additional visual refinement found in the snailed finish of the small seconds subdial. The upper half of the subdial reveals the moonphase disc decorated with a star-studded background.
Both the Master Control Date and the Master Control Calendar come with matching blue straps in calf leather. The straps are trimmed in complementary blue stitching that continues across the strap attachment point for a touch of vintage allure. These straps have been fitted with a quick-change mechanism, allowing the wearer to easily switch between a range of straps for a completely different look.
Within these new models beats two Jaeger-LeCoultre in-house automatic movements. The Calibre 899 of the Master Control Date and the Calibre 866 of the Master Control Calendar have 70 hours of power reserve, bringing close to three days of running autonomy even when they are not being worn. Each model is limited to 800 pieces.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 40mm x 8.78mm
- Calibre: automatic mechanical Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 899AC
- Functions: hours/minutes/seconds, date
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Dial: deep blue sunray-brushed, light-blue minute track
- Case: stainless steel
- Case-back: open
- Water resistance: 5 bar
- Strap: Calf leather
- Reference: Q4018480 – Limited to 800 pieces – 7.650 €
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: 40mm x 10.95mm
- Calibre: automatic mechanical Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 866AA
- Functions: hours/minutes/seconds, date, day, month, moon phases
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Dial: deep blue sunray-brushed, light-blue minute track
- Case: stainless steel
- Case-back: open
- Water resistance: 5 bar
- Strap: Calf leather
- Reference: Q4148480 – Limited to 800 pieces -12.600 €
ABOUT THE STELLAR ODYSSEY
In 2022 Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to the astronomical phenomena that lie at the very origin of how mankind measures time. Since the earliest days of the Manufacture, astronomical functions have played a major role in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s portfolio of complicated timepieces – ranging from simple forms of moon phase display to highly complex perpetual calendars, equation of time, sky charts, and the draconic and anomalistic lunar cycles.
Mastering all three measures of time – solar, lunar and sidereal – the watchmakers of La Grande Maison have perpetually innovated to create the most advanced and precise mechanisms that represent or even predict celestial phenomena. This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre embarks on a Stellar Odyssey with an immersive exhibition and a series of themed events that will embrace inspirational collaborations with a visual artist and a mixologist, and a fascinating programme of celestially-themed Discovery Workshops at Atelier d’Antoine. The Stellar Odyssey is an invitation to discover how the mysteries of the cosmos are translated into micro-mechanical wonders for the wrist.