Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control collection has always had a deep respect for tradition and the never-ending quest for innovation, ever since its release in 1992. In 2020, Jaeger-LeCoultre relaunches the Master Control collection by moderenising the watch with 21st centuary style, while also drawing inspiration from 1950’s classic round watches. Jaeger-LeCoultre has decided that instead of using the 1950’s design inspiration for just one model, they would update four models in the Master Control collection.
As mentioned earlier, every element of the Master Control collection has been updated to suit the 21st century of modern watches. To highlight the Master Control collection’s various complications, the designers have opted to restyle the classical design codes that are known to Jaeger-LeCoultre to create some very aesthetically pleasing timepieces. Jaeger-LeCoultre has however not only just gone for a stylistic update for the 2020 watches.
When the Master Control collection was launched in 1992, it was the first Jaeger-LeCoultre collection to go through the brands Pioneering “1000 Hours Control” certification (which also inspired the collections name). This highly demanding process runs tests on the whole watch as a final product to make sure it’s up to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s standards. The entire process shows how committed the brand is to technical innovation.
For the latest 2020 revision of the Master Control Collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre has updated all the movements. The movements have increased power reserves up to as much as 70 hours, while also having enhanced performance and reliability. Like other timepieces by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Master Control collection comes with an 8-year warranty while also having the 1000 hours certification. This shows that Jaeger-LeCoultre is a brand the stands by their product and testing standards.
Destined to become a point of reference for modern watchmaking, the Master Control collection blends timeless design with the elegance of modern times while utilising the rich knowledge and creativity that goes into the in-house movements of the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture.
We have given a brief outline below of the four updated models for Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 2020 Master Control collection.
MASTER CONTROL CHRONOGRAPH CALENDAR: $14,500 USD
The standout model for the new Master Control collection, the Master Control Chronograph Calendar features a newly developed movement; the calibre 759. The Calibre 759 features a triple calendar display combined with a chronograph and moon-phase.
This is the first time all three complications have been seen together in a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece, which draws inspiration from the link between watchmaking and astronomy. All the complications are nicely spaced out in the dial so that it’s quite easy to read the different them. The chronograph functions are the 30 minute-counter in the 3 o’clock position and the constant seconds counter at the 9 o’clock position. The day and month windows are placed in the top part of the dial. The moon-phase and the date indicator is shown at the 6 o’clock position. All these well-balanced designs come together nicely to create the Master Control Chronograph Calendar.
Master Control Chronograph Specification:
Model Reference: Q4138420 (stainless steel), Q4132520 (Le Grand Rose gold®)
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Dial: Silver sunray finish, applied indexes
Case: Stainless steel or Le Grand Rose gold®, satin and polished finishes, sapphire crystal case-back
Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 759, automatic mechanical movement
Power Reserve: Approximately 65 hours
Functions: Hours/minutes, small seconds, calendar with date, day and month indications, moon phases, chronograph
Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 meters
MASTER CONTROL DATE: $6,700 USD
The Master Control Date was designed to be more minimalistic compared to the other four models. The Master Control Date also gets a very thin case design at only 8.78mm, thanks to the Calibre 899 movement used being slim (3.3mm height). Calibre 899 has been updated continuously to keep with modern times and features the latest performance-enhancing technology. The 2020 version of the Calibre 899 movement utilises the latest materials and technology available, to minimise friction, consume less energy and to provide a longer power reserve for the watch (70 hours).
Master Control Date Specification:
Model Reference: Q4018420
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Dial: Silver sunray finish, applied indexes
Case: Stainless steel, satin and polished finishes, sapphire crystal case-back
Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 899 (new generation), automatic mechanical movement
Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 meters
MASTER CONTROL CALENDAR: $11,000 USD
Jaeger-LeCoultre during the 1940s and ’50s was well known for their triple calendar moon-phase movements. The Master Control Date brings this back to the 21st century with a triple calendar moon-phase now purely shown on the watch.
At a case thickness of 40mm, the materials for the case are offered in either steel or Le Grand Rose gold. The dates for the calendar are marked on the outer edge of the dial, with a red-tipped central hand indicating the current date. Day and months are shown at the 12 o’clock position while the moon phase, along with the constant seconds, is incorporated together in the 6 o’clock subdial.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 866
Jaeger-LeCoultre has given a new take on how the outer dates are being shown, however. When the date indicator hand passes from 5’oclock to 7 o’clock position, it will get in the way of the 6 o’clock subdial and hence ruin the visual display of the moon-phase. To counter this problem, Jaeger-LeCoultre has made the date hand make a 90-degree leap every month, from date 15th to 16th, thereby keeping the moon-phase visually unobstructed.
Master Control Calendar Specification:
Model Reference: Q4148420 (stainless steel), Q4142520 (Le Grand Rose gold®)
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Dial: Silver sunray finish, applied indexes
Case: Stainless steel or Le Grand Rose gold®, satin and polished finishes, sapphire crystal case-back
Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 866 , automatic mechanical movement
Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours
Functions: Hours/minutes, small seconds, day, jumping date, month, moon phases
Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 meters
MASTER CONTROL GEOGRAPHIC:
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control Geographic has been a unique interpretation of the travel watch since its addition to the Master collection in 1990. The Master Control Geographic displays not only the hour of a second-time zone but also a 24-hour night/day indicator. In an aperture at the bottom of the dial, the display name of the city relating to the timezone is also shown.
This feature comes in very handy, as it gives travellers the option to set the time by location, rather than having to set it by calculating time difference. The Master Control Geographic also features a date subdial and a power reserve indicator on a dial that is entirely sunray-brushed. This latest Master Control Geographic also comes with the new generation Calibre 939 movement, which bumps up the power reserve of the watch to a hefty 70 hours.
Master Control Geographic Specification:
Model Reference: Q4128420 (stainless steel), Q4122520 (Le Grand Rose gold®)
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Dial: Silver sunray finish, applied indexes
Case: Stainless steel or Le Grand Rose gold®, satin and polished finishes, sapphire crystal case-back
Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 939 , automatic mechanical movement
Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours
Functions: Hours/minutes/seconds, date, second time zone, 24-hour display, 24 time zones power reserve indication
Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 meters
