Jaeger Le-Coultre Adds The Blues To The Master Control Collection

The Master Control collection's elegant design is inspired by iconic designs from the golden age of watchmaking in the 1950s. This year, by presenting fresh interpretations of the two models, La Grande Maison of Le Sentier enriches a classic of modern Swiss horology, the Master Control series. The Master Control Date and Master Control Calendar are distinguished by deep blue dials with a sunray-brushed finish, and they symbolize the spirit of contemporary beautiful watchmaking at Jaeger-LeCoultre – subtle, forceful, and firmly high-performance.

The Master Control, first introduced in 1992 as a symbol of the Maison's devotion to the highest levels of watchmaking quality, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022. The Master Control marked the start of Jaeger-1000 LeCoultre's Hours Control system of internal quality standards, which was later incorporated across the entire range of timepieces and is today synonymous with the Maison's fine watchmaking guarantee to its customers.

The Master Control series has been enriched with two stainless steel models with sunray-finished dials in a refined shade of blue, in perfect alignment with this unwavering commitment to timeless excellence that keeps Jaeger-LeCoultre at the forefront of 21st-century horological workmanship. 

The Master Control Date and the Master Control Calendar include all of the Master Collection's essential codes. Applied Arabic numerals with faceted dart markers for the hours, faceted dauphine hour and minute hands, and bevelled case lugs that bend towards the strap attachment point are examples of these elements. The slim case bezels give the 40mm cases an open feel, symbolizing the case diameter's intrinsic adaptability.

Minute scales in a subtly contrasting lighter blue, with unmistakable minute divisions intercut with dot markers in Super-LumiNova® for an intuitive and exact indication of the time, are used to emphasize legibility and readability. The leaping date indicator makes a welcome return with the Master Control Calendar. A thin date hand extends outwards from the dial's center, culminating in a red-lacquered Jaeger-LeCoultre logograph pointing to the date on the dial's periphery. The date hand makes it easier to see the dual-display moon phase and small seconds subdial. Each month's 15th and 16th days have a 90° difference.

The moon phase and small seconds subdials are never bisected by the date hand as a result of this; a small but effective element that improves the Master Control Calendar's design clarity. The Master Control Date's date ring is also blue, with white transferred Arabic numerals, to complete the overall harmonious aspect of these two new models. The Master Control Calender's white-on-blue day and month indications have a similar style to the rest of the watch, with the snailed finish of the tiny seconds subdial adding even more visual refinement. The moonphase disc is visible in the upper part of the subdial, which has a star-studded background.

Matching blue calf leather straps are included with both the Master Control Date and the Master Control Calendar. For a touch of retro charm, the straps are finished in complementing blue stitching that continues over the strap attachment point. The quick-change system on these straps allows the wearer to quickly switch between a variety of straps for an entirely different look.

Two Jaeger-LeCoultre in-house automated movements are featured in these new models. The Master Control Date's calibre 899 and the Master Control Calendar's calibre 866 both contain 70 hours of power reserve, giving them close to three days of running autonomy even while not being worn. 

Each model has an edition size of 800 pieces. The Master Collection's soul remains effortlessly refined, but Jaeger-spirit LeCoultre's invention drives continuous calibre upgrades across the range.