First Among Masters: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar

For this year's first-ever digital version of the Watches & Wonders salon, Jaeger-LeCoultre put the spotlight on its Master Control collection, so named for the intensive (and exclusive) "1,000 Hours" battery of in-house tests that each timepiece undergoes before it reaches the market. Headlining this year's new models is a timepiece with an all-new in-house movement that combines a chronograph, a triple calendar, and a moon-phase. Here's a rundown of the Master Control Chronograph Calendar.

The aforementioned trio of complications, which are derived from the newly developed Caliber 759, are brought together here for the first time in a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece. The intuitively designed dial combines the watch's suite of functions in a balanced layout: day and month in a double window below 12 o'clock; subdials at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock for 30 chronograph minutes and running seconds, respectively; moon-phase bordered by a date scale at 6 o'clock. Surrounding the silvered sunray dial, with its faceted hands and applied wedge indices, is a flange emblazoned with a vintage-style pulsometer scale. The flange and subdials have a snailed finish; the central chronograph seconds hand and subdial minutes counter hand are blued.

The watch's case measures 40 mm in diameter and 12.5 mm thick, with an array of satin-brushed and polished finishes and a sapphire exhibition caseback showcasing the new movement, the self-winding Caliber 759. Among the movement's technical highlights are a column wheel with vertical clutch to drive the chronograph functions and a 65-hour power reserve. Two rectangular pushers flanking the fluted, engraved crown control the chronograph's stop, start, and reset operations. Like all calibers in JLC's Master collection, it has passed the rigorous tests necessary to earn the maison's “1000 Hours Control” certification — including being tested in six positions over a six-week period to reproduce all the conditions the watch could be worn under, taking into account temperature variations, accidental impacts, power-reserve capacity, and water resistance.

This new, flagship timepiece in the Master Control collection is offered in either a stainless steel or rose gold case and mounted on either a Novonappa calf leather or alligator leather strap. Prices are $14,500 in steel and $26,000 for the model in "Le Grande Rose Gold."