Finding my Jaeger Lecoultre Ultra Thin watch is a work in progress for some years, now.
The easy way would be to find a MUT 34 in platinum with its superb grey blue dial or a steel black dial.
I am fine with the 34 mm case, the Cal 849 which I really love, but in 2013, I started to have my heart beat faster when I discovered the MUT Jubilée.
Better than the MUT 34? THAT is the question!
There are some big pros for the MUT Jubilée:
- The " couteau " ( knife shaped ) case, which is truly spectacular and which I prefer to the MUT 34 case:
- The thinness is better with the MUT Jubilée with only 4, 95, versus 5, 75 mm for the MUT 34!
- The minimalist dial, more sober than the MUT 34, purer, too, maybe?
- The solid case back, which I think is a very smart choice. The Cal 849 is a very good movement, but in the MUT 34 it seems lost, so you can imagine how it looks in a 39 mm case!
The MUT 1907 in white gold has the advantage of its enamel dial, which is absolutely stunning, in terms of warmth and depth.
The leaf hands are sublime!
There is a price to pay: It is 1 mm higher than the Jubilée, due to its enamel dial... 5, 05 mm are better than the 5, 75 mm of the MUT 34, still!
It also has its solid case back.
I've been told by Jaeger Lecoultre than the choice of a solid case back was dictated by the height, which would have been slightly more important with a see through case back...
Now, the cons:
- The case size of these 2 MUT ( Jubilée and 1907 ). With a 39 mm diameter, I find it a tad too big. For me, the ideal size would be 37 or maximum 38 mm.
- The dial of the Jubilée is a bit flat. While the case is spectacular, the dial, in comparison, is, somehow, a bit... Shy?
- The hands of the Jubilée... I would have preferred the leaf shaped hands of the white gold enamel 1907 which are truly magnificent.
- The 1 mm thicker white gold enamel 1907, but we saw the reason behind that.
- The price of the white gold enamel 1907. At more than 30, 000 Euros, it is not really what I call a bargain. While the Platinum Jubilée was an impressive good deal at 13, 500 Euros ( from memory ). The difference in price is hard to justify.
All in all, weighting the pros and the cons, I would say that the MUT Jubilée and the MUT 1907 have my preference, here, and that, despite its extra millimeter, the 1907 white gold enamel is my favorite for its dial and hands.
Now, I have to be patient, and I need a bit of luck to find one more reasonably priced, as it is its biggest inconvenient, in my opinion.
What about you?
Best,
Nicolas