Jaeger-LeCoultre

I recently had the occasion to admire a watch we often speak about...The Master Ultra Thin...

And it's logical, as it is a beautiful and affordable watch.

Launched in 1994, the MUT was offered in several versions, in SS of course, but also in White Gold with a gorgeous Ruthénium dial,
in Rose Gold which particularly fits with this watch, a spectacular skeleton, dial and case back, and, in 2001, a platinum model.
This is this last one I saw ,and I speak about here...

The First contact is quite impressing, as really this watch is thin...
The Caliber 849 is only 1,85mm thick!!!
The watch is also small, you immediately notice it, 34mm.
The lugs are nicely executed, thin, curved, perfect...
The dial is also an example of sobriety, whith only the essentail, the hours and the minutes, 4 numbers
and 8 indexes.

Well, at the first sight you are impressed by the quality, the thin and little size, and the whole finish of the Watch.

Here's a macro pic of the dial..The light gave it a strange color, as the normal color of this watch is blue.



A deeper observation of the MUT will reserve some surprises...

While beginning to play with it, just before trying to take some pics, it appears less small than at first sight.
Maybe it's due to the dial, which is very open, or to the fact that the watch is very thin, but it's immediately appealing, and
the 34mm on the paper are not anymore an obstacle...

Here are some pics with the same difficulty to take the real color of the dial...





The proportions are ideal, you have to know that if the movement is thin, ultra thin, the case is only 4,2 mm thick!
But the result is here, with these 2 pics...
Here with FINALLY the real color of the dial:



And there, with the gorgeous case back:



The movement, IMHO the nicest part of this JLC....
That was the part that amazed me the more...
It's not only very small and thin, its also and first of all....Magnificient!



Have a better look, now with these macros...







Now a wider look:





And now, the final test...The Wrist...One more time, purely stunning, this watch even if only 34mm, is perfect!



The MUT is indeed the best illustration of the saying " Less is more"....

Best.
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-02-17 10:51:32 This message has been edited by Dje on 2008-02-21 22:51:20

Beautiful watch.  Thanks for the excellent pictures!

The macros of the movement are ok, the other pics are a bit " so, so " as the light was n't good at all while taking these pics...

Best.

Nicolas

I get bigger and bigger internet bills every month

because of you ...... but I'm not unhappy because of that

au contraire au contraire ....

 

Best

As in the weeks to come, we have some good things to post...

Prepare also yourself for the SIHH...Or you will be ruined! LMAO.

Thanks for the nice words, it's always a pleasure to read so nice reactions.

Best.

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas,

This watch is the best current Jaeger-LeCoultre watch IMO. 

Hopefully It will be mine soon.

Cheers

Dje

We spoke a lot about this MUT...

The quintessence of the nice horology, of course...

Let's pray for a new and marvellous new MUT, with a  gorgeuos caliber inside...

Best, my co mod friend!

Nicolas

 

. . . and, if I may say so, the type of watch that doesn't get the attention and adulation it so richly deserves . . . I'm finding myself drawn more towards simple watches, and most of the watches I'm seriously contemplating now are time-only designs, or encumbered with a single complication. The Parmigiani Kalpa QF, Dornblüth 99.2, G O Panoreserve and now the manual winding Senator Sixties, vintage Omega Connie chronometers and Pateks equipped with the 9"' - 90 movement (ref 2456 or similar) are the watches I lust after now; after having my fill of perpetual calendars and a chronograph or two, simplicity is now the order of the day . . . cordially, Art

You're right, Art, these simple watches have a lot of strenght in their simple and pure design.

There are a lot of watch that I highly consider for that, in various thema...

The Military, for example, with the Panerai Logo pre Vendome, or the Marina Miltare or the Cali, are very nice pieces, not to speak of the GO Senator Navigator, which is a bomb in its simpler presentation...

The Classy and atemporal Calatrava, MUT, Reversos, Breguet, etc...are also very attractive.

My tastes are also very eclectic, as I consider the concept watch look like the UN Freak or the JLC MMR...

Or the sporty looks too...

So many watches, so many tastes...

To say all, I'm waiting to see what JLC will offer to us during the next SIHH, as I beleive that they will launch a new MUT, maybe with 2 or 3 mm more , and I hope, Ultra Thin, and as sober as this one..

Thanks, Art, for your valuable input, as always...

Best.

Nicolas

Thanks Nicholas for these wonderful close-up shots of the movement!

Is the dial really dark blue? Do you know what it is coated with? It looks metallic. BTW, I got my Master Ultra Thin manual from the dealer circa 2006. It is an entire manual dedicated to the MUT in 5 or 6 languages. I suspect the platinum version must feel alot denser and a tad heavier!

There is a high chance that I may visit Paris after all. I am debating on where to stay--Cergy-Pontoise where the conference is or near to the Sorbonne through the five days I am there--and I am still waiting for the conference guys to get back to me. What would you recommend? I am thinking of central Paris but I am worried that the conference may run too late for a commute back.

Dr No, I considered the Senator Sixties before but information on this watch online is scant. I heard recently that a manual wind exists for this model in WG but have yet to see it up close at the AD. I don't even think the local AD carries this model...How do you like this watch? Like you--and perhaps due to my little know-how on the fine horological complications--I tend to go for watches that are time-only but where the case structure is quite unique. The Senator 60s is one such watch. I have yet to behold the oval structure of the crystal!

JC2

Heavy, this MUT?

No risk, because even if the watch is in platinum, the case is veeeery thin, so the natural density of the platinum doens't make this watch heavy...Just dense, not heavy, so it's very pleasant to wear!

As for the dial, I think that it's the same finish than the SS one, but in a deep blue., like all the other JLC platinum watches from the Master Series...

The "Soleillé" finish achives to give to this watch a look of perfection, nothing cheap or quickly done...

As for your meeting, let me know...Cergy Pontoise is very well deserved by the tube...30 minutes from the center of Paris.

If your meeting is at " La sorbonne," it's at 3minutes by foot from my home...

So we can arrange something.

Best.

Nicolas

. . . and truthfully, I'm dreading the day because I know I will want one, yet won't be able to indulge myself for the most dreary reason of all: financial, or more precisely, lack thereof. I have seen three of the four current versions of the Senator Sixties and was smitten by them all, but after owning six cal 39s, the prospect of another simply wasn't compelling - that's why my attention shifted to the Karree Panodate with the manual winding cal 22 movement. The view offered by the sapphire caseback is utterly fascinating, and mating the Sixties with the sublime cal 49 (albeit without a seconds hand) was an inspired move on G O's part . . . I'm hoping that G O produces the Sixties in steel with a three-handed version of the cal 49 sometime in the not-too-distant future so that I can reasonably plan on acquiring one. I'm not entirely sure why the Sixties is such an attractive design, but I think part of the reason is that it combines an appearance that harkens back to the days when most watches had a similar unaffected appearance with the playful novelty of the panoramic view under the sapphire back. Cordially, Art

Funny to see that it's not a matter of size.

We are a lot ot wear big watches, reasonnable size watches, and also small and thin ones...

There' no problem to have this choice, as what matters is a classy design, a  well balanced one.

This MUT is a keeper, my friend, and I'm thinking to add one in my collection...Seriously.

Just have to wait 2 more months to see what will be launched...

Best, elegant man!

Nicolas

... well with a formal suit (at least sizewise)!

 

Thanks and cheers

Christian

No message body

but definitely too understated for me ;-)

You will be surprised!

With this bloody very open dial, the watch looks bigger than it is in reality...

Something very strange!

Best.

Nicolas

Real nice and elegant piece,must be very special watch to wear with suit

Te puedo confirmar que con un traje, este reloj es una maravilla de maravilla!

Un saludo desde Francia!
Nicolas

It looks wonderful. I've never actually come across a MUT at a dealer. From  the numbers, the 34mm would put me off, but it sure looks nice. Great macro shots !

Regards

Mark

And try one...
I was thinking the same thing, and changed my mind while trying it...
Perfection is not a matter of size, but of proportions, that was the great lesson given to me by this MUT...
Best.
nicolas

now I want one... damn!

Sir,

No doubt its a loely one,like it in pt and wg very much.But do you own one?

I just want to know from a person whom admires lots of big,chuncky watches.will you choose to have one?

BHK9

I don't only have big and chunky watches, but also some samll ones like the Calatrava 5196P, a 5110P which are both 37mm...
I also appreciate the Breguet 5140 in WG with the enamel dial, and ...This MUT.
I do' own it yet, but I'm waiting for the next SIHH to see.
I also ordered several watches I have to fund now, so, it's a matter of time, and money, alas.
Best, my friend.
Nicolas

As I took a long time to consider it, I have to admit, for a silly reason...The size.
If you don't already have this kind of watch in your collection, you should think about this MUT...
For its price, it's one of the very best, maybe the best!!!
Nicolas

No message body

No message body