Jaeger-LeCoultre

Hi fellow members,

I have narrowed down my list of next watch to the following JLC models which I consider practical both as an office daily wearer as well as a pastime timepiece for sailing and fishing trips.

Perhaps the key advice - as I am not satisfied with the stock AD in my country is keeping I'll make a shopping trip to the very essence of JLC's stores. Is there anything like seasonal sales or offerings to be expected at the Place Vendome Paris boutique? I have to visit Paris in late December to February anyway and still have flexibility in my schedule.

For any commodity the post Christmas period is the buyers time. Is it so also at a JLC boutique?

Now for the watches. Hope that you could help me deciding:
- MC Geopgraphic - probably the most practical from the lot, great complication, perfect for multi time zone work teams, stock trading or distant trips, the dial is clean and not busy.
Cons: very short reserve (43 hours, that's not even a full weekend), the hour and minute hands seem a bit short, also I wasn't able to verify nigh time legibility.

- MC Chrono 2 - more busy dial, but with a nice sportier look of the red seconds hand, chrono is a cool complication, but in real life needed quite occasionally, power reserve is a nice 65 hrs.
Cons: so far seen two new pieces with the chrono seconds disc not standing at an absolute 0 position in its reset position. Maybe this is due to the design - another reason to bite the bullet at the Paris store. The SS bezel was reported as easily scratcheable by another poster here.

- MC Chrono 2 - Ceramic bezel variant - same as above, obviously a better resistance against bezel scratches and a very clean, unified all-black look.
Cons: Quite a few people reported the ceramic bezel of IWC Pilots to be prone to cracking and the repair costing dearly. Is the ceramic compound used by JLC any better? Any first hand experience, guys?

- MC GMT - similar to MC Geo, it has a slightly lower price tag
Cons: still a short power reserve (48h), legibility of the second time hand is debatable and it won't work as good for travelling

Thanks in advance for any feedback!
B

The legibility of the second hand is perfect, since it refers to the secondary time zone, or the home time zone. When you travel, you change the main hour hand to your current location, so the second time zone refers to the home time zone. It changes on the fly, and if very easy to manage. Fact is, I miss this version of the complication after essentially switching to the Navy Seals Chrono GMT (with this piece, you change the secondary (skeleton) hand, rather than the primary hand).

This is a watch that goes everywhere and does anything; but at the same time, it never stood out as the first choice. I don 't know if this makes sense, but I was always choosing between the MC GMT and another watch.

Hope this helps - they are all great watches.

--Sancerre

As to answer you, I would go for the MC Geo.

Because I prefer the design of the dial, the complication. And I don't bother too much with the short  power reserve, as it is an automatic watch.

I didn't hear that the MC Chrono with the ceramic bezel did have problems.

It is up to you. Maybe should you try them all, before taking any final decision?

Best,

Nicolas

 

Apparently the MC GMT has recently been discontinued. I discovered this when I decided to trade my MCC2 for one. Fortunately, the local AD was able to find me one from another store. Also, the Boutique located one in Europe. If you decide on this model, act fast.

For me, the MC GMT is the perfect travel watch. As are the other variants - the MC Dualmatic and the Master Hometime - all use the same movement and operation is similar. The main hour hand indicates your local time. The skeletonized hour hand indicates your home time, as does the 24 hour dial. The date changes with the local time, not your home time. Makes sense - you want to know the correct date for your current location. It's simple to change the hour hand.

I prefer the MC GMT to the MCC2 as I find it easier to read the time. The Chrono dial is a bit busy. Also, for me, the date on the GMT is much easier to read.

I did not consider the MC Geo as I don't like the dial layout.

Hope that helps.

I think it's one of the nicest variants of this movement, and doesn't look as "common" as the GMT.

I start to lean more and more towards the MC Geo, although not yet having seen it in person. While not disregarding travelling benefits of the GMT, the Geo dial seems a bit more refined, yet keeping something playful to it, than the other models.

If only there was a combined model like the MC Chrono World Extreme, but in the smaller 41,6 case and legibility of the Geo

If JLC discontinued the MC GMT recently should one expect a brand new addition to the MC line (non-diving) in the upcoming jubilee year or do you think the new releases, if any, will center around the Duometre and maybe MC Lab models?

Certainly I'll do my best to try them head to head in the boutique and report back. Hope they will be stocked well given the popularity of the series.

It is here, just for you...

jlc.watchprosite.com



Best,

Nicolas.

 

The GMT has the most useful complication and an extremely rugged and accurate movement (different base movement from the others you list). But I agree with you that it is less playful in design than the MC Geo (whose complication is not useful to me, nor as good for traveling as the GMT). I suggest looking around for the Dualmatic, which has  a more playful design, but the same ruggedness and complication. I wear mine for everything (including fishing, although I don't sail), and it will be accompanying me to the rain forests and caves of Borneo in a couple of weeks.