Jaeger-LeCoultre

The Triple Calendar Moonphase and the Grande Maison is a long love story.

In the Fourties, JLC made one of their nicest watch: A Triple Calendar which could also receive a moonphase.

Here, a wonderful Triple Calendar without moonphase, but with these delicious tear drop lugs, and one of the finest movement, manual winding, to be complete.



We had to wait the Eighties to see these Triple Date Moonphase back into the collection.

It started with the Odysseus Moonphase:



Then, JLC introduced a Master Date, in the early Nineties, wihich is, as you already got it, a Triple Date without moonphase.

The Master Moon came later, in the 2000 Catalog.

A beauty available in Rose Gold, Stainless Steel or in Platinum.

Here, the stainless steel version.



A pure jewel, with its very elegant dial, and its 37 mm case.

In 2006, things... Well, how to say it, didn't go in the right direction, aesthetically speaking.

The New Master Calendar received a much bigger case ( 40 mm ) and a power reserve indicator ala Nike Style which ruined the dial.

The Day and the Month window were decentered. The outcome was visually weird, as you can see here:



In this context, I am very happy to show you the new... Triple Calendar Moonphase, whose name is ... Master Calendar.

For the new Master Calendar, JLC opted for a 39 mm case borrowed to the Master Control we had the pleasure to rediscover in January 2012.

The 2012 Master Control:



The Master Calendar, which is available in Rose Gold, or in Stainless Steel.

If I had to sum it in a few words, I would write " Back to the Roots ".

The case, in my opinion, is more elegant than the previous one, even if if I preferred the 37 mm one. But it goes in the right direction.

And the dial finds its natural elegance again.

A very nice and elegant watch is back!

Here are the pictures I took of both the Rose Gold and the Stainless steel versions:

















The movement is the Cal 866. Nothing really new, here, under the see through case back.



A last word on the annual calendar, as this complication was passionately discussed in 2012.

I asked to Stephane Belmont, who is in charge of the products developments, if one day, we'll see an annual calendar in a JLC watch.

The answer was negative, for the moment.

JLC seems t be very happy with their Perpetual and Triple Calendars. The Annual Calendar doesn't seem to be a priority.

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts.

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-04-01 02:50:24 This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-04-04 04:48:24

My first JLC was the Master Moon so I'm a fan of this.  Hopefully they release a black dial one sometime down the line.  Thanks for the pics Nicolas!

-MW

unassuming, in this instance I must say that I really like both the rose gold and stainless steel, however I would have preferred the stainless steel to have the same colour hand and applied markers as the new Master Perpetualin white gold, I believe they are in black nickel. Thank you for the nice post Nicolas, this is a very nice idea for a complication.

Cheers, Francois

 

I wouldn't see them on the SS Master Calendar, though... It would bring a wierd touch of modernity, while it works very well on the MUT 39 perpetual.

Difficult to put in words, but this is the feeling I have.

Thanks for your input, my friend.

Best,

Nicolas. This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-04-01 03:07:07

a contrast for legibility! 

That is a designers' dilemma, I guess.

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-04-01 03:09:01

of having a very elegant watch if one cannot read the time....kind of

I am just over reacting

U have to stop doing this ! There are 2 JLC boutiques all within 400-500m of where I put up in Beijing.

And I love to see this and the Perpetual Calendar ! Vey Much !

No message body

Very nicely reported.  I would not mind seeing an annual calendar version.

No message body

that often lacks a modern look, but it is certainly improving with every iteration.

Hi

As for the WG, yes, it came with a hinged case back.

That was a superb model, even if my favourtie was the Pt case, blue dial which also came with the hinged case back.

Best,

Nicolas.

... I love love love that vintage piece in the second photograph.  Is that one of yours?  Wow!  What a watch.  The red-tipped date hand is sublime.

JLC is one of the rare manufacture to reduce the size of their cases, not on all the production, but on the dressy category.

I have the feeling trhat they are right, and that the tendance ( how much I hate this word ) will go this way.

So, reducing the Master Calendar to one millimeter is not too much, and a signifciative gesture, at the same time.

the case looks more reifned than the former one.

And the dial is tp.

Aaah, the Vintage? Yes, mine.

All the best, my good friend.

Nicolas

A wonderful addition to the JLC range - and you put it absolutely right: back to the roots. this was certainly a wise choice..the power reserve was disturbing the harmony of the dial.

Looking forward to see it in metal.

Best,

Stefan

these Dauphine hands are so! ...so...what? antiquated? banale? is it just me? ....perhaps, then I should take an appointment with a psy! The last picture you offered us in the introduction although the dial itself looks "weird" the hands are beautiful, what do you call these hands? 

It is a matter of taste, here: Some love them, others don't, and some others just don't care about them.

JLC is reworking a lot of details on their watches: The cases are the most obvious example.

They also started to re think their buckles ( It was time ! )

Give them some time, they are fully aware that a lot of things are perfectible.

Best,

Nicolas

I could be picky about some of the aesthetics (I still believe the balance of the width of the bezel is too much),  but it's great to see a piece like this back in play from the watchmakers' watchmaker and especially with the correct looking hands rather than the awful broadswords that have blighted so many recent JLC designs.