Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date

April 24, 2020

The Master Control collection was introduced in 1992, but you'd never know it. Its classic appearance can't be pegged to a certain design era, certainly not the '90s. As a design, it's remained relatively unchanged throughout its life, and that's a good thing, because it's earned a loyal following. The difference with this latest iteration of the watch? Well, it's what's inside. Now the Master Control Date features the new Caliber 899 in its 40mm steel case.?The caliber 899 has been a fixture in JLC's lineup and has been found inside this watch before, but this time around, it's been overhauled and packed with new tech.? The watch is only 8.8mm thick. Making a watch thicker is easy; making a watch thinner requires some crafty engineering and thoughtful design. The slim profile is thanks to the Caliber 899, but that's not the only benefit: It's received a host of technical updates. Again, it's what you don't see that makes this version different from its predecessors. Otherwise, it's easy to mistake this new version for an older model. In an era where marketing considers a color change a big deal, it's refreshing to come across a watch that hasn't been touched visually and instead focuses on mechanical upgrades. ? Initial Thoughts The aesthetics of the Master Control are so simple that they don't really allow for much of a drastic change to begin with, and again, that's a good thing. It's a simple design that works, and as they say, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." However, there's always room for technical improvement. The improvements to the Caliber 899 include a reshaped escapement and pallets in silicon for less resistance caused by friction. Additionally, the central seconds wheel has been redesigned to reduce shaking, and essential screws are rendered in titanium rather than steel. There are also new oils that have been optimized for the new materials in the movement. All these minor changes make the movement better, but the single improvement that actually affects wearability is the redesign of the barrel. Now, the power reserve is up to 70 hours, while still maintaining the slim 3.3mm profile of the movement. ? The Basics Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultreModel: Master Control DateReference Number: ?Q4018420Diameter: 40mmThickness: 8.8mmCase Material: Stainless steelDial Color: SilverIndexes: Applied Arabic numeralsLume: YesWater Resistance: 50mStrap/Bracelet: ?Novonappa calf strap The Movement Caliber: 899Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, dateThickness: 3.3mmPower Reserve: 70 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 vphJewels: 32 Pricing & Availability Price: $6,700Availability: TBD?For more, click here. Shop this story Visit Hodinkee affiliate Crown & Caliber to shop pre-owned Jaeger-LeCoultre models