The New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar with Grained Sector Dial

Launched in 1992, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control collection is inspired by the brand’s classic round timepieces of the 1950s, focusing on technical rigour, certification (JLC’s in-house “1000 Hours” Control), and stylistic restraint. The Master Control Calendar was part of the refreshed collection in 2020, equipped with a triple calendar and moon phases inspired by movements developed by the Maison in the 1940s. Moving beyond the sober silver dials, Jaeger’s latest edition of the Master Control Calendar, with its two-tone, grained, sector-style dial, delivers enhanced legibility and looks fabulous.

Adhering to the design specifications outlined for the Master Control family, the 40mm Calendar debuted with a classic, balanced 1940s calendar display, a traditional silvery-white dial, faceted Dauphine hands, a mix of applied triangular-shaped indices and Arabic numerals, a minimal amount of lume – in short, an understated, verging on austere yet timeless triple calendar. Fitted with an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet, the Master Control Calendar gained a slightly sportier personality but still toed the line of discretion. In 2022, the brand attempted to inject a more contemporary mood into the watch with a fashionable blue dial; the drawback was its limited legibility. Not something that can be said about the new two-tone grey Calendar.

A curious case of looking back to move forwards, the new model adheres to its 1940s calendar layout but includes another in-house speciality in the form of a sector dial. Popular during the 1930s and 1940s, the segmented areas of sector dials delivered superior legibility and precision. It isn’t the first time we see sector dials in the Master Control Collection (as seen in 2017), but this year’s version gains texture and looks even more appealing.

Abiding by the layout of earlier editions, the clearly demarcated sectors feature alternating shades of light and dark grey and, adopting a very contemporary trend, reveal grained surfaces throughout. The peripheral date is picked out in dark grey and indicated by a pointer hand that performs a 90° jump between the 15^th and 16^th of every month to avoid blocking the moon phase aperture. The light grey minutes/seconds track featuring small luminous dots sits next to the wider, dark grey chapter ring with triangular indices and Arabic numerals. Hosting the day of the week and month apertures in the upper half, and the moon phase indicator and small seconds at 6 o’clock, the central area is light grey.

A touch of colour is supplied by the blue star-studded sky in the moon phases and the red tip of the pointer date hand, the number 31 on the date ring and the double arrows at the bottom of the dial indicating the “rapid glide” of the date hand.

Sharing the same case and movement specifications as earlier references, the 40mm stainless steel case with a height of 10.95mm is decorated with polished and brushed finishes. The Calendar is equipped with the modern calibre 866AA, an automatic movement with a silicon escapement, a generous 70-hour power reserve and the “1000 Hours” testing certificate.

The only downside is that this handsome new Master Control Calendar is a limited edition of 500 pieces; we’d love to see it in the permanent collection. The Master Control Calendar comes on an interchangeable black calfskin strap with a double folding clasp. It retails for EUR 16,400.

More information at jaeger-lecoultre.com.