JLC releases, this year 2 very important watches, in my opinion:
The Master Memovox, and this Master Chronograph.
We'll later see the new Memovox, or should I use the plural, as they are 2.
But the Chronograph and the Memovox play the card of some cardinal virtues:
Elegance, Classicism, Small size, and Affordability.
Here, no " fioritures " ( frills, in English(?) but it is more " chic " in French ), just a nice return to the fundamentals.
While JLC offers a wide range of Chronographs, Sporty ( Amvox / Compressor ), refined ( Duometre ), there was a blank, a gap, now filled with this Master Chronograph.
Affordability doesn't mean that some compromises have been made on the quality and the finish.
I speak, I speak, but you didn't see any pictures, yet...So let's see the Beast " in vivo "...
This new Chrono is avalaible in Stainless Steel or in Rose Gold:
Don't you have the feeling that it's a piece coming from the Past?
Obviously, JLC opted for a retro look:
Nice applied triangular and thin indexes, sublime Dauphine hands, small applied " 12 ", small case ( 40 mm ), rectangular chrono pushers, and great crown...This watch reveals its qualities at the first look.
One detail I didn't observe immediately...The Chrono hands ( Hour, Minute and Second )...
They are all heated blue, while the Time Hands are in Rose Gold ( for the RG version ) or in SS ( matching with the SS case ).
It seems that the Duomètre à Chronographe inspired the JLC design Department on this watch, as there is a clear and brilliant separation between the Time and the Chronograph informations, which I like a lot.
The overall volumes of this Chronograph contribute to its elegance.
The case is relatively thin, as it is only 12, 6 mm thick.
The Chrono borrowed the new Master Hometime case, with thinner lugs and a slimmer bezel.
Elegance is nothing without reliability, and in this case, the movement housed into the Master Chrono is well known: The Cal 751 A, which is a traditional 751 with some minor changes on its structure.
Now, the discussion moment...
Solid or see through case back?
The answer is....
Solid!
I know that some here dreamt about a sapphire case back, but objectively, I think that JLC made the right choice.
Do you remember what were the global thoughts on the Grande Reversso 976, with its sapphire case back?
Everybody wanted a solid case back!
What is to be seen with the Cal 751 A?
It is a good and reliable movement, but is it that interesting to see?
Does JLC have to fall in the Trap of Fashion?
This is a serious piece, IMO, which deserves serious solutions.
The case back is a serious solution.
It would have been totally different if the housed caliber was a superbly finished one.
At least we can admire the very nice new Logo we'll also see on the new Memovox, Logo inspired from the Geomatic / Geophysic.
Affordable, this Chrono is:
In SS, it is around 7900 Euros, while in RG, it is approximlatively 15 000 Euros.
Do you have a problem to decide between the SS and the RG version?
The RG is warmer, indeed, while the SS is more ...understated.
For those who can't decide between these 2 versions, I may be of some help...
Open your eyes, as it is a scoop...
JLC showed me the Boutique Edition, which is a LE of 150 pieces: Basically a SS Case, silver dial, BUT RG Indexes and Time Hands.
In this configuration, the Retro look is enhanced in a very lovely way...
Don't thank me, Temptation is my pleasure.
Best,
Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-01-25 14:43:06 This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-01-28 12:57:44 
