Amanico explores his preference for two-subdial chronographs without a date function, highlighting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph Sector Dial and the Deep Sea Chronograph Vintage. He compares these two modern JLC pieces, both drawing inspiration from the past, and invites the community to share their preferences on dial symmetry and design purity.
I have to confess that I am a big fan of 2 registers Chronographs. Ok, at the price of the 12 hours Sub dial, that's true. But without date which most of the time ruins the dial.
The dial symmetry and balance are top. The purity, too.
Add some cool factor, and you have a very tempting watch.
Jaeger Lecoultre, in the modern times, made two of them:
2012: Deep Sea Chronograph Vintage. A fiction based on the Deep Sea Europe.
And the Master Chronograph Sector Dial from 2017, which is an inspiration of an old pocket watch, chronograph Rattrapante from the 40's.
While the Master Chronograph offered a 12 hours Counter and a... Date.
The cases have almost the same size: 40 mm for the Master Chronograph Sector Dial, 40, 5 mm for the Deep Sea Chronograph Vintage.
But these are not the same cases. The " Vintage " has a Deep Sea Case, which is very sensual. The " Sector " has a Master case, which is ok, but which should be revisited, as it starts to be a tad outdated. At 40 mm it is still ok, though.
The interesting common point is that they both play the card of nostalgia, with a clear link to the past, with their characteristic dials.
The funny common point is the hands, pointed for the Deep Sea Chronograph Vintage, Skeleton pointed for the " Sector ", which is, in my opinion, one of the rare flaws of this version. It would have been better looking or let's say less odd, to have hands filled with some material, luminous or not.
Some will prefer the rectangular chronograph pushers, others will be pleased with the round pushers, I have no preference here, on that matter.
Despite all these common points, each of them has its own personality and raison d 'être.
White or black, luminous indices and hands or not, rectangular or round pushers, Deep Sea or Master case, it will be a matter of taste, at the moment of the choice, if you are attracted by these 2.
I would slightly favor the Deep Sea, but the Master is uber cool, too.
What about you?
Best,
Nicolas
