JLC Master Control, Géographique, Chronograph Sector Dial

amanico · 2017-02-08T14:24:30Z

Explore Jaeger-LeCoultre's 2017 SIHH Master Control, Géographique, and Chronograph with new sector dials. Discover design changes, pricing, and collector opinions.

amanico

WPS member · Jaeger-LeCoultre forum

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Amanico introduces Jaeger-LeCoultre's 2017 SIHH Master Control, Master Géographique, and Master Chronograph models, featuring a distinctive "sector dial" aesthetic. This review delves into the design changes, pricing, and community reception of these new interpretations, particularly focusing on the dial and hand modifications.

To avoid any confusion, let's first say that Jaeger Lecoultre didn't add the " sector dial " mention to the name of these three watches.

It is a new version of the Master Control, Géographique and Chronograph.

All of them have the same case ( 39 mm for the Control and the Géographique, 40 mm for the Chronograph ) and hands " skeleton baton " with some changes which have to be mentioned here.

The closer one from the " normal " models is the Master Control. Here, the case and movement are the same.

The differences? Obviously the dial and hands.

The good surprise? It is 500 euros less expensive than the Master Control we know.

The real question is about the date. While a plain dial would have been a hit, in my opinion, with the date it looks weird.

The Master Géographique, now.

The Master Géographique received more changes. The power reserve and the subdial dedicated to the date disappeared.

Here, with the classic configuration:

The " Sector " version:

The question, here again, is to know if the window dedicated to the cities of the world doesn't spoil this sector dial. The blend of the two let me perplex, I have to say.

This Master Géographique is 1000 Euros less expensive than the " normal " one.

The sector dial I prefer by far, is the Master Chronograph one.

The two counters configuration is very much my taste, and I am very happy to see that Jaeger Lecoultre opted for a no date version.

So, the third dial dedicated to the " small " second, is out.

The dial is not spoiled, clean, pure. And, should I say... Coherent with what is a sector dial. A dial dedicated to precision, accuracy and legibility.

Like the two others, the price of this Master Chronograph is 700 euros less expensive.

So, what are your thoughts on these three?

Looking forward to reading you,

Best.

Nicolas

Key Points from the Discussion

The new range is appealing due to its silver and blue color scheme, with blue hands and markers. The Master Geographic's dual time function is practical, accounting for summer times, and its blue city arrow and font are attractive.
The Master Control would be improved without the date window and 'automatique' text for a cleaner dial. The Master Chronograph is considered the strongest of the three, with its two-tone dial and blue fonts working well.
The Master Control's date window disrupts the symmetry of the sector dial, indicating a lack of effort from JLC in integrating it. The absence of applied markers, high-quality textured dials, and a reworked movement with improved power reserve or manual winding are noted as shortcomings.
The painted dials versus applied indices are less 'classy' and not compensated by other features. The Sector Geographic is a disappointment due to the loss of power reserve and the date counter/indicator, which previously provided balance and coherence.
There is confusion regarding the mixed serif and sans-serif fonts on the Geographic and Chronograph dials, with inconsistencies observed between SIHH display pieces and official media photos.
A date at 6 o'clock would enhance the Master Control's subtlety and dial balance. The Geographic's dial appears visually unbalanced, with the lower part looking 'heavy.' The Chronograph is praised for its design, including the brushed circle and sand-grain centers.

The Discussion

MichaelC

Feb 8, 2017

I knew it had to be coming! The chronograph for me. Very clean, a legible dial, and IMO a very fair price. Tempting offering from JLC. Thanks Nico.

Thevenin

Feb 8, 2017

For me all three are to be opted for their "non-sector-dial" older counterparts. +1 especially on the flawless "coherence" (well-put ) with the chronograph layout. I would prefer them all date-free, but it is still not too bad to see they only kept it on the Master Control, making everybody happy. I still think their cases are on the boring side, though... But that's my problem mentally :p Thanks for your thoughts, Dogu

logan2z

Feb 8, 2017

IMO a big step backwards. The modern elegance of the previous versions has been eradicated and I don't find anything to love about the sector dials. Maybe you can clear something up for me: Originally I thought that these new sector dial versions were replacing the previous versions. Then I read that JLC would only produce the sector dial versions for a year. Which is correct? If the latter then I assume that the previous versions are not being eliminated from the collection?

utcpluseight

Feb 8, 2017

I can't comprehend why they mix both serif and san-serif fonts on the geographic and the chronograph. Especially on the geographic, where SIHH display piece font types are different from media photos, i.e. "Swiss Made" was in san-serif on media/online catalogue photos, and serif on SIHH display piece. And a serif "24" next to the san-serif "3"/"6"/"9"/"12" second-timezone subdial? Very confusing. Photos for comparison: SIHH display piece (photo by Hodinkee): Media/JLC Online Catalogue image (off

remarque

Feb 8, 2017

Whereas I would love to have a classic sector dial, and keep hoping for JLC to come out with a new watch that makes me want to run out and buy, these pieces are not it. I completely agree that the basic version with date is fatally flawed by the awkward date. It disrupts the symmetry of the sector style. I feel that JLC slapped this together without any effort, taking the case and movement from the current catalogue and produced a watch that might (!) sell without any modernization or innovation

rnaden

Feb 8, 2017

In this selection, the chrono is the nicest and most cohesive, IMO, with the Master Control looking good too. I don't quite mind the date here, but that they sliced off a portion of the inner circle annoys me sufficiently. Whether I'll pick one up, probably not. As nice as the chrono is, I don't generally go for chronographs.

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