JLC Master Ultra Thin Moon 39mm Long-Term Review

rnaden · 2013-08-11T03:59:35Z

rnaden reviews the JLC Master Ultra Thin Moon 39mm, praising its comfort, accuracy, and design. Discover insights on its wearability, date function, and strap.

rnaden

WPS member · Jaeger-LeCoultre forum

11 replies3537 views9 photos

rnaden shares a detailed, long-term ownership review of his Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39mm, highlighting its exceptional comfort and accuracy over nearly five months. His insights offer valuable perspective on how this dressy yet versatile timepiece performs in daily wear, making it relevant for collectors considering a JLC moon phase for regular rotation.

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Have been wearing this for at least 3 days in a week (4 most of the time) since I got it in early April, and this has to be one of the most comfortable watches I have. The weight and fit on the wrist is close to perfect, and for smaller wrists like mine, I would think that in the current trends of oversized and large watches, this one decides well to stay on the beaten path for a good and logical size for everyday use. Although dressy in nature, it goes pretty well even with jeans and t-shirts.

Accuracy is up there with the best, gaining 3 seconds every 6 weeks. I did not measure it in any specific positions, but went for the regular use - either on the wrist, on the dresser and on the winder. This is the only moon phase watch I own, but I can tell you that it's a function that is quite useless to me. I neither care to set it nor do I use it. I just like to have it

I feel it adds some depth and life to a plain silver dial, which is also pretty stunning with a sunburst like effect under the light. The moon phase combined with the recessed date sub-dial lends some character that differentiates it from a time only watch or one with a date in a regular window at 3 o'clock. Another feature which is a favorite of mine is the blued center seconds. A habit I have is staring at the seconds move, and that blued hands with the long tail is something I like a lot in the design. Small deal it may be, but it was one of the primary deciding factors when deciding between this and another model at the boutique.

One thing I don't really find practical after wearing this for some time would be the date. While the pointer date is a nice feature, the font is just too small to get at a glance, and when you have the minute hand hovering over the date dial, it will be faster to just pull out the phone to check on the date than trying to decipher the numbers, shadows and the dots. I also find that the pusher to adjust the date is not the best thing to have when traveling over different timezones. First, there is a need to find an object that will not cause damage to the pushers to use, then it's that counting the number of times to push it while struggling to see the date to ensure it's correct. I took this on a recent trip that went through 4 timezones and I ended up just setting the time and not bothering about the date till I got home.

The strap - now that's something I wish had been a lot better. The deployant is superb, as with all JLC's - well, I'm comparing this to my Reverso Grande Taille, which is the only other JLC I own. It locks well and centers the watch on the wrist well. The strap however - it doesn't get a whole lot softer after much use, unlike the alligator straps on my other watches, and it squeaks at the lugs - yes, squeaks every time I flex it. It gets annoying after a while. I tried some leather polish at the lugs and it would fix the squeaks for about a week and a half and then it is back. Not sure if the rounded pins contribute to this. I'm not one who goes about changing straps all the time and would usually stick with the original unless it needs to be replaced, so this is definitely something I wish could have been better finished.

Aside from that grouse, everything about this watch is just brilliant. From the comfort, the design and the movement, this is one that I have no regrets - but that strap is making me want to break my rules on strap swapping when it's still in perfect shape.

Some pictures below to share.

39mm is just perfect. Fits nicely under a shirt sleeve and is just at home with casual wear.

I love the blued center seconds with the long tail at the end

Date dial look nice in pictures but in reality is too small to be practical

As always, the finishing of the movement is very nice to admire. Blued screws add a nice touch of color.

The wrist shot

Profile. Date pusher on crown side and moon phase pusher at 8 o'clock position.

Deployant - still an industry benchmark from JLC IMO.

Thanks for looking.

Richard

Key Points from the Discussion

The watch's versatility is a strong point, easily transitioning from dressy occasions to casual wear with jeans and a t-shirt.
For adjusting the date, using a soft-tipped stylus from an old mobile phone or a toothpick is recommended to avoid scratching the case, a common concern with the supplied metal pin.
The blued center seconds hand with its long tail is a favorite design element, adding character and depth to the dial.
The pointer date, while aesthetically pleasing, is criticized for its small font and legibility issues, especially when the minute hand obstructs it, making it impractical for quick checks.
The date pusher mechanism is inconvenient for frequent adjustments, particularly when traveling across multiple timezones, leading some owners to forgo setting the date until returning home.
The original strap, despite the excellent deployant, is noted for not softening significantly over time and developing an annoying squeak at the lugs.

The Discussion

Timewarp

Aug 11, 2013

Tool

Hi, I cannot agree more with yo on the versatility of the watch. I have exactly the same model in steel like yours. I also have a few annual calendars that require setting and are made of gold. Being anal about dings, dents and scratches I have found a harmless way, I do not use the metal pin (tool) supplied. Instead I went to the friendly local mobile phone store and bought old stylus (3) in varying sizes for my use. The tips being made of fibre and rounded at the edges do not scratch or dent.

rnaden

Aug 11, 2013

That's a pretty good idea

Thanks for that suggestion. I will go dig into my old palm pilot boxes and see if I can find those things I never thought would see the light of day again. Not so sure how long I will last carrying an additional tool that can be misplaced though, but we will see :-) Richard

amanico

Aug 11, 2013

That is my kind of post.

Thank you so much for having taken the time to write it. I would even prefer it without date, as for your thoughts on this matter. But at least, this system doesn't ruin the dial. I think this MUT MP is a classic to become. And the strongest point is its case. Sublime. Best, my friend. Nicolas

rnaden

Aug 11, 2013

The case is very well balanced

I agree :-) Thanks for the feedback Nicolas. I'll try to get more time to write up on some of the long term ownership experiences of my other watches. Am working on one for my Reverso GT now that I've spent a lot of 5 years with it. Richard

amanico

Aug 11, 2013

The test of time is THE true test. Can't wait to read you, Richard.

Sandgroper

Aug 11, 2013

Lovely watch indeed Richard, thank you for the......

nice review and pictures. Like you I really like the blued seconds hands which is the same as on my Master Perpetual. Agree with you about the metal stylus, personally I use tooth pics:) it's wood and has no chance to scratch the metal, quite easy to find too!:) Cheers Francois

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JLC Master Ultra Thin Moon 39mm Long-Term Review

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