Jaeger-LeCoultre

Hello,

Been in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last few days watch shopping and enjoying myself.  In Carmel, found a JLC dealer I liked (pretty obvious which one...as there is only one...and there is only one main man there!) and looked at the base Master Control and the Master Hometime.

I liked both, but he told me that the Master Hometime had a slightly better movement (but the other one certainly was not 'bad') which I guess is true.

Trying to decide which one to go with.  Few things:

-I liked both
-I would never use the 24-hour/dual time zone (I rarely travel, and I would not take the watch overseas).
-I will add a nice sport watch in a year or two (this will probably end up being more of my dress watch at that time).
-The cost difference (about $1500) is definitely a concern - even the less-expensive one was pushing what I wanted to spend at this point.  Thats a lot of money for a college kid with a part time job!
-While I plan on keeping this watch for a long time, it will definitely not be my last watch.
-FWIW, he is making me a good deal (send me a message if you want to know about that, I'd love to compare notes!), so if I decide to upgrade down the road, I will not take a huge bath.

I have see the Master Control Automatic is a very popular watch here and on some other watch forums, so its definitely popular!

Any advice would be appreciated, and if you have any advice you would rather give via e-mail, I would enjoy that as well.

Thanks!!!

Ken H.
Reno, NV

Hi Ken, for what it's worth, the Hometime would be my choice. Before going further, this assumes you are comfortable with the larger size (both thickness and diameter, if my recollection is right). The autotractor movement is a big plus (see excellent review by Suitbert click here ). It also has a slightly longer power reserve.

If you do not need the second time zone now, the 2 hour hands can be aligned as one so it still looks like a 3 hand watch. The day-night indicator, the offset date and JLC logo also give it an elegant assymnetric look (YMMV). WHile you don't travel now, you could stil use the second time later when you have to call a different timezone every so often (of if you're following some sporting event).

Happy hunting and enjoy whatever you choose!

Hi,

Damien linked you to Suitbert's autotractor review.

Here is a review of the Master Control's base calibre, in another watch, the VC Overseas:

www.thepurists.net

The Master Control basically has the same calibre as the Overseas (with the same finish IMO).

The current Master Control is 40mm (same as Hometime) with some autotractorized characteristics (free-sprung balance spring, ceramic balls for automatic winding) that the tested Overseas doesn't have.

The former Master Control (discontinued around three years ago) has the same calibre characteristics as the Overseas and is only 37mm.

I would take the Hometime over the current Master Control, but my favorite remains the older Master Control.

To make the difference between the old and new Master Control, the old one had a plain back while the new one has a sapphire see-through back.

IMO Master Control and Hometime are equally dressed watches, while the Hometime movement supposedly would support sportier activities.

All are good choices though.

Cheers

Dje