Jaeger-LeCoultre

Hello everybody!

Again I would like to put a light on something we not often discuss here at the forum.

The classic Master Control series, if we talk about them it’s often about the MUT or in the other end, the Master Grand Reveil.

But the baseline for all of these watches is a much simpler one, the Master Control.

The MUT I have very recently started to appreciate, but I don’t have any personal experience of it –

yet, but after so many of you here have talked with great passion about it I probably will have another look at it…

The Grand Reveil I have been looking at for a times now, but I think the dial is a little too busy for my taste.

But it is a memovox – which makes it mush more appealing in my opinion

For those of you how have read my other posts know I like clean and simple dials, always have and probably always will.

The Master Control is simplicity personified in a watch (with still some volume to it)!

Yes the MUT is actually even more simpler in its appearance, but lack the volume of a “normal” watch.

For me it’s important to feel the presence of the watch on my wrist, that’s why I have avoided the MUT so far...

For me the old case is more balanced in its proportions, and I also prefer the hands on the old model.

The old hands with their sharp silhouette are to die for.

The black seconds hand is like a conductors stick, sweeping over the silver dial – beautiful! Almost hypnotic

The sharp triangle hour marks looks like opposite hands directed inwards to the hour and minute hands.

So simple, so clean – so charming!

With the medallion on the back the MC feels like a thoroughbred.

If we climb one step up from the entry level, we have the MC Home Time.

With the new case the MC’s have crystal back cases. A very nice addition to the watches.

It’s always nice to be able to see the movement, especially a beautiful movement like the Cal 975H.

JLC onec again displays that they are masters of making a fantastic finish on even the simpler movements.

New case: 40mm x 10mm, old case 37mm x 8,5mm.

As you can see my HT is the old dial, and I am not sure if the have changed any details on the case, but the dial is changed. Good or bad, I don’t know, but if I don’t recall wrongly JLC won a lot of design prices back in 2004 for the HT’s design. Also they have put a new crown on – the new crown I find very intriguing (If you take a look at their homepage, you will see)

A very nice touch on both the old and new is the black-blue home time hour hands (24 indicator on the new one and the small second on the old).

What I really love with the HT is that even if the dial is pretty busy and asymmetric for that matter – it is clean!

At some point between 2000 and 2004 JLC changed of which side the buckle is located on the strap.

Does anyone know why?

Best

Blomman

JLC has so many gems – it’s easy to forget or look past many of them…

Even if it’s not in one of the high end watches

Best

Blomman

Looks like we are JLC fanboyz !

Here's mine ........

Good Wednesday !!

Well, I think it would be difficult for me too deny that… :-

Great photos of your classic!

Thanks for sharing.

Best

Blomman

There are a lot of them missing in my collection!

I which I could fill all the gaps (actually giant holes) in my collection.

But a big part of the fun is the way to get there!

…and I am working on it!

You are one of them that have inspired me to take a closer look at the MUT!

How knows … maybe that’s my next…

Best

Blomman

I can never get tired of looking at the clean and simple dial of the Geomatic!

A fantastic piece of history!

A question Nicolas – from which year is your Geomatic?

Thank you for your kind words – it means a lot coming from you, my friend!

You are a big inspiration to write this kind of posts!

Blomman

A very nice year my friend!

Blomman

I am -69. How I which the Polaris was -69…!

Best

Blomman

Actually I am searching for JLC’s from -69.

Do you know any that was released that year?

Best

Blomman

Thank you Nicolas!

This is maybe the closest I can get to a -69?!

I feel more and more that it’s maybe time for me to dive in to the abyss of vintage watches…

Best

Blomman

I would love to have any of them!!!

Or all of them!!!

I think I will have to start soon – otherwise I will go crazy

Best

Blomman

One of the 2 non-vintage JLCs that I currently own   (well, technically speaking, it is 'almost vintage' now, being from the very early 1990's)

You would probably be very surprised if you could see my photo set up !

Basically, the watch is wrapped around my wallet (black leather), which I put directly on the floor, not too far from the window.
Then, I use a coffee pot as a support for my right hand which is holding the camera  (to avoid shaking too much), and in my left hand i use a basic A4 paper to avoid too much direct light.

So, really simple and not academic at all !

Sometimes the result can be good, but most of the times I think my pictures are a bit under-exposed. But I have not tried very hard to improve, and since I have started taking pictures this way, I tend to keep on in order to have a sort of consistency with my older pictures.

But it is right that the picture of the master control is a bit better than the rest of the series.  (I can also clearly see on it that the hands as well as the date window show a bit of oxydation !)

Love the oxidation – makes it look older than it is, and gives it character!

Do you know what happened to make it that way? Moist?

Best

Blomman