Jaeger-LeCoultre

I finally had a chance to get to an AD and try on both the Rolex GMTIIC ss and the JLC MC GMT. I must say I was very impressed by this watch!  I had looked at it a bit online back when a member was selling his on rubber for just north of $4,000 (a steal!) but didn't want to buy something I hadn't experienced in person.

The size is perfect at 41.5mm, the watch is actually thicker than you expect (it does have the 975 cal movement with the GMT complication which adds to the thickness) but by no means too thick, maybe 14mm. While not a pure dress watch by any stress of the imagination, it is a very well balanced all around piece that you could certainly wear to an office/dinner environment but at the same time robust enough to able to do sports/bang around.

The way the GMT function is designed is just ideal, much more efficient and effective than that of the Rolex. Sure, the Rolex is pretty much the standard when it comes to sport GMT's and the newer GMTIIc's are well nicely done (albeit I'm no fan of the polished center links) but the JLC just felt much more sophisticated, not to say comfortable on beautiful padded leather strap on deployment clasp.

I'm going to start looking around to see if I can repeat Ken's deal from back in June. At that price point I'd buy one.

Who owns/wear one? Can we see some photos? Why aren't more people owning this fantastic little piece?



Cheers,

Patrick

I think it's a fabulous looking watch, with a useful and elegant complication.  I only gave it up because I'm wearing slightly smaller watches these days and the Compressor line is a little too bulky for me to pull off.  So, the "it's not you...it's me" routine applies here.  That said, I think there are a few reasons why this model hasn't gotten due acclaim.  I'll apologize for speaking for others, since these are not issues for me.  But I've heard some say this watch is lacking traditional Compressor DNA.  Markings are more refined.  No internal bezel.  Single crown.  Fewer diver-esque design cues. 

I call it the "non-Compressor fan's Compressor", and that's what it was for me.  I'm not sure the Compressor line is old enough to have established "traditional Compressor DNA", and saw the GMT as a dressier and reasonable evolution.  Others say the GMT function is redundant with the hidden hand, as with the new Dualtime.  I don't agree, and see the GMT subdial as an interesting additional feature.  As well, it lends balance to the dial that perhaps the original Hometime was lacking.

All said and done, I miss the watch.  If it weighed in at 40mm, I'd be wearing it now and forever.  Best, Ken 

This beg the question: what DNA? How old is the Master Compressor line? There must be some headroom to innovate, sometimes simplify, which I think they've done in the case of the MC GMT.

I've got my heart set on a MC. Once sec I'm all for the GMT, the next I wan't the diver GMT chrono...  Maybe one is not enough?

A functional and appealing watch.

Well, it has been released past year, if I remember correctly, so yes, it is a recent watch, which has to be known, about which we have to speak, and most of all, the enthusiast owners, and there are some here.

And a ore original alternative to the Rolex!

The Rolex has its History behind, when the JLC  is building its history.

Robust, reliable and friendly...

What to ask more?

Best,

Nicolas

I DO wish JLC would've kept the internal, ratcheted, rotating bezel so that you could mark time (grilling, for instance), and kept the 2 crowns at 2 and 4 o'clock, but that would've changed the position of the sweep seconds. I DO like this piece VERY MUCH, but prefer it on the bracelet (better wrist weight-balance, and I LOVE JLC's double extendable clasp). I also wish JLC would've amped up the water resistancy to 200 meters.

That said, have you tried, or do you like, the Dualmatic, its original incarnation? The "Autotractor" movement is VERY robust and I like the dual-time feature. These can be found, occasionally, and for a decent price.

Let us know what you think, and what you decide.

-Dean

I mean, I've never been below 100m But seriously--the WR is plenty for anything, and I mean *anything* that you'd do wearing a watch.

DJK

Hi,

I have had my MC GMT for about a year now, and I love it. Due to its more understated Master Compressor appearance, I can easily wear in a working environment. At the same time, the watch's sporty look and feel are very well suited to my usual appearance in shorts and sandals (I live in Phoenix, Arizona).

The watch can take on dramatically different looks depending upon the strap. I usually wear it with the stainless steel bracelet, which I find to be the more balanced and comfortable of my two current options. I also have the JLC rubber strap, which give the piece a much different look - sometimes I look down and recognize its distant cousin the Memovox. I will add a custom leather strap in the not to distant future, which will undoubtedly give it a slightly more 'dressy' look.

I love the looks of the traditional Master Compressors, but none of them have the relatively understated look of the GMT. Ultimately, this is my favorite attribute of the watch - it is anything but bling.

As for function, the watch is durable and dependable. I take it everywhere: camping, fishing, bicycling, swimming, at the gym. The only time I put on my Casio G-Shock is when I am doing yard work, since I have no desire to get the watch scratched and dusty. Having said that, I am sure that it would handle the back yard as well...

In short, I highly recommend the watch. Here are some pictures:

With a dress shirt with the rubber strap:


Wrist shot with snow in the background:


Close up with the steel bracelet:


--Sancerre



This message has been edited by sancerre on 2010-07-22 15:32:25

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1. I like the asymmetric design of the Dualmatic--it has that distinctly modern JLC vibe, which has been lost on the more subdued update (it looks more French to me).
2. I really like having the timing bezel--it's very useful for all manner of things (grilling/cooking for one), it's bidirectional and locking.
3. This is my biggest peeve with the GMT and more recent Master Hometime/Dualtime update: the subdial has introduced a redundancy into the design. On the Hometime and Dualmatic, there is a second hour hand on the main dial, which makes it very easy to track home time and travel time--an ingenious implementation of the GMT function. However, one also needs to know what the 24h (day/night) indication is of home time. Thus the Dualmatic has a 24h wheel and the Hometime has a Jour/Nuit subdial. The updated GMT and Dualtime use a full 24h subdial--that subdial has a second hour hand for home time, which means the additional second hour hand on the main dial is redundant (it gives the same time, but in 12h format). Thus the Diving GMT (same movement, same function) actually dispenses with the second hour hand on the main dial while maintaining equal functionality.
4. I'm split on the dial implementation/finish on the GMT--I like the date frame, but the raised markers look plasticky to me. The painted Dualmatic dial is nearer the classic JLC Compressor look (i.e. Memovox).

Cheers,
Daniel

I don’t have the MC GMT myself, but a friend of mine got one not long ago.

 

Here is the post I wrote about it;

 

My friends first JLC!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

 

I've had mine since March and have found it to be a very cool watch. On the black leather with contrasting white stiching or brown leather with white stiching, I think it looks a little smaller than when it's on the rubber. I don't have the bracelet yet, but am very tempted to get it. I agree with previous posters that different straps change the look of the watch dramatically. As to your question, I think the MC GMT is a pretty unique look, and if one is looking for a sporty and rugged GMT watch in the under $10,000 range, my guess is that many people go with the Rolex. Nothing wrong with that--it's an awesome watch that's a classic, either ceramic or not. But the people who want to be just a little different than the crowd, and wear a watch that isn't recognized by many, yet looks like an obviously HIGH quality watch, go for the JLC I think.

As for the watch itself under real life wearing conditions, I've worn it jogging with the dog, swimming in the lake, riding the bike, and walking around NYC this tremendously hot and humid summer and have not had any problems at all. As many have posted on this site, the 975 autotractor movement is an incredibly robust and reliable movement designed to be as maintenance free as possible. As for its design, I love the face of this watch and its one compressor crown. I love the symmetry of the dial and the day/night indicator--which is not written but can be seen by the contrasting shades of gray, and I really love the applied markers which I feel give the dial a nice visual depth. All in all, I'm really liking this watch and recommend it highly.

Here are a few wrist shots:

 

 

 

Trying to find one of these right now to a similar deal that Ken was offering.

Thanks for your elaborated and refreshoinbg answer.

It seems that you have a serious love affair with your MC GMT!

Best, and thanks for sharing your feeling on this watch.

Nicolas