Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control Geographic
This was a belated 40th birthday present to myself today. I’m over the moon! GMT or dual time zone complications are by far my favorite for the usefulness to me. If you have an opportunity to see one of these in the metal, please spend some time playing with it. The intuitive way you scroll time zones with the crown at 10 does so with such a satisfying click, it almost makes me giggle. Would love to hear anyone’s opinion on the geographic or share your favorite JLC model (owned or not!)
Cheers all
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Nick
10 ish year collector. Huge fan of discussing our tiny works of mechanical art.
Charlotte, NC, USA
Member since
Last active: 1 week ago
18.42 cm
🔥
That is a very, very nice birthday present! Magnificent watch. Unorthodox layout, but it works very well indeed. Wear it in good health 🥂!
That is a very, very nice birthday present! Magnificent watch. Unorthodox layout, but it works very well indeed. Wear it in good health 🥂!
Fantastic!
With a Toyota, you can wait until you're 50 for the new car 🤣
That is a very, very nice birthday present! Magnificent watch. Unorthodox layout, but it works very well indeed. Wear it in good health 🥂!
Completely agree on the layout. The Master Control Calendar is achingly beautiful, but I have no practical use for the moon phase. In the metal this layout works surprisingly well. There is so much nuanced depth to the dial and the finishing is tough to match at this price. It’s punching upwards in that department.
My fav was Gen 1 but could never afford it at the time (and ended up buying the hometime which was a little cheaper). Then they redesigned it and Gen 2 was no match. Gen 3 is better but I still miss that depth of the dial on Gen 1. Complication is amazing.
Beautiful!
Congrats and happy birthday sir, i would love to bought a reverso someday
My fav was Gen 1 but could never afford it at the time (and ended up buying the hometime which was a little cheaper). Then they redesigned it and Gen 2 was no match. Gen 3 is better but I still miss that depth of the dial on Gen 1. Complication is amazing.
Can’t argue with you there. The dial on gen 1 is special. The case on this gen 3 (or is this 4?) has been refined so nicely. It is larger at 40mm but it’s a little over 1mm thinner. The crispness of the meeting of brushed vs polished lines are also beyond impressive. 70hr PR is really nice to boot.
If you’re still pining after a gen 1 geographic, they’re coming down lately. A lot of watch compared to other things in its’ general orbit. However, I think you’d be smart to get it serviced immediately unless you had a fresh record.
I also have the blue Master Control Date from 2022. It’s beautiful but I haven’t had to service a JLC yet. So I can’t speak to the cost. However, the new ones do come with an 8yr warranty so that allows the mind to exhale a bit.
Sorry for the long winded replies. I’m just chuffed to bits today. 🤣
Super nice watch! It's on my list too, I like how the timezones are being represented here vs taking over the entire dial, understated and elegant.
I liked the master ultra thin moon phase until I went to the AD and tried it on, but the caseback was protruding and didn't make for a good fit on the wrist so that didn't work out.
The reverso tribute chrono is another one that stands out for me, love the contrast of the ready for work dial on one side and skeleton on the other. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-jaeger-lecoultre-reverso-tribute-chronograph
That one hell of a birthday gift. Enjoy your JLC. Wear it with a smile.
Love the master control series. Very classy
An exceptional watch. I went with the somewhat less common black dial on bracelet from the prior generation.
The black and the surprisingly capable bracelet give it a somewhat sportier edge that I appreciate.
Beautiful piece..I can only wish....Enjoy the hobby...🎯
My fav was Gen 1 but could never afford it at the time (and ended up buying the hometime which was a little cheaper). Then they redesigned it and Gen 2 was no match. Gen 3 is better but I still miss that depth of the dial on Gen 1. Complication is amazing.
Interesting, I ended up going with a gen 2 master Geographic because I liked the alpha hands over the dauphin hands and found the symmetry a bit more pleasing.
I did end up getting a black one however on bracelet, which probably helps counteract some of the flatness of the dial you're referring to.
Different strokes.
What a beauty. It's hard to say which JLC woul be my favorite (they are all out of my reach anyway), Reverso, Polaris, this master control....I'm a fan!
This is stunning! What a great birthday present. I’m a sucker for a good old reverso but wouldn’t dismiss a master mariner either.
Pure class, congrats. Still on wish list but Polaris chrono will be joining my collection one day
Love the master control series. Very classy
Amazing! and 1000 hrs testing is really something else. Between this and ALS assembling, disassembling and assembling again their watches before shipping them to stores, are some of the best QC practices in the biz.
An exceptional watch. I went with the somewhat less common black dial on bracelet from the prior generation.
The black and the surprisingly capable bracelet give it a somewhat sportier edge that I appreciate.
Sporty yes. For travel also better on a bracelet. But I always took this Master control lone as a dressier proposition from JLC. When I purchased my Master Hometime, at that time JLC also had master compressor series which was the same watches in a more robust sproty attire. Hence I never looked the these puppies as a sproty proposition. Furthermore, I think master control doesn't have very high water resistance, does it?
Interesting, I ended up going with a gen 2 master Geographic because I liked the alpha hands over the dauphin hands and found the symmetry a bit more pleasing.
I did end up getting a black one however on bracelet, which probably helps counteract some of the flatness of the dial you're referring to.
Different strokes.
I’ve ordered the bracelet for this one as well. The same one that is an option on the Master Control Calendar fits the Geographic as well. The bracelet definitely adds a touch of sportiness. Love it.
Sporty yes. For travel also better on a bracelet. But I always took this Master control lone as a dressier proposition from JLC. When I purchased my Master Hometime, at that time JLC also had master compressor series which was the same watches in a more robust sproty attire. Hence I never looked the these puppies as a sproty proposition. Furthermore, I think master control doesn't have very high water resistance, does it?
50 meters. So definitely don’t want to intentionally swim with it.
Sporty yes. For travel also better on a bracelet. But I always took this Master control lone as a dressier proposition from JLC. When I purchased my Master Hometime, at that time JLC also had master compressor series which was the same watches in a more robust sproty attire. Hence I never looked the these puppies as a sproty proposition. Furthermore, I think master control doesn't have very high water resistance, does it?
So I think we might disagree on the intent of the Master Control line.
Perhaps sporty isn't the right term. It is certainly not a true blue sports watch in durability and refinement. But it's not really a dress watch either, especially compared to the far dressier Master Ultra thins. The master control line to me has always been about a revived 1950s every day watch (plus complication). Not a watch you'd take into the depths of the ocean, but one you'd expect to bump around a bit in the normal hustle and bustle of life. It's why I suspect the collection is largely steel, even the high complication stuff.
As for my Master Geographic, I wouldn't swim with it on, but I've certainly wandered a wet market or a souk or a mountain with it on and not really any thought to its durability.
Mine says hello:)
So I think we might disagree on the intent of the Master Control line.
Perhaps sporty isn't the right term. It is certainly not a true blue sports watch in durability and refinement. But it's not really a dress watch either, especially compared to the far dressier Master Ultra thins. The master control line to me has always been about a revived 1950s every day watch (plus complication). Not a watch you'd take into the depths of the ocean, but one you'd expect to bump around a bit in the normal hustle and bustle of life. It's why I suspect the collection is largely steel, even the high complication stuff.
As for my Master Geographic, I wouldn't swim with it on, but I've certainly wandered a wet market or a souk or a mountain with it on and not really any thought to its durability.
I dont disagree. I treat my Hometime as a suit watch, office watch, etc. Not something I'd wear to the Metropolitan opera or at a black tie event. By the way, they used to have your watch in gold in Gen 1. No more?
Mine says hello:)
Hell yeah! 🤜
I dont disagree. I treat my Hometime as a suit watch, office watch, etc. Not something I'd wear to the Metropolitan opera or at a black tie event. By the way, they used to have your watch in gold in Gen 1. No more?
I think of the MC as a Datejust competitor. The way the aquaterra goes sportier than the DJ, the JLC Master Control answers the same need but on the more romantic/dressy side of the coin. Probably more fragile than both but still could be a daily. The Master Ultra Thin line on the other hand is a dress line in my mind.
I think of the MC as a Datejust competitor. The way the aquaterra goes sportier than the DJ, the JLC Master Control answers the same need but on the more romantic/dressy side of the coin. Probably more fragile than both but still could be a daily. The Master Ultra Thin line on the other hand is a dress line in my mind.
You just ruined such a nice conversation by dragging in rolex and omega. It's like guys discussing relative pros and cons of lambos, ferraris and astons and this dude starts bringing up honda nsx and Nissan z... Or comparing Armani vs Zegna suits and you drop Zara and HM for reference. Why, oh why?!
You just ruined such a nice conversation by dragging in rolex and omega. It's like guys discussing relative pros and cons of lambos, ferraris and astons and this dude starts bringing up honda nsx and Nissan z... Or comparing Armani vs Zegna suits and you drop Zara and HM for reference. Why, oh why?!
Haha fair. I can respect them for their consistency at mass manufacturing. But I do get your point. The MC is a daily watch for those who are deeeep into their watch addiction journey 😜
The JLC Master Geographic sector dial is my goal watch for 2024 (I generally get 1-2 watches a year) I hope this get this one along with a Grand Seiko spring drive this year.
I absolutely love the watch and the world time function with the nob at 10 o’clock. I think it’s great, but I never see people wearing them.