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Jaeger-LeCoultre

Master Grand Ultra Thin

Boîtier
Or rose
Bracelet
Cuir
Boucle
Boucle ardillon
Etanchéité
50 m
Taille
ø 40 mm
Mouvement
Mécanique à remontage manuel
Fonctions
Indicateur de réserve de marche
Référence
Q 1352520
Lancement
2008
Collection
Master Control
Prix HT
12’200 CHF
Description

<p>Master Ultra Thin</p><p>the grandest form of horological minimalism</p><p>Ultra-thin watches are not only one of the most longstanding historical specialities of the</p><p>Manufacture, but indeed gave rise to the joining of the two names Jaeger and LeCoultre. It</p><p>was in 1903 that Jacques-David LeCoultre rose to the challenge set to Swiss watch</p><p>manufacturers by Edmond Jaeger: that of creating the “world's thinnest movements”. Their</p><p>encounter gave rise in 1907 to LeCoultre Calibre 145 – a Lépine 17-ligne pocket-watch –</p><p>the thinnest in the world at just 1.38 mm thick and still the record-holder in its category. It</p><p>also inspired the creation of one of the most prodigious collections of ultra-thin calibres</p><p>ever. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre is perpetuating this tradition with two watches extolling the</p><p>virtues of absolute finesse. With its ultra-thin 1.85 mm calibre and its 38 mm case featuring</p><p>pure, sleek lines, the Master Ultra Thin 38 is the epitome of elegant understatement.</p><p>Meanwhile, in its 40 mm case, the Master Grande Ultra Thin embodies horological</p><p>refinement – from the subtle design of its lugs to the clarity of its dial featuring a small</p><p>seconds subdial.</p><p>Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849 and automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 896</p><p>One of Edmond Jaeger's demands was to create movements that were ultra-thin while</p><p>detracting nothing from their quality and reliability. The movements driving the new Master</p><p>Ultra Thin models are entirely in harmony with this tradition.</p><p>At the heart of the Master Ultra Thin 38 beats manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849, a</p><p>movement that has already achieved legendary status among devotees of fine watchmaking due</p><p>to the exceptional qualities it has consistently displayed since 1994: peerless accuracy and</p><p>reliability, 123 parts and a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour, all housed within a mere 1.85</p><p>mm. It is indeed one of the thinnest movements on the market today. Embodying a major</p><p>horological accomplishment, its slender structure calls for exceptional machining precision. In</p><p>order to limit the overall thickness, it is equipped with a bridge-free barrel and an extremely</p><p>small escapement. Its fine adjustment and assembly therefore represent particularly delicate</p><p>tasks that are entrusted to the Watchmaking Specialities workshops within the Manufacture.</p><p>For the Master Grande Ultra Thin, 40 mm model, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 896 with</p><p>small seconds belongs to the 899 generation of new movements. Made up of 242 parts, it</p><p>measures no more than 3.98 mm thick. It comprises the signature features of the brand's new</p><p>automatic calibres: the variable-inertia balance ensuring the constancy of the rate and enhanced</p><p>sturdiness; ceramic ball-bearing mechanisms requiring no lubrication or maintenance; and a high</p><p>frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.</p><p>The embodiment of finesse</p><p>From an aesthetic standpoint, the Master Ultra Thin models enshrine absolute purity, from the</p><p>ultra-classical dial to the case finely sculpted in steel or pink gold.</p><p>The silver-coloured dials feature a refined sunburst motif perfectly suited to their slightly</p><p>cambered shape. Dauphine-style hands glide gracefully over the applied gold dagger-shaped</p><p>numerals and hour-markers. The minute circle is powdered, silver-coloured or gilded, while the</p><p>Jaeger-LeCoultre signature is topped by the gilded or rhodium-plated JL anchor symbol. On the</p><p>automatic model, the small seconds occupies a prominent position at 6 o'clock.</p><p>The cases exalt this aura of refinement: the flowing, streamlined profile of the lugs and the</p><p>slender bezel create a magnificent setting for the movement that may be admired through the</p><p>sapphire crystal case-back. The Master Ultra Thin watches are indeed worthy heirs to the</p><p>historical ultra-thin masterpieces of the Manufacture.</p><p>And since this incarnation of essential watchmaking must meet the high standards of quality</p><p>upheld by the Manufacture on all levels, all models are water-resistant to 50 metres and have</p><p>successfully met the implacable demands of the 1000 Hours test procedure. Available in steel</p><p>or in pink gold, the manually-wound or automatic Master Ultra Thin watches are fitted with an</p><p>alligator leather strap, complete with a steel or 18-carat pink gold folding clasp. The steel model</p><p>may also be teamed with a metal bracelet.</p><p>The grand tradition of Jaeger-LeCoultre ultra-thin watches</p><p>Ultra-thin watches are not only one of the most longstanding historical specialities of the</p><p>Manufacture, but indeed gave rise to the joining of the two names Jaeger and LeCoultre.</p><p>In 1903, French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger (1858-1922) was established in Paris. Since the</p><p>1890s, he had been making chronometers intended for the French Navy. With this market in</p><p>the throes of a major crisis, Jaeger decided to apply his inventive mind to the field of ultra-thin</p><p>watches. Given that his small workshop did not enable him to make the full range of watch</p><p>components required, he challenged the Swiss manufacturers to produce the calibres he had</p><p>invented. Jacques-David LeCoultre (1875-1948) took up the gauntlet, and the two men met in</p><p>1903 and signed a first agreement. Their cooperation was to give rise to one of the world's</p><p>most prodigious collections of ultra-thin movements, including LeCoultre Calibre 145 in 1907.</p><p>At just 1.38 mm thick, the latter, is still the thinnest in the world in its category. It was produced</p><p>for more than a century by the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux. Jaeger and LeCoultre</p><p>equipped it with some of their extremely thin complication movements. Created in 1910, the</p><p>LeCoultre Calibre 17/18RMCCVEP was in particular endowed with chronograph and minute</p><p>repeater functions, while measuring a mere 3.55 mm thick!</p><p>This tradition was pursued throughout the 20th century. In 1953, the 1.64 mm thick Jaeger-</p><p>LeCoultre Calibre 803 inaugurated the line of ultra-thin wristwatch movements. It was followed</p><p>ten years later by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 838, equipped with a shock-absorbing system</p><p>(hence its slightly greater thickness of 1.85 mm), of which a direct descendant equips the</p><p>current Master Ultra Thin. In parallel, Jaeger-LeCoultre distinguished itself in the domain of highfrequency</p><p>ultra-thin automatic movements. Created in 1976 in the midst of the quartz crisis,</p><p>Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 900 measures 3.25 mm thick, beats to the cadence of 28,800</p><p>vibrations per hour and drives a date display. It heralded the line of ultra-thin automatic</p><p>movements such as the current Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 896 powering the Master Ultra Thin</p><p>automatic model, perpetuating the tradition while providing new technical performances.</p>