Master Grand Ultra Thin

Description

pMaster Ultra Thin/ppthe grandest form of horological minimalism/ppUltra-thin watches are not only one of the most longstanding historical specialities of the/ppManufacture, but indeed gave rise to the joining of the two names Jaeger and LeCoultre. It/ppwas in 1903 that Jacques-David LeCoultre rose to the challenge set to Swiss watch/ppmanufacturers by Edmond Jaeger: that of creating the worlds thinnest movements. Their/ppencounter gave rise in 1907 to LeCoultre Calibre 145 – a Lpine 17-ligne pocket-watch –/ppthe thinnest in the world at just 1.38 mm thick and still the record-holder in its category. It/ppalso inspired the creation of one of the most prodigious collections of ultra-thin calibres/ppever. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre is perpetuating this tradition with two watches extolling the/ppvirtues of absolute finesse. With its ultra-thin 1.85 mm calibre and its 38 mm case featuring/pppure, sleek lines, the Master Ultra Thin 38 is the epitome of elegant understatement./ppMeanwhile, in its 40 mm case, the Master Grande Ultra Thin embodies horological/pprefinement – from the subtle design of its lugs to the clarity of its dial featuring a small/ppseconds subdial./ppManually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849 and automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 896/ppOne of Edmond Jaegers demands was to create movements that were ultra-thin while/ppdetracting nothing from their quality and reliability. The movements driving the new Master/ppUltra Thin models are entirely in harmony with this tradition./ppAt the heart of the Master Ultra Thin 38 beats manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849, a/ppmovement that has already achieved legendary status among devotees of fine watchmaking due/ppto the exceptional qualities it has consistently displayed since 1994: peerless accuracy and/ppreliability, 123 parts and a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour, all housed within a mere 1.85/ppmm. It is indeed one of the thinnest movements on the market today. Embodying a major/pphorological accomplishment, its slender structure calls for exceptional machining precision. In/pporder to limit the overall thickness, it is equipped with a bridge-free barrel and an extremely/ppsmall escapement. Its fine adjustment and assembly therefore represent particularly delicate/pptasks that are entrusted to the Watchmaking Specialities workshops within the Manufacture./ppFor the Master Grande Ultra Thin, 40 mm model, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 896 with/ppsmall seconds belongs to the 899 generation of new movements. Made up of 242 parts, it/ppmeasures no more than 3.98 mm thick. It comprises the signature features of the brands new/ppautomatic calibres: the variable-inertia balance ensuring the constancy of the rate and enhanced/ppsturdiness; ceramic ball-bearing mechanisms requiring no lubrication or maintenance; and a high/ppfrequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour./ppThe embodiment of finesse/ppFrom an aesthetic standpoint, the Master Ultra Thin models enshrine absolute purity, from the/ppultra-classical dial to the case finely sculpted in steel or pink gold./ppThe silver-coloured dials feature a refined sunburst motif perfectly suited to their slightly/ppcambered shape. Dauphine-style hands glide gracefully over the applied gold dagger-shaped/ppnumerals and hour-markers. The minute circle is powdered, silver-coloured or gilded, while the/ppJaeger-LeCoultre signature is topped by the gilded or rhodium-plated JL anchor symbol. On the/ppautomatic model, the small seconds occupies a prominent position at 6 oclock./ppThe cases exalt this aura of refinement: the flowing, streamlined profile of the lugs and the/ppslender bezel create a magnificent setting for the movement that may be admired through the/ppsapphire crystal case-back. The Master Ultra Thin watches are indeed worthy heirs to the/pphistorical ultra-thin masterpieces of the Manufacture./ppAnd since this incarnation of essential watchmaking must meet the high standards of quality/ppupheld by the Manufacture on all levels, all models are water-resistant to 50 metres and have/ppsuccessfully met the implacable demands of the 1000 Hours test procedure. Available in steel/ppor in pink gold, the manually-wound or automatic Master Ultra Thin watches are fitted with an/ppalligator leather strap, complete with a steel or 18-carat pink gold folding clasp. The steel model/ppmay also be teamed with a metal bracelet./ppThe grand tradition of Jaeger-LeCoultre ultra-thin watches/ppUltra-thin watches are not only one of the most longstanding historical specialities of the/ppManufacture, but indeed gave rise to the joining of the two names Jaeger and LeCoultre./ppIn 1903, French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger (1858-1922) was established in Paris. Since the/pp1890s, he had been making chronometers intended for the French Navy. With this market in/ppthe throes of a major crisis, Jaeger decided to apply his inventive mind to the field of ultra-thin/ppwatches. Given that his small workshop did not enable him to make the full range of watch/ppcomponents required, he challenged the Swiss manufacturers to produce the calibres he had/ppinvented. Jacques-David LeCoultre (1875-1948) took up the gauntlet, and the two men met in/pp1903 and signed a first agreement. Their cooperation was to give rise to one of the worlds/ppmost prodigious collections of ultra-thin movements, including LeCoultre Calibre 145 in 1907./ppAt just 1.38 mm thick, the latter, is still the thinnest in the world in its category. It was produced/ppfor more than a century by the Grande Maison in the Valle de Joux. Jaeger and LeCoultre/ppequipped it with some of their extremely thin complication movements. Created in 1910, the/ppLeCoultre Calibre 17/18RMCCVEP was in particular endowed with chronograph and minute/pprepeater functions, while measuring a mere 3.55 mm thick!/ppThis tradition was pursued throughout the 20th century. In 1953, the 1.64 mm thick Jaeger-/ppLeCoultre Calibre 803 inaugurated the line of ultra-thin wristwatch movements. It was followed/ppten years later by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 838, equipped with a shock-absorbing system/pp(hence its slightly greater thickness of 1.85 mm), of which a direct descendant equips the/ppcurrent Master Ultra Thin. In parallel, Jaeger-LeCoultre distinguished itself in the domain of highfrequency/ppultra-thin automatic movements. Created in 1976 in the midst of the quartz crisis,/ppJaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 900 measures 3.25 mm thick, beats to the cadence of 28,800/ppvibrations per hour and drives a date display. It heralded the line of ultra-thin automatic/ppmovements such as the current Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 896 powering the Master Ultra Thin/ppautomatic model, perpetuating the tradition while providing new technical performances./p

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.