Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils New Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon And Power Reserve Watches

In its continuous pursuit of horological excellence, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces the latest evolutions and additions to its beloved Master Ultra Thin collection. Among the new pieces: Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel, Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve and a new campaign to coincide with the 2024 Lunar New Year. That campaign, “The Best is Yet to Come,” features Jaeger-LeCoultre’s global ambassador, actor, singer and musician Jackson Yee (Yi Yang Qian Xi) wearing the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon watch.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel timepiece showcases the Maison’s Métiers Rare Atelier, highlighting the craftsmanship and expertise that goes into creating a timepiece of such exquisite beauty inside and out. The watch features a fully polished 18-karat pink gold 40 mm case that measures just 12.13 mm in thickness, providing an elegant and restrained aesthetic typical of the Master Ultra Thin collection.

One of the highlights of this timepiece is the mesmerizing blue Grand Feu enamel dial with a sunray guilloché pattern. The hand-guilloché pattern on the dial is a meticulous work of art, with each of the 180 ‘sun rays’ requiring six passages on the hand-operated rose engine lathe. The result is 1,080 lines, each perfectly straight, evenly spaced, and radiating from the center to the edges of the dial. The date sub-dial is also hand-guilloché in a circular pattern, known as azurage, adding a subtle texture that complements the sunray guilloche.

The creation of the dial doesn’t stop with the guilloché work; it continues with the application of Grand Feu enamel in multiple layers. The process involves meticulous firing at 800°C and carefully managed cooling to achieve the desired intensity and depth of the newly developed shade of blue. This shade is the result of a meticulous process of mixing pigments in various proportions and testing the results, considering the unpredictable nature of Grand Feu enamel firing.

In the lower half of the dial, a laser-engraved seconds counter adds visual interest, anchoring the tourbillon aperture. The tourbillon cage is secured by a mirror-polished pink gold bridge, creating a captivating contrast with the surrounding dial. The strap, crafted from blue alligator leather, is designed to perfectly match the dial’s shade. To enhance refinement, it features a small-scale alligator lining and is fitted with a pink gold folding clasp.

Powering this masterpiece is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Caliber 978, the latest generation tourbillon movement. Comprised of 77 components, including a titanium cage, this movement weighs less than half a gram and boasts a flat, two-level hairspring designed for optimal regularity of oscillations and offers 45 hours of power reserve.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve

Marrying timeless elegance with mechanical ingenuity, the brand embraces what a dress watch should look like and perform like – especially since the newest Jaeger-LeCoultre  Caliver 938 endows the watch with 70 hours of power reserve.

Despite this substantial boost in power reserve, the svelte 4.9mm thickness of the caliber remains unchanged. Innovative enhancements include a redesigned mainspring barrel and the incorporation of silicon components, resulting in smoother energy transmission by reducing friction among moving parts, thus enhancing the watch’s overall reliability.

The power reserve indicator, a hallmark complication pioneered by Jaeger-LeCoultre and introduced in 1948 in the form of the caliber 481, is a testament to the brand’s historical significance in horology. The Powermatic movement unveiled then, 76 years ago, was the world’s first self-winding timepiece with a power reserve gauge. It became a signature model during the 1950’s.  The Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve proudly carries on this legacy, featuring a distinctive design of the power reserve indication complemented by date and small seconds indicators.

Beyond its mechanical prowess, the Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve receives a sophisticated aesthetic update. The 39mm pink gold case maintains its elegance, with subtle modernizations including refined proportions and slimmer, elongated lugs for enhanced comfort on the wrist.

The dial undergoes a meticulous transformation, maintaining symmetry and balance while increasing the legibility of complications. Larger sub-dials showcase the date, power reserve, and small seconds displays, with elongated applied hour markers and contrasting polished and satin finishes on the Dauphine hands.

The gradient midnight blue sunray dial adds a touch of opulence, accentuated by the subtle matte texture of the sub-dials. A final flourish is found in the navy-blue alligator strap, offering a perfect complement to the pink gold case and adding a dash of contemporary flair. Water resistant to 50 meters, the watch is sold with a blue alligator strap, but the strap is interchangeable, as is the buckle, should you wish to customize it.