JLC has updated the gorgeous Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geographic collection with a Q1422421 model that offers a second time-zone functionality wrapped in a beautifully crafted 18-karat rose gold case.
Overall Impression
Compact and extremely comfortable on a wrist thanks to its pair of relative short lugs, this is new world-timer makes a great impression thanks to its clean dial layout and neatly shaped body.
However, what’s interesting about this series is that it’s based on an early 1990’s limited edition model with reference number 169.1.92. Although the Swiss-based brand employed a different movement (the original was powered by their own Caliber 929) to power these “homages”, they feature more or less the same dial styling with only minor differences like a trifle larger and thicker body, as well as the city aperture transferred from its normal position at 12 o’clock to the bottom of the dial and a lot lighter, clearer styling of main elements.
Relatively inexpensive, given the material its body is crafted from and the number of complications that it features, this is a wonderful example of a dressy watch for a person who prefers more advanced functionality to fancy, but useless complications.
Dial & Mechanism
Judging by the photos, the Ref. Q1422421 model is just a minor facelift of the outgoing version rather than a complete overhaul.
Compared to last year’s model, the 2011 Master Geographic is still powered by the same JLC Caliber 939 automatic movement and its dial layout has also remained unchanged.
As you can see on the pictures, there is a simple date indicator at 2 o’clock, a GMT display at 6 o’clock, a power reserve sub-dial at 10 o’clock, and a wide aperture showing 24 time-zones also at six o’clock (What I love about this model is that it only takes to choose a city on the sub-dial to set correct time for the second time zone.)
All of these elements are fairly easy to read thanks to high-contrast blue indicators on all three sub-dials.
The three-dimensional GMT display that serves as a visual bridge between the flat dial and relatively city disk aperture is also a nice touch.
The city disk, by the way, is operated by a special crown at 10 o’clock, which is still as uncomfortable to manipulate as the same part on the original 1990s timekeeper.
Case
The watch will be sold in a 39-millimeter 18-karat rose gold case (there will also be a less expensive version in stainless steel) with a matte brown alligator strap with a folding buckle rose gold.
See also: Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle World Time (Ref. 86060/000R-9640)
Photos: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geographic in Rose Gold (Ref. Q1422421) specification
Price: $21,500 (Retail)
Movement: Automatic, JLC Caliber 939, 4.90 mm in height, 310 components, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand; Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 34
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, date, second time-zone (GMT)
Power reserve: 43 hours
Case: Rose gold
Shape: Round
Size: 39.00 mm
Case height: 11.8 mm
Dial: Silvered, sunburst
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Gold
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Matte brown alligator strap with a folding buckle in steel or 18-karat pink gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Sapphire
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Bought my first mechanical watch in 1986 and it took me ten more years to realize that I have a problem: at some point in time watches became my passion. Well, it could be worse.