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 really 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 sported their own Caliber 929) to power these “homages”, they feature more or less the same dial styling. There are only a few 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 classy watch for a person who prefers more advanced functionality to fancy, but useless complications.
Dial & Mechanism
Judging by the photos, the Q1422421 is just a minor facelift of the outgoing version rather than a complete overhaul.
Compared to last year’s model, the 2011 Master Geographic still uses the same JLC Caliber 939 automatic movement and its dial layout has also remained unchanged.
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 the 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: Breitling Navitimer 125th Anniversary Chronograph
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