First debuting in 1992, the Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control is a vintage-inspired collection rooted to the 1950’s aesthetic of old with elegant dials, refined constructions and brilliantly executed movements – all benchmarks of JLC’s talents as a watchmaker. Offered here we have the Master Control Eight Days Perpetual Calendar Skeleton ref. 146.2.26S from the late-2000s with a stunning openworked dial and an 18kt rose gold case that comes in at 41.5mm in diameter with a modern silhouette arising from its thick lugs and wide bezel. Boasting applied dagger indices and five sunken subdials, the ref. 146.2.26S’s mechanical display carries genuine depth that is aided by the labyrinthine view of its movement, with inscriptions for its various indicators applied to the underside of its sapphire crystal, such as its AM/PM indicator that shows when the perpetual calendar is safe to be set. It is white when it is safe and red (between 9pm & 3am) when the perpetual calendar should not be adjusted. Mounted on a leather strap and secured using an 18kt rose gold deployant clasp, the Master Control is a largely understated and classical design, but this example with its skeletonized design is a wonderfully vibrant departure from that reserved design language and a very obvious celebration of JLC’s capabilities as a high-end watchmaker.

Just exactly why JLC are known as the "Watchmaker's watchmaker," it is timepieces like the Master Control Eight Days Perpetual Calendar that highlight JLC's incredible talents in horological engineering, watch design and artisanal craftsmanship.