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 ref. 146.2.26S from the mid-2000s with a stunning silver 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 silver display carries genuine depth that is aided by its use of apertures across its surface, one of which being the aperture inside the 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 yellow gold deployant clasp, the Master Control is an understated and classical design and this example is a wonderfully preserved celebration of the entire collection.

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.