In 2020, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a brand new design for its Grasp Management assortment. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar watch in pink gold marks the second time the Le Sentier-based watchmaker adopted that launch up with a brand new launch — we lined the primary event, a metal bracelet-equipped chronograph calendar from 2022 in this a hands-on that we’ll reference a couple of instances at the moment.
The all-steel model of the Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar from 2022 that we lined in its devoted hands-on article.
As we mentioned then, the Grasp Management is an under-appreciated Jaeger-LeCoultre assortment, if there ever was one. It’s been round since 1992 when it debuted because the first-ever JLC watch to boast the 1,000-hour inner high quality management take a look at that, like the gathering itself, is round to today, and but, it missed out on a significant Thirtieth-anniversary celebration and/or new fashions, which is considerably uncharacteristic for Jaeger-LeCoultre. We referred to as the Grasp Management “the bottom SI unit of an honest Swiss-made watch,” which it properly and really is — a watch of selection for a lot of of their journey via watch gathering.
Regardless of its 2020 re-design, the Grasp Management, and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar watch specifically, stays a mixture of spectacular and considerably dated components. Firstly, it’s positively skinny at simply 12.05mm-thick — that’s a really low case as soon as we consider the truth that it encapsulates a motion with a self-winding system on the again, an built-in chronograph and two barrels within the center, and an entire calendar show on its dial facet. Most of the Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar’s opponents have instances which are at the least a couple of millimeters thicker with out a full calendar show.
That is courtesy of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 759, a contemporary, 358-component JLC caliber that gives an prolonged 65-hour energy reserve from two barrels, replenished by an openworked pink gold rotor. It’s good to know that the total calendar is simply that: A calendar that shows the date, day, month, and moon part, and it’s not to be confused with an annual or perpetual calendar complication. These could have the identical variety of indications however additionally they mechanically modify for the various lengths of the months (the annual calendar doesn’t modify for February whereas the perpetual model does). The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar makes no changes to any of the calendar shows mechanically on the finish of non-31-day months, this will solely be carried out through the “secret” pushers which are flush with the facet of the case. We criticized the metal variant fitted with a sportier metal bracelet for its 5 bar (50m equal) water resistance ranking; properly, this gold model maintains that however a gold watch on a leather-based strap doesn’t belong wherever close to water, not to mention in it, so this one will get a cross.
What’s new on this model is the mixture of an 18k pink gold case and a surprising black dial with gilt accents. Again in our hands-on with the metal model we mentioned: “A couple of bravely colourful dial choices, a departure from the wilfully Nineties typography that’s dated and onerous to learn on the similar time, would go a great distance in refreshing the Grasp Management line.” Nicely, numerous the dated and hard-to-read Nineties typography continues to be with us on this new reference Q413257J, however the total presentation is however beautiful. Actual-world legibility tends to be mediocre at greatest when a darkish background is met with golden or gilt dial components, and the identical could be mentioned when darkish pink is printed over black, however we’ll reserve judgment for once we get to test this one out within the steel.
Jaeger-LeCoultre, like lots of its opponents, has not been shy with value will increase these days, and that reveals on this occasion, too. The reference Q413257J Jaeger-LeCoultre Grasp Management Chronograph Calendar watch is priced at $32,500, however then once more, the metal model was located above numerous its competitors at $17,800. Visit the brand’s website to learn more.
