Jaeger-LeCoultre is launching a new Master Grande Ultra Thin with a black dial. It is being delivered to retailers as this is written. The 40mm Master Grande Ultra Thin is powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 896 with small seconds, which belongs to the 899 generation of new movements. Made up of 242 parts, it measures only 3.98 mm thick, and it incorporates the features of the brand’s new automatic calibers: the variable-inertia balance ensuring the constancy of the rate and enhanced sturdiness; ceramic ball-bearing mechanisms requiring no lubrication or maintenance; and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Ultra-thin watches are in JLC’s blood. In 1903, Jacques-David LeCoultre rose to Edmond Jaeger’s challenge to create the “world’s thinnest movements”. In 1907, their encounter gave rise to LeCoultre Calibre 145 – a Lépine 17-ligne pocket-watch – the thinnest in the world at just 1.38 mm and still the record-holder in its category. It also inspired the creation of one of the most prodigious collections of ultra-thin calibers ever.
Master Grande Ultra Thin: technical characteristics
Movement:
• mechanical automatic, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 896,
• crafted, assembled and decorated by hand
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
• 43-hour power reserve
• 242 parts
• 34 jewels
• 3.98 mm thick
Functions:
• hour, minute, small seconds at 6 o’clock
Dial:
• sunray-brushed silver-coloured or beige
• rhodium-plated or gilded applied dagger-shaped hour-markers
Hands:
• hour and minute: rhodium-plated or gilded brass facetted dauphine type
Crown:
• 1 crown to wind the watch and to adjust the hours and minutes
Case:
• Ø 40 mm in 18-carat pink gold or steel
• cambered sapphire crystal, hardness N°9
• sapphire crystal case-back revealing the movement
• water-resistant to 50 meters
Strap/bracelet:
• alligator leather with folding clasp in steel or 18-carat pink gold, pin buckle in 18-carat pink gold
• steel bracelet
References:
• steel/leather: 135 84 20
• steel/steel: 135 81 20
• 18-carat pink gold/leather (folding clasp): 135 24 20
• 18-carat pink gold/leather (pin buckle): 135 25 20
