Jaeger-LeCoultre has taken one of its most attractive chronographs and given it a striking modern look through simple design changes.

With a well-proportioned 40 mm x 12.05 mm case, crafted from solid 18K pink gold, Jaeger did not have to do much to offer something new for consumers. Black, pink gold, and red have been combined to create a real stunner, without redesigning the already well-executed existing case, dial, and movement.

The Master Control Chronograph Calendar features a black sunburst dial, with circular-grained finishing on the counters at 9 and 3 o’clock, contrasted by gold Dauphine-shaped hands and faceted indices, including sporty red printed highlight colors. The display offers a complex set of functions, including hours, minutes, small seconds, day, date, month, and moon phases, a chronograph with a 30-minute counter, and a pulsometer.

Driven by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 4Hz automatic caliber 759, which has 358 components, and 37 jewels, measures just 6.85 mm thick, and offers a 65-hour power reserve. Though the movement could use updates (such as a traversing balance bridge or silicon components), the design, and decoration — including Geneva stripes, blued screws, and skeletonized gold rotor — are attractive. More so than a Rolex or Breitling movement, for certain.

While 50 meters of water resistance is sufficient for many wet environments, the soft and heavy gold case, and glossary black alligator strap, read as a dress watch. Yet, overall, the timepiece presents a sporty yet dressy aesthetic, that lends to being worn in some casual, not just dressy environments.

At, a retail price of $32,500 Jaeger-LeCoutlre’s, even considering the gold, latest Master Control Chronograph Calendar (Ref. Q413257J) is towards the pricier end of the market, which begs the question of whether something steel or even titanium might be a good alternative to offer consumers that like the look but not the price and weight of gold.

 

Photos by Jaeger-LeCoultre.