Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties. Before we get to dive deep into them, here’s our preview & Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948. For our detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 In A Nutshell
The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 is a worldtimer with a difference. The brand’s mastery over the worldtimer complication is nothing new. The release of worldtimer watches at Watches & Wonders is nothing novel as well. But the brand with its usual mastery over the horological realm now also conquers the world with its new masterpiece – a 43mm x 14.13mm white gold cased artistic interpretation of the Universal Time.
Not only does it impress mechanically courtesy the Universal Tourbillon, the city ring and the domed Earth map on the dial all mimicking the rotation of Earth on its axis and rotating to make a complete 360-degree revolution in 24 hours, it is also exquisitely decorated by the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® atelier. While the former part impresses mechanically, and has been incorporated by the brand before, the latter is a new treat for the senses that very impressively makes use of a dial made from a blue translucent lacquer that is set over a wavy guilloche pattern topped by a domed skeleton structure decorated with champlevé enamel.
Basic Specs
Inside the new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 ticks the namesake calibre which has been previously used in the ref. 8126420, the Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time. This platinum cased watch featured slightly larger dimensions of 43.5mm x 14.9mm, and as someone with slim wrists, I am glad to note that the brand has reduced the sizing of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948. The oversized watch trend is thankfully on the decline, and its comforting to note that many brands, especially independents, are embracing this change by either offering tweaking novelties in smaller sizing or releasing a ‘unisex’ smaller veins of a popular timepiece.
Coming back to the movement, the calibre 948 beats at the frequency of 4Hz, offers a 48-hour power reserve and features 42 jewels. It is encase inside a fairly nuanced case — featuring micro-blasted, polished and satin-brushed surfaces — comprising more than 80 parts and a convex bezel that contrasts nicely with the broad bevels on the lugs.
The new Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 ref. Q52834E1 is limited to 20-pieces only and is announced as part of the Watches & Wonders 2022 March 30 to April 5 (both online and at the Salon).
Quotable
“Since the 1930s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been creating timepieces able to display several time zones simultaneously. From dual-time watches to the Géographique and the remarkable Calibre 948 world timer, La Grande Maison makes time truly universal. For 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a magnificent new artistic interpretation of the Universal Time: Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948, embellished with great finesse by the artisans of the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares® atelier”.
Press release
To find out more about the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 and their other watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are courtesy are Copyright Jaeger-LeCoultre 2022. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties here.
