Classic and clean with pleasing legibility are usually the hallmarks of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master collection, but this year’s Master Calendar has got a flashy new look thanks to a meteorite dial. The fascinating geometric patterns of the billion-year-old space rock have made it a trendy material in watchmaking in recent years, but it’s a first for this manufacture, and a fitting choice for an astronomic complication.
The meteorite used for this model was found and registered in Sweden, and originated from the storied Asteroid Belt, located roughly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Each slice of the meteorite had to be meticulously inspected and selected before undergoing treatment to ensure a generous amount of texture for each dial. As many as 20 slices can be discarded before finding one that passes muster, but it’s a worthwhile effort since no two dials will ever be identical.
Aside from its fancy new face, the rest of the Master Calendar remains the same – the 39mm case, dial layout and caliber 866 will please fans of the 2013 original. Those unfamiliar with the Master Calendar should know that the watch was inspired by a vintage piece from 1945. The modern remake offers day, date, month and moon phase indicators. Within it beats an automatic movement comprising 305 parts, measures a lean 5.65 mm thick, and provides a power reserve of 43 hours
A darker shade of meteorite will be paired with the pink gold case, while the lighter dial will accompany the steel models. Both will come with alligator leather straps complemented with either a pink gold pin buckle or steel folding clasp.
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