The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar got an upgrade for Watches & Wonders 2024. The new Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar is still powered by the same automatic calibre 868 but now it provides a higher power reserve of 70 hours when compared to the 43-hour one on its predecessors. Its well-balanced proportions still maintain the same size at 39 mm in diameter and 9.2 mm in thickness making this watch very comfortable on the wrist. Something that appears slightly different on this new reference Q114842J is that the applied markers on the dial seem a tad bit narrower than on the previous model.

Things to Know About the Watch

Its refined lugs, step bezel, and the dial with a sunray silver background for the stainless steel model or eggshell varnish for the pink gold model highlight the moon phase at 12 o’clock. The Dauphine hands with their double satin-polish finish, the minute track dots, the elongated hour markers, the applied JLC logo, and the three counters that display the date at 3 o’clock, the day of the week at 9 o’clock, and the month at 6 o’clock, make this the best perpetual calendar money can buy considering the pedigree of the brand.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual is nothing but elegant and a very easy-to-read perpetual calendar featuring the traditional Jaeger-LeCoultre one-push piece corrector for all complications on the calendar. Once the calendar is set, it needs no adjustment until 2100. The perpetual calendar mechanism takes into account the length of each month and takes into account the 29th of February for every leap year.

The dial is perfectly balanced with an uncluttered configuration and above the central hands pinion it features a small night/day indicator with a red security zone to alert the wearer to not make changes to the calendar during that time window.

The Movement

Turning the watch over reveals a full view of the beautifully finished Jaeger-LeCoultre automatic calibre 868 that has been updated with a new open-worked solid gold oscillating weight and with fewer components at 330 parts now, still with 46 jewels and which beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph providing a power reserve of 70 hours now instead of 43 hours previously.

On the Wrist & Price

On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size. The wrist presence and understated elegance of this timepiece are unparalleled. A fascinating perpetual calendar that wears as nicely with a suit, as it does with casual clothes, which is something we don't say often about timepieces that are this classic or elegant looking. This watch —especially in stainless steel— is the best perpetual calendar one can get with this pedigree and is priced just right. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that we reviewed the previous iteration of this watch 11 years ago and the price has hardly increased in such a lengthy period of time.

Sticker Price USD 28,500 for steel and USD 40,700 for pink gold. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.