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Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Ultra Thin collection epitomises the Manufacture’s philosophy of uniting technical virtuosity with enduring beauty, and in 2020 it is enriched by the new Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon. The new timepiece combines two of horology’s most cherished complications for the first time in the Maison’s long history – a moon phase and a tourbillon, with the addition of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature peripheral ‘jumping’ date. Making its debut in the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon is the new self-winding Calibre 983.
The tourbillon was invented at the dawn of the 19th Century, to counteract the negative impact of gravity on the escapements of pocket watches and thus increase accuracy. However, in the 20th century, as pocket watches were superseded by wrist watches, the tourbillon became largely forgotten. In 1946, as part of its continuous research into timekeeping precision, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a tourbillon movement, Calibre 170. Housed in a pocket watch, it was intended for chronometry trials – and in 1948 won first prize in the Neuchâtel Observatory centennial trials, followed by several more prizes during the 1950s. In 1993 – a time when tourbillon wristwatches were still very rare – Jaeger-LeCoultre produced its first example, a Reverso fitted with the rectangular Calibre 828. Further exploration brought the tourbillon to new horizons, leading to the invention of the first spherical, dual-axis tourbillon in 2004 – the Master Gyrotourbillon 1.
In 2009, the Manufacture introduced the Master Tourbillon with Calibre 978, which won the International Chronometry Prize organised by the Horological Museum of Le Locle, Switzerland. This calibre has been Jaeger-LeCoultre mainstay tourbillon movement ever since, and received a comprehensive update in 2019 featuring new high-end finishes.
For the Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Moon, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers capitalised on the 978 movement to develop the new Calibre 983, with the addition of the moon phase and ‘jumping’ date complications.
The triple moon phase indicator – displaying the age of the moon as well as its phases in both Hemispheres – is also a recent development, having been introduced last year. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), the new Calibre 983 offers a power reserve of 45 hours.
Timeless style and a new pink gold alloy
