Jaeger-LeCoultre Introduces A New Master Control Range At Watches And Wonders

Every year at Watches and Wonders in Geneva, the Jaeger-LeCoultre booth is a sight to behold. This year, a four-metre high pine tree sculpted from ice took centrestage. Beyond its impressive size, the tree, along with the booth’s concept, were a nod to the brand’s roots in the Vallée de Joux—a quiet yet breathtaking hidden valley in the Swiss Jura that has given birth to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s many watch patents and innovation.

Related article: Watches And Wonders 2026: Jaeger-LeCoultre Debuts A New Triple-Axis Tourbillon And Reversos That Capture The World’s Natural Wonders

The theme for the year—the Valley of Inventions—paid tribute to this birthplace, with new novelties that pushed the envelope for the storied Swiss watchmaker, and jewellery watches that showcased its dazzling in-house capabilities. Says the brand’s CEO Jérôme Lambert, “This theme is a profound tribute to our origins, a celebration of our enduring spirit and a clear vision for our future.”

A New Icon

This year, the Maison surprised horological enthusiasts with the launch of a completely new collection dubbed the Master Control Chronometre, throwing its hat into the ring of integrated bracelet sports watches. Available in three models—a Perpetual Calendar, Date and Date Power Reserve—these sleek novelties had a decidedly vintage appeal, thanks to a fully integrated, three-row metal bracelet and svelte proportions.

The watches come in either pink gold or stainless steel versions, each with a complementary dial colour: bronze sunray for the pink gold version and blue-grey gradient sunray for the steel novelties, and have dials of between 38mm and 39mm, depending on the model.

We spoke to Lionel Favre, Jaeger- LeCoultre’s design director, about the process for designing a new timepiece from scratch. Says Favre, “The Master Control Chronometre is an important launch because it’s a new novelty. We have a lot of brand icons like the Reverso, but it’s important to express our creativity through another collection, and Master Control was the starting point for this new collection.”

Related article: A Visit To Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture Revealed What Makes Its Luxury Watches Worth The Investment

Favre highlights how the Dauphine signature—a classic, highly recognisable style of watch hands characterised by their triangular, tapered shape and a faceted ridge that runs down the centre—was the tiny detail that influenced the watch’s design language.

“The name of these indexes is the ‘Dauphine’ because of the shape, and we decided to have a reflection on this shape. In the end, it was a long, long process. The beauty of the watch is reached after a lot of iterations. You need to find a good colour for the dial. And then it’s one detail, plus one detail, plus one detail and how they all add up together. With this watch, you have this Dauphine effect everywhere on the hands, the indexes as well as on the bracelet design which makes it very current,” says Favre.

On the wrist, the watch was not just visually appealing thanks to its sleek and refined proportions, design details and fresh colour options, but upheld the Maison’s stellar reputation for performance and power (it has a 70-hour power reserve) in a compact, wearable and elegant timepiece.

Favre says that the major trend in watchmaking that he sees moving forward is the comeback of refinement. “In the past it was about really big watches, technical pieces and sportive watches, but now there is a movement towards refinement and elegance. For us, it’s perfect, because refinement is in our DNA.”

Related article: The Art Of Time: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ‘The Dream Shaper’ Champions Ladies’ Watchmaking

Jewelling a World

Another signature of the brand that appeals more to its female clientele are its jewellery watches. This year, a new collection, La Vallée Des Merveilles, brings a new dimension to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso timepieces. Focusing on the world’s natural wonders, the first two pieces from this collection pay tribute to Japan and Hawaii’s flora and fauna.

The Reverso One “Sakura” edition captures distinctly Japanese symbols like the crane and cherry blossom in an exquisite miniature scene using techniques such as Grand Feu champlevé enamelling, delicate brushwork, and snow set diamonds (on the crane’s body) and a blend of multi-hued, snow-set sapphires and diamonds to create the effect of sparkling water.

For the Reverso One “Hibiscus Syriacus”, inspired by Kauai Island, a hovering hummingbird sips nectar from a hibiscus flower, perfectly encapsulating Hawaii’s bright, tropical spirit. Available in two versions, these pieces again employ a complex combination of handcrafts including engraving, Grand Feu champlavé enamelling and miniature painting to create an art piece on the wrist. Paired with either a complementary calfskin strap or a dazzling, diamond-set pink gold bracelet, these are collectible timepieces that showcase a level of detail and beauty that transcends trends and tastes.

With each detail thought out experimented upon for the perfect final result, Favre emphasises how important a role the artisans at the Jaeger-LeCoultre play in the creation of these jewellery timepieces. He says, “For the pistil of the hibiscus flower, we wanted a strong colour like orange, but after the piece came out of the oven, the result wasn’t satisfying. One of the enamellers thought about using gold leaf to have that reflection of the gold and to give strength to the pistil. This is a good example of how creativity comes from everywhere in the manufacture.”