Jaeger-LeCoultre has released a new version of its patented Universal Tourbillon with an artistic dial created at the company’s Métiers Rares workshop.

For the enigmatic Le-Sentier-based watchmaker, that slots in above Richemont-owned IWC and below Vacheron Constantin in price point — the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 is one of those watches that’s incredible yet also makes you wonder if it should be a watch sold at the more high-end sibling, Vacheron Constantin.

First, you have the dial side with high-end work including a green enameled world map created by the Métiers Rares workshop, with a disc representing the oceans underneath, that has a guilloché-work surface done in a wavy pattern suggesting the movement of the sea, and decorated with 15 layers of blue-green translucent lacquer.

Next, you have a movement that powers the hours, minutes, and tourbillon (revolving around the dial completely every 24 hours, to indicate the time in each city, like the artistic enameling, guilloche, and lacquering, which can also be considered high-end.

Last, the decoration of the movement, where you would expect the high-end theme to continue but despite the horological or artistic sophistication, the movement finishing is not specified. It appears to not be in line with the rest of the watch, and this is likely the biggest difference between a Jaeger and Vacheron — the movement decoration.

The latest Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 is being produced in a 20-piece limited edition.

 

Photos by Jaeger-LeCoultre.