As the heir to one of the brand’s iconic watches, the 1958 Chronomètre Geophysic, the Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2 has fanally show its first debut. This mechanical chronograph with GMT function is especially developed for use in the most extreme environments. It incorporates a patented digital jumping minutes counter, an easy to use function selector, and innovative magnetic shielding, making it the watch of choice when the going gets tough.

Coming to the external design, the light and extremely resistant TiVan15 titanium alloy case is outfitted with a scratchproof high-tech zirconium ceramic bezel. Those easy to use push buttons has been also specially designed to ensure failure free use, even when wearing gloves. Equipped with double pin buckle, the innovative interchangeable strap system enable to change straps fast, easy and safe.

The wearer can select the fuctions by pushing the crown, the current position of which is indicated on the dial. This function selector controls three functions: watch winding in the first position, adjusting the GMT-function and the date after pushing once, and time setting after a second push. Giving a third push returns the system to its first position in which the crown is decoupled from the gear train of the watch and only allows winding the watch. This system eliminates any need to pull the crown out and so protects the watch from intrusions of dust and dirt, with help from a double-gasket system.

Surrounding the upper half of the dial, the newly patented, intuitive and clearly visible semicircular radial power reserve indication displays the state of the power reserve. The red color will fill the half circle, if the power reserve is near the end. It returns to black after winding, clearly indicating the state of the winding barrel. The designers chose this unique and large display to allow for one glance monitoring of the state of the movement even under inclement weather conditions or use in twilight.

At 12 o’clock locates a patented digital minute counter for clear readability of the chronograph function. It uses an instant jumping mechanism that is activated precisely at the point the seconds hand passes the zero-mark. The central stop-seconds hand shows the seconds passing in a traditional way. Whereas the chronograph’s hour counter runs in the same sub dial as does the small permanent seconds – as indicator for a properly working movement.

The second time zone – the home time – is indicated by a second hour hand which is centrally mounted, just as what other classic JLC watches do. You can adjust the hand through the crown pushing the function selector twice and then turning the crown to set the hour hand. A non-magnetic escapement that ensures the protection of the most sensitive part of the watch movement to magnetic influences: silicium, the material of choice when it comes to shielding an escapement. In addition to its antimagnetic properties, it also offers many advantages such as not requiring oil, low running friction, high precision and lightness.

There is a second version of the Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2, featuring an 18 carat red gold chassis to hold the TiVan15 watch case. The Caliber 780 movement in this version doesn’t include the anti-magnetic properties found in the Caliber 781.

The full TiVan15 version with Caliber 781 movement is priced at $53,700. The pink gold version lists for $67,400. Additional technical information appears following the post.

Technical Specifications

Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2

Movement:
Mechanical automatic Calibres 780 und 781, developed and manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre
Parts: 569 (Calibre 780), 566 (Calibre 781),
Diameter: 33.8 millimeters,
Height: 9.8 millimeters,
Power Reserve: 60 hours with one barrel,
Base plate made of nickel,
Antimagnetic up to 240 Gauss (Calibre 781),
Test: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 1000 hours test

Functions:
Hours, minutes, and small second’s hand (as function indication),
Second time zone (with 24 hours counter) adjustable in hour-steps, date,
Independent second’s stop,
Function selector,
Chronograph with digital minute display,
Semicircular radial power reserve indication

Chronograph:
Digital jumping minute counter with two discs,
Central second’s hand,
Accuracy: up to 1/8 of a second,
Counting up to 24 hours,
Column wheel mechanism,
Vertical clutch system,
Two pushbuttons with rubber-covered, L-shaped security arms

Function selector:
Ceramic crown with integrated pushbutton to select three functions via column wheel:
1) winding; 2) setting of date and second time zone; 3) setting the time

Escapement:
Beat rate: 28,800 half-beats per hour,
Large balance wheel with a moment of inertia of 1.5 mg cm2 and variable inertia screws,
Balance bridge: fixed to two support points, stud held by two screws,
Protection device for limitation of the hairspring movement,
Escapement made of amagnetic silicium (Calibre 781)

Automatic winding:
Unidirectional automatic winding to up to 60 hours of power reserve, depicted by semicircular
radial power reserve indication,
Rotor: mounted on lubrication free ceramic ball bearings,
Shape: rotor mass made of platinum, held by three arms

Case:
Dual-Ring-Case: Sandwich structured case with carrier-chassis and movement container,
Components: 143,
Black zirconium ceramic bezel,
Sapphire glass on front and back,
Zirconium-ceramic crown,
Movement-container made of TiVan15 (exclusively used by Jaeger-LeCoultre),
Chassis materials: TiVan15 (Calibre 781) or 18 carat red gold (Calibre 780),
Diameter: 46.8 millimeters,
Height: 16.5 millimeters,
Pushbuttons with L-shaped security arms and rubber cover

Dial and Hands:
Open worked dial with bridges in black PVD coating and different areas highlighting specific
functions,
Luminescent indexes,
Newly formed skeleton hands,
Hands antimagnetic (Calibre 781)

Strap and buckle:
Double Alligator leather strap,
New integrated system to change the bracelet,
New adjustable double pin buckle fixed in two positions,
Strap secured through two attachment points with further adjustment in three positions

References:
TiVan15 version (Calibre 781): Q203T470
Red gold version (Calibre 780): Q2032470