Jaeger-LeCoultre Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar LE - Steel

In the words of Linda Richman, this watch is making me a little verklempt. Why do we feel a little choked up when we strap on this watch? There’s the fact that it’s an ultra-thin perpetual calendar (just 9.2mm thick), features a movement made up of 336 parts and 46 jewels from one of the best manufacturers out there, is a boutique-only limited edition, is one of the most affordable perpetual calendars, packs more punch than a Patek… well, you get the idea. We can go on and on about its virtues, but Hodinkee has saved us the trouble, so please click over and read their in-depth review HERE. Ok, you’re back? This JLC sounds pretty fucking awesome, doesn’t it? After reading that review you pretty much know all that you need to about this incredible watch, so we’ll just use this space to talk about what a perpetual calendar and haute horlogerie means to us. As our clients and fans well know, we at analog/shift are vintage collectors first and foremost. So what are we doing with this modern watch? Well, even we recognize that a vintage watch collection is only elevated by the inclusion of a piece of high watchmaking. If you’re anything like us, you don’t just collect watches because they look cool, but you have a deep appreciation and fascination with the mechanical craftsmanship that goes into every piece. The workhorse automatic 3-hand movement that powers a 60s dive watch may not get a lot of respect, but it represents hundreds of years of accumulated knowledge and technical expertise in a single square-inch. Master watchmakers and their apprentices developed innovation after innovation over the centuries to advance the art of horology to the modern era, when advanced design platforms and machinery allowed horologers to push the boundaries of what is possible to the limits of their imaginations. An ultra-thin perpetual calendar represents the apotheosis of all these years of work and devotion. The watch that was once only obtainable by kings can be had by connoisseurs of more modest means. We can expound all day on merits of JLC MUT Perpetual, but the watch speaks for itself. Attempting to find a better dress watch would be a true Sisyphean task.  To see a video of this watch, click on over to our Vimeo channel, HERE.