I seem to be loving JLC at the moment, and picked another one up today that’s meant to scratch my Master Calendar Moon itch for a while. It’s a Master Geographic from the early naughties, but the rare “Master Black” version. In other words, it has a black dial, and not very many of these were made.

I like the second time zone complication in particular, and will use this when traveling, I think. It came with the bracelet (a kind of beads of rice affair, with the links attached through an unusual spring bar arrangement) but it’ll be worn on leather. It may also be treated to a very light polish, depending on how severely my OCD kicks in.

I really do like this watch, and it’s so nice to have something a little different. I’m getting more and more drawn towards complications, and at some point soon would like to add a moonphase of some description.

Bearing in mind that the Patek Phillipe Annual Calendar (in white gold with slate dial) is the best part of £20k, that may have to wait for a while 😉

Today, something that I’ve been lusting after for a long time now arrived in the post. I first tried on a JLC when I met up with a TZUK friend for a coffee a few months back. I was overwhelmed by the quality and the precision of the engineering, but was drawn to the slightly more dressy watches in their range; the Reserve de Marche always appealed, and having the opportunity to try one on not long ago sealed the decision for me.

The movement is JLC’s in-house Calibre 928; 256 parts, 45 jewels, 22ct gold rotor edge, 1000 hours tested, adjusted in 6 positions and beating at 28,800VPH. The dial – a thing of beauty – features subsidiary dials for constant seconds, date, and power reserve. The date is changed via a pusher above the crown that sits slightly proud of the case, and the power reserve of 40+ hours moves with every wind of the crown. It’s not big (37mm without the crown, with 19mm lugs) but it’s far from small. It really is an exquisite watch.

I’m off to stare at my wrist for a while.