A year ago I was hunting for a watch to mark a special milestone in my life. I wanted the watch to be personal and intuitive. Voila! JLC Reverso was the definite answer. I went to my AD, an hour passed, and then came back home with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date 2019 over the much loved Master Moonphase and JLC Reverso tribute.

Why? Well, it can be instinctive to dismiss this watch as “simple”; however, for me it is anything but simple. It is elegant, sleek and much of its beauty lies in the details. I love how the dial shimmers under the sunlight, how it almost glitters at times. The polished and satin brushed facets on each dauphine styled hour and minute hands catch light to provide legibility with a touch of finesse.

Turn the watch over, the 22k solid gold rotor stands out. The movement is cleverly engineered featuring a free sprung balance, which is normally found in sports watches, for time precision and shock resistance. The lighting fast date change shutter is as crisp as a green apple. The movement also has some hand-finished elements, for instance the base plate is decorated with circular graining applied by hand. While the movement is mostly mechanically finished, hand finished parts render the watch with individuality and a soul. The bridges, plates and the rotor are adorned in fine silk-like Geneva stripes to add to the charm.

The case is 39mm with a thickness, or if I may say so, thinness of just 7.8mm for an automatic watch! The gorgeous, glossy leather strap with a full deployant clasp provides for a comfortable and joyous wearing experience. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date wears light as a feather. It even has an impressive water resistance of 50m for a dress watch! And not to mention the 8 year retail warranty. Watches like these remind me every time that simplicity is beautiful.