Most are no doubt familiar with Jaeger-LeCoultre via the famed Reverso. But that’s not La Grand Maison’s entire story.
The dynamic Swiss watchmaking powerhouse is responsible for myriad iconic designs, from — yes — reversible dress watches, to alarm-equipped dive watches, to complicated masterpieces, and more. Indeed, the storied company has one of the most diverse offerings in fine watchmaking.
The particular Jaeger-LeCoultre we have here couldn’t be farther, for example, from the elegant simplicity of the Reverso. A Reference 159.T.C7 Master Compressor Chrono GMT Navy SEALs Limited Edition — (say that three times fast) — it’s part of a special run of just 500 pieces made as a collaboration with the U.S. Navy SEALs.
Dating from circa the 2010s, it’s housed in a chunky 46mm titanium case with a sapphire crystal, a signed and locking crown, locking pushers, and a titanium and ceramic unidirectional dive bezel. It features a luminous multi-textured black dial with recessed sub registers, a matching white handset with a skeletonized GMT hand, and a chronograph display with GMT functionality. Powered by the in-house, automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre J757 movement with 65 hours of power reserve, it comes paired to a black rubber coated titanium bracelet with a signed double push-button deployant clasp.
Measuring 18mm tall and packed with functionality, this is no joke of a dive watch; indeed, given its dive and GMT features, it makes a perfect daily driver — provided one has the wrist for it! In excellent condition, this example even includes its factory goodies.
Extremely limited and rare, this is modern watchmaking in its most badass manifestation.