Alright, so I’ve been digging into this whole watch thing lately, and let me tell you, it’s a rabbit hole. I’m not even sure what started this obsession, but I found myself looking at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date, the original order one, no less. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it kinda is.
First off, I started by googling everything about Jaeger-LeCoultre. Found out that they started way back in 1833, in some valley in Switzerland, by a guy named Antoine LeCoultre. This dude turned his family’s barn into a watchmaking place and started making super accurate watches. JLC, as the cool kids call it, has been around for ages, even longer than Rolex, apparently. And from what I gather, they’re considered a pretty big deal in the watch world.
So, I started looking for this particular model online. Saw a bunch of pictures, and even found a model number, Q1238420, I think. Then, things got a bit tricky. I read somewhere that you gotta be careful because there are fakes out there. Some guy online was saying how he bought a watch on Chrono24, and it came with original papers but no box, and he was worried it might be fake. That got me thinking, how do you even know if it’s real?
- Someone suggested asking for the serial number and checking it on the JLC website.
- Apparently, the serial number is on the movement, either on the back or under the dial.
- And get this, the year the case was made might be a year or two behind the movement because they might assemble them later.
Anyways, I kept digging. Found out that the newer models have a longer 12 o’clock marker than the older ones. I mean, who comes up with these details? Then there’s the whole price thing. I saw different prices all over the place. Another thing, some of these JLC watches are seen as investments, but most of them lose a bit of value over time. Unless they’re like, super rare or vintage, I guess.
I even stumbled upon a post where a guy was talking about how happy he was with his Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39. He said he fell in love with it after seeing it online, talking about the “classic but stylish design.” Made me wonder if I should be looking at that one too. Also, I read that you should never buy a watch just based on online research. If you’re comparing watches, you gotta try them on, feel them on your wrist. Makes sense, I guess.
The actual hunt
So, after all this “research,” which basically involved me spending hours on forums and watch sites, I decided to actually try and find one of these watches in person. I found a few places that sell them, but man, they’re not cheap. I mean, I knew they were expensive, but seeing the price tag in person is a whole different story.
I finally found one, a pre-owned one, that seemed to be in good condition. The guy at the store showed me the serial number, and we checked it on the JLC website, just like that forum post suggested. Everything seemed legit. It was the older version, with the shorter 12 o’clock marker. The price was still pretty high, but it was a bit less than a brand-new one. I ended up buying it, which was kind of a big deal for me, not gonna lie.
Finally
It’s a beautiful watch, I have to admit. It’s super thin, just like the name says, and it feels really nice on my wrist. I’m still not sure if it was the smartest financial decision, but I’m pretty happy with it. It’s definitely a conversation starter, and I feel like a real adult wearing it. I guess that’s what happens when you start getting into these “luxury” things. Who knew a watch could make you feel so different?
I guess my next step is to learn how to take care of this thing properly. I heard you gotta get them serviced every few years, and that’s not cheap either. But hey, I’m in it now, right? Maybe I’ll even start a watch collection. Or maybe I’ll just stick with this one for now. We’ll see. It’s definitely been an interesting journey, though.
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