Jaeger-leCoultre Master CoMpressor extreMe LaB Owner's Manual

Introduction

Master Compressor Extreme LAB

The revolutionary Master Compressor Extreme LAB watch
embodies an exceptional creation in its own right. The new oil
and lubricant-free Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C employed
in this watch provides performance which can endure the
passing years unaltered. Even at temperatures of minus 40°C,
where the oils and greases in a conventional watch freeze and
stop the movement, the Master Compressor Extreme LAB
will keep running.

Calibre 988C: the Jaeger-LeCoultre oil and
lubricant-free mechanical movement

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers and watchmakers have employed
new materials and new combinations of materials to meet
this historic challenge. Easium™ carbonitride

(1) has burst

onto the watchmaking scene. This extra-hard material has
exceptional tribological properties, making it particularly well
suited to making wheel bearings that can work dr y. This is why
on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C a carbonitride material
replaces the traditional jewels, lubricated with a fine-grade oil,
on the balance shock-absorber, lever and escapement wheel.
The burnished steel pivots of these components undergo a
special surface treatment. The jewelled lever pallets have been
replaced by black crystalline diamond, a synthetic material as
hard as natural diamond, but with superior sliding properties.
Its friction against the silicon teeth of the escapement wheel
requires no lubricant to ensure smooth long-term operation.
The grease on the barrel has also been eliminated, in favour
of a graphite powder based mixture, which ensures that
the slipping spring and the arbor can slide inside the drum,
regardless of the temperature and humidity. In its continuous
quest to improve the reliability of its mechanical watches, Jaeger-

LeCoultre has already abandoned all lubrication on automatic
watch ball-bearing mechanisms, with the introduction several
years ago of ceramic ball-bearings, which are of course also
employed on the oscillating weight ball-bearing mechanism in
the Calibre 988C.

Redesigned balance and oscillating weight
geometry for greater accuracy

Two essential components have been redesigned in terms of
geometry to complete the quest for reliability and accuracy
on the Calibre 988C: the balance and oscillating weight.

Master CoMpressor extreMe LaB

1 Minute hand
2 Compression key
3 Crown
4 Date hand
5 Date scale
6 Tourbillon
7 Reference hour hand (2

nd

time zone)
8 Local hour hand
9 AM/PM indicator for the 2

nd

time zone

1

2

3

4

5

9

6

8

7

(1) Note: the Easium brand is a protected trademark not owned by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

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In the quest for aerodynamic performance, the balance is not
in conventional wheel form, but in the form of a perforated
spindle with two sturdy arms. This original geometry,
combined with the use of a highly dense material, in this case
an alloy of platinum and iridium, reduces the friction surface
in the air. Hence at equivalent inertia, this balance requires
less energy than a conventional balance to oscillate. And to
perfect the exceptional efficiency of this regulating part, the
aerodynamics of the balance has been enhanced by profiling
the shape of the weights and incorporating the adjustment
screws inside the weights (Fig. 1).

As for the oscillating weight, the strain on the ball bearings has
been reduced through optimisation of the rotor; to reduce
the overall weight as far as possible while retaining the same
winding capacity, the arms are made from carbon fibre, which
makes the oscillating weight base significantly lighter and more
rigid. The oscillating weight segment also consists of a platinum­iridium alloy, a non-toxic substance which is one of the densest
that can currently be machined (Fig. 2).

An exterior reflecting technological advances

The high-tech case of the Master Compressor Extreme LAB
watch has an original, high-strength yet light structure: the
carbon fibre inner case is housed inside a grade 5 titanium
middle. The assembly is crowned with a silicon carbonitride
bezel, a lighter and more shock-resistant material than
conventional ceramics. In the heart of the case, the movement
is suspended on a red flexible polymer shock-absorbing
support, which ensures the movement’s water-resistance
and protects it from impacts. The wristlet attachment also
has an innovation, enabling adjustments on four notch levels,
ensuring an optimum fit to the curve of the wrist.

Fascinating complications: tourbillon, 2 time zones,
jumping date

Weighing barely 0.260 grams and comprising 76 parts, the
tourbillon carriage is machined from a magnesium alloy block
(a material two and a half times lighter than titanium), which
contributes to reducing the inertia of the carriage and equally
increasing the regulator efficiency. The big balance featuring
regulating screws, an inertia of 11.5 mg/cm

2

and a frequency
of 28,800 vibrations per hour, rounds off the construction of
the Calibre 988C tourbillon. The complication is enhanced by
the automatic movement’s addition of a 2

nd

time zone and an
AM/PM indicator. The date indicator, which can be adjusted
either way, makes a bigger jump between the 15 and 16, so as
not to conceal the technical feat of this wonderful tourbillon.

An innovative nature, which has been recognised
by 6 patents

- Specific use of carbonitride in the movement.

- New balance geometry.

- New oscillating weight geometry.

- Carbon fibre inner case structure housed inside a grade
5 titanium middle.

- Movement suspended from a flexible polymer support.

- Wristlet adjustment on four notch levels.

Accuracy, water-resistance and testing

Accuracy

The accuracy of the watch is determined by the balance. The
latter performs 28,800 vibrations per hour.

Despite all the care with which the Manufacture Jaeger­LeCoultre master-watchmakers have made and assembled
your watch, its accuracy is subject to the influence of gravity,
magnetic fields and impacts. The accuracy is measured by its
rate regularity in various positions.

The nature of your constitution or lifestyle may lead to slight
irregularities. If you observe significant irregular running of
your watch, you are advised to take it to an authorised Jaeger­LeCoultre retailer, who will make any necessary adjustments.

Water-resistance

Jaeger-LeCoultre watches are water-resistant to 3, 5, 10, or
20 bar/atm, depending on the model. This property can be
identified by the

symbol engraved on the case-back.
This means that you can use your watch during short swims
or when diving in from the edge, but not from a diving board.
Nor should it be used for undersea diving or for sports where
there are significant risks of hard knocks, such as windsurfing
and waterskiing. Please note also that leather straps are not
suitable for aquatic activities.

Furthermore, it is essential to have your watch’s water­resistance checked by an authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer
at least once every 2 years, and definitely before any period
in which it will undergo prolonged and/or regular immersion.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

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The “1000 Hours Control” test by Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre subjects each of its watches to the rigourous
“1000 Hours Control” test programme. Unique in its kind,
this programme consists of 1000 hours of comprehensive,
stringent checks.

The “1000 Hours Control” seal or marking affixed or engraved
on the back of your watch certifies that it has undergone this
observation programme in our laboratories and has passed all
the tests: rate regularity checks, temperature and atmospheric
pressure tests, resistance to impacts and magnetic fields and
the water-resistance tests. Your watch is therefore capable of
withstanding the trials awaiting it in everyday life when you
wear it on your wrist.

The criteria of the “1000 Hours Control” programme go far
beyond the official timekeeping test standards, which concern
only part of the movement. Jaeger-LeCoultre tests not only
the movement before casing it within in the watch, but also
the watch as a whole.

Compression key

Equipping the crowns of the Master Compressor line models,
the patented compression key system can apply strong
compression to one of the 4 crown gaskets, thereby ensuring
impeccable long-term water resistance.

The “open” or “closed” position of the compression key is
indicated by the arrow symbols (viewed from the front):

- The compression key is in the compressed gasket position
(“closed”) if the indication is a white arrow; the keys must
be closed when you wear your watch and when you are
taking part in spor ts. You must not make any adjustments
or set the time in this position, since this might damage the
gaskets.

- The compression key is in the non-compressed gasket
position (“open”) if the indication is represented by two
red arrows; in this configuration, you can then start the
watch and set the functions as per the explanations below.

The switch from the “closed” to the “open” position, or vice­versa, is made by turning the key using the wing-nuts in the
direction indicated by the arrow(s).

Note

The water-resistance function of the compression key is
separate from the operation of the crown itself. Even in
the closed position, the key does not lock the crown. So in
practice it is possible to handle the crown when the key is
in the compressed gasket position. However, as mentioned
earlier, it is extremely inadvisable to make adjustments in this
position, since this might damage the gaskets. We recommend
that you first turn the compression key to the “open” position
before making any adjustments to your watch.

Instructions for use

Master Compressor Extreme LAB

Technical specifications

- Mechanical automatic movement,
Calibre 988C.

- 28,800 vibrations/hour.

- Power reserve: approximately 48 hours.

- Crown with compression key.

- Water-resistant to 10 ATM

Movement

Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C.

Compressed gasket position

or "closed" position

Non-compressed gasket position

or "open" position

Wing-nuts

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Functions

A tourbillon is a mechanical device consisting of a carriage
containing the watch’s regulating system and performing one
complete revolution in one minute. It is designed to improve
the accuracy of mechanical watches by offsetting disruption
of the balance isochronism due to terrestrial gravity with the
watch in different vertical positions.

The Master Compressor Extreme LAB watch combines the
tourbillon device with the dual time-zone function. This means
that you can set a different hour on the main display simply
using the crown, without losing the accuracy of the minute
and seconds hands, while retaining a reference time on a
secondary hour hand supplemented by an AM/PM indicator.

This function is useful when travelling, for example, to display
the new local time on the main hour hand while keeping
the indication of the time in the country of origin on the
secondary time display.

When you return to the time zone of your country of origin,
simply set the local time again on the main hour hand.

The watch offers the following functions:

- Rapid and independent 2-way local time setting (travel
time zone);

- Date synchronised with local time, 2-way setting;

- Reference time, linked to AM/PM indicator ;

- Minutes;

- Tourbillon.

Functions and displays

- Hour, minute;

- Second time zone (or reference time);

- Jumping date;

- Tourbillon;

- Seconds.

Use

The crown on the Master Compressor Extreme LAB watch
enables you to do the following:

- In position 1, wind the watch if it has not been worn for
over 48 hours;

- In position 2, set the local time (travel time zone) and date;

- In position 3, set the reference time.

Starting the watch

Crown in position 1.

Turn the compression key to the “open” position in the
direction of the arrow. The crown is then in position 1.

A few clockwise turns of the crown will suffice to start the
watch. It will then automatically wind up when you wear it.
Please note that the crown does not lock when winding, even
when the watch is fully wound.

Once the operation is complete, turn the compression key to
the “closed” position in the direction of the arrows.

Setting the reference hour and minute hands

This setting drives all the functions: reference time, local time,
minutes and date.

It firstly enables you to set the reference hour hand and its
AM/PM indicator, as well as the minute hand.

To make this setting, turn the compression key to the “open”
position in the direction of the arrow.

Pull the crown out to position 3.

Move the reference hour hand and minute hand in either
direction to the desired time, taking into account the AM/PM
indicator (AM being equivalent to a time between midnight
and noon, and PM to a time between noon and midnight).

Note: the local time hour hand (main display) is driven
automatically by this operation; this maintains its difference
from the reference time. This also applies to the date. The
local time and date setting procedure is as explained below.

Once the operation is complete, push the crown back into
position 1 and turn the compression key to the “closed”
position in the direction of the arrows.

1 2 3

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Setting the local time (main display) and the date

The local time and date are set with the crown in position
2, which you can turn either clockwise or anti-clockwise. The
main hour hand and the date are driven by your operations
in the chosen direction.

The hour hand moves in 1-hour jumps. The minute and
seconds hands continue to run during this adjustment,
thereby maintaining the accuracy of the watch.

The date scale, logically numbered from 1 to 31, appears on
the circumference of the dial. The hand tipped with a triangle
indicates the current date. A special feature of the date scale
is that it is interrupted on the 15

th

day on one side of the

tourbillon, resuming on the 16

th

day on the other side. On the

15

th

day of each month, at midnight, the hand goes from 15 to

16 at very high speed, i.e. in slightly less than 4 hours.

Setting the date

Turn the compression key to the “open” position in the
direction of the arrow.

Pull the crown out to position 2.

To correct the date by one day, turn the local time hour hand
twice around the dial.

Turn the crown clockwise or anti-clockwise (depending on
the closest distance between the date indicated and the
current date), and turn the hour hand as many times as
necessary until you reach the desired date.

Setting the local time

This setting is also made with the crown pulled out to position

2. After setting the date, move the local time forward or

backward past midnight to display the desired time, in order
to take account of the date indication.

- You have turned the crown clockwise: if the date moves
forward when the hands pass midnight, you are moving
into the morning.

- You have turned the crown anti-clockwise: if the date
moves backward when the hands pass midnight, you are
moving back into the evening.

Once the time and date adjustments have been made, push
the crown back into position 1 and turn the compression key
to the “closed” position in the direction of the arrows.

When travelling or at a time change, follow the same
procedure to display the new local time while keeping the
reference time on the secondary display (at 12 o’clock).

Wristlet attachment notch adjustment system

The Master Compressor Extreme LAB watch case employs
a wristlet attachment notch-based adjustment system, which
ensures an optimum fit to the curve of the wrist.

This system is based on two components:

- A release mechanism of four successive round recesses
(which correspond to 4 possible positions on the wrist)
on the inner part of each of the case horns

- A wristlet comprising two superimposed layers: the lower
layer is attached to the case as normal, with a fixed bar;
the upper layer ends in a spherical-headed bar which,
according to the wearer’s selection, rests on one of the
four round recesses.

While the wristlet is fastened firmly on the case by the fixed
bar, you can adapt its curve to your wrist by holding the
wristlet section between your thumb and index finger and
moving the section up or down, so as to house the upper
spherical-headed bar in the most comfortable position on
one of the four adjustment recesses.

4 adjustment

recesses

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This International Guarantee applies to Jaeger-LeCoultre
products sold or presented for guarantee repairs in all
countries except the United States of America and Canada
(for those two countries, see the Limited Warranty).

The manufacturer’s International Guarantee applies only
to Jaeger-LeCoultre products purchased from authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailers. In addition, all maintenance and
repair works must be carried out either by an authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer or by an official Jaeger-LeCoultre
Service Centre. If these conditions are not met, the
manufacturer’s guarantee does not apply. For a list of
authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailers worldwide, please
contact Jaeger-LeCoultre or its Distributors.

Jaeger-LeCoultre watches

The terms and conditions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre
International Guarantee

The following terms and conditions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre
International Guarantee apply to watches sold or presented
for guarantee repairs in all countries except the United States
of America and Canada (for those two countries, see the
Limited Warranty).

Your Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is guaranteed against all
manufacturing defects for two years from the date of
purchase, subject to the following conditions.

Any part found by our technical services to be defective as a
result of a manufacturing defect will be, at the sole discretion
of Jaeger-LeCoultre, repaired or replaced free of charge.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre International Guarantee is valid only if
the guarantee certificate enclosed with this booklet has been
duly completed, dated, stamped and signed by the authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer who sold your watch.

This International Guarantee does not cover defects resulting
from accidents, mishandling or incorrect or abusive use (for
example, knocks, dents, crushing, excessive temperatures,
powerful magnetic fields), the use of or effect of using
batteries other than those designated by Jaeger-LeCoultre,
unauthorised alteration or repair or the consequences of
normal wear and ageing of the watch, the strap or the glass,
the loss of water resistance after two years after the date
of purchase if your watch is water-resistant, and any defect
resulting from the contact with water if your watch is not
water-resistant.

Jaeger-LeCoultre water-resistant watches may be identified
by the symbol

engraved on the back. Their water
resistance is guaranteed for two years from the date of
purchase, provided that the glass, the bezel, the back, the
middle part and the crown have not been damaged. It
is essential to have the water resistance checked by an
authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer or an official Jaeger­LeCoultre Service Centre at least once a year, and in any
event, prior to any period of intensive use. Please refer to the
operating instructions for fur ther details.

For quartz watches, this guarantee does not cover the battery
life.

As a consumer, you may have legal rights under applicable
national legislation governing the sale of consumer goods;
those rights are not affected by this guarantee.

Customer service at Jaeger-LeCoultre

The movement of a mechanical watch requires regular
maintenance (servicing, lubrication, etc.) to ensure a long
operating life. Should your watch need servicing or repairs, please
send it, together with its guarantee certificate, to the authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer who sold it to you.

Alternatively, you may send it to one of the official
Jaeger-LeCoultre Service Centres listed at the end of this booklet,
or to any authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer of which a list is
available on the «www.jaeger-lecoultre.com» website.

Our official Service Centres employ watchmakers trained at the
Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture and possess the tools and parts
necessary to repair and maintain all Jaeger-LeCoultre watches
and clocks. In certain cases, especially for operations requiring
special tools and parts, the Service Centres will send your watch
to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Switzerland to have the
necessary work carried out.

In any case, or if you live in a country which is not indicated in
our lists, please do not hesitate to contact directly Manufacture
Jaeger-LeCoultre in Switzerland, Rue de la Golisse 8, 1347 Le
Sentier, telephone [phone], fax [phone],
which will inform you of the procedure to follow. We also invite
you to visit our website «www.jaeger-lecoultre.com» for an
updated list of official Jaeger-LeCoultre Service Centres.

International Guarantee

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The following Limited Warranty applies to Jaeger-LeCoultre
products sold or presented for warranty repairs in the
United States of America and Canada only.

The manufacturer’s Limited Warranty applies only to
Jaeger-LeCoultre products purchased from authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailers. In addition, all maintenance and
repair works must be carried out either by an authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer or by an official Jaeger-LeCoultre
Service Centre. If these conditions are not met, the
manufacturer’s Limited Warranty does not apply. For a list
of authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailers worldwide, please
contact Jaeger-LeCoultre or its Distributors.

Jaeger-LeCoultre watches

The terms and conditions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre
Limited Warranty

The following terms and conditions of the Jaeger-LeCoultre
Limited Warranty apply only to watches sold or presented
for warranty repairs in the United States of America and
Canada.

Your Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is guaranteed against all
manufacturing defects for two years from the date of
purchase, subject to the following conditions.

Any part found by our technical services to be defective as a
result of a manufacturing defect will be, at the sole discretion
of Jaeger-LeCoultre, repaired or replaced free of charge.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Limited Warranty is valid only if the
warranty cer tificate enclosed with this booklet has been duly
completed, dated, stamped and signed by the authorised
Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer who sold your watch.

This Limited Warranty does not cover defects resulting
from accidents, mishandling or incorrect or abusive use (for
example, knocks, dents, crushing, excessive temperatures,
powerful magnetic fields), the use of or effect of using
batteries other than those designated by Jaeger-LeCoultre,
unauthorised alteration or repair or the consequences of
normal wear and ageing of the watch, the strap or the glass,
the loss of water resistance after two years after the date
of purchase if your watch is water-resistant, and any defect
resulting from the contact with water if your watch is not
water-resistant.

Jaeger-LeCoultre water-resistant watches may be identified by
the symbol

engraved on the back. Their resistance is
guaranteed for two years from the date of purchase, provided
that the glass, the bezel, the back, the middle par t and the
crown have not been damaged. It is essential to have the
water resistance checked by an authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre
retailer or an official Jaeger-LeCoultre Service Centre at least
once a year, and in any event, prior to any period of intensive
use. (Please refer to the operating instructions for further
details).

For quartz watches, this warranty does not cover the battery
life.

Except insofar as prohibited by applicable law, this Limited
Warranty shall be the exclusive manufacturer’s warranty.

Neither this Limited Warranty nor any other warranties,
whether express or implied, including, but not limited to,
any implied warranty of merchantability or of fitness for any
particular purpose, shall extend beyond the period of two
years from the date of purchase.

The liability of Jaeger-LeCoultre is limited solely and
exclusively to repair or replacement under the terms and
conditions stated herein. Jaeger-LeCoultre shall not be
liable, by virtue of this Limited Warranty or otherwise, for
any loss or damage arising out of the use of or inability
to use this watch nor for any incidental or consequential
damages relating in any way to this watch. Some States,
Provinces and Territories do not allow limitations on how
long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limitation
of incidental or consequential damages, so the above
limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.

This Limited Warranty grants you specific legal rights, in
addition to which you may have other legal rights which
vary from one Country, State, Province or Territory to
another.

Customer service at Jaeger-LeCoultre

The movement of a mechanical watch requires regular
maintenance (servicing, lubrication, etc.) to ensure a long
operating life. Should your watch need servicing or repairs,
please send it, together with its warranty certificate, to the
authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer who sold it to you.

Alternatively, you may send it to one of the official Jaeger­LeCoultre Service Centres listed at the end of this booklet,
or to any authorised Jaeger-LeCoultre retailer of which a list is
available on the «www.jaeger-lecoultre.com» website.

Our official Service Centres employ watchmakers trained at
the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture and possess the tools and
parts necessar y to repair and maintain all Jaeger-LeCoultre
watches and clocks.

In certain cases, especially for operations requiring special
tools and parts, the Service Centres will send your watch to
the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Switzerland to have the
necessary work carried out.

In any case, or if you live in a country which is not indicated
in our lists, please do not hesitate to contact directly
Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre in Switzerland, Rue de la
Golisse 8, 1347 Le Sentier, telephone [phone],
fax [phone], which will inform you of the
procedure to follow. We also invite you to visit our website
«www.jaeger-lecoultre.com» for an updated list of official
Jaeger-LeCoultre Service Centres.

Limited Warranty

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