Sunday Morning Showdown: Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Vs. Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar

Welcome to another episode of Sunday Morning Showdown. Last week, we put the vintage and modern steel versions of the Vacheron Constantin 222 up against each other. Even though there are quite a few years between those two watches, you’d probably be happy with either. This week, however, we expect the matchup to be more polarizing. The bold Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite — Daan’s choice — is a watch made for the true Speedmaster enthusiast. On the other hand, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar — Thomas’s contender — is any watch enthusiast’s dream, but it’s certainly a little more reserved.

Let’s see which of the two will claim the honor of winning another one of our Sunday Morning Showdowns. But first, let’s take a look at what happened during last week’s installment.

Last week, on Sunday Morning Showdown…

As mentioned, last week, we let the vintage and modern Vacheron Constantin 222s battle it out. Even though Vacheron made a very true-to-the-original re-edition, there are still some important differences. Yes, the date placement might be better on the vintage model, but the modern one has a quick-set date, a see-through case back with a nicely decorated movement, and a 22K gold rotor. On top of that, the vintage example would probably become a safe queen, while the modern version could be a true everyday watch (for those who can justify spending €35K, of course). Based on your votes, it looks like all these differences point in favor of the modern Vacheron Constantin 222. That’s why it won last week’s showdown with 66% of the votes. But now it’s time to start this week’s showdown between the Omega Speedmaster and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control.

Daan: Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite

I’ll be honest with you from the get-go: I love my plain and “boring” Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, and it’ll probably be my favorite Speedmaster until I get the one with the white dial. However, as a concept, I think the new Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite is brilliant. Ever since Buzz Aldrin took his Omega Speedmaster into space and walked the Moon’s surface with it, the Speedmaster has been nicknamed the Moonwatch. So why not kit it out as one?

The Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite has a 43mm stainless steel case. There are two versions — a black/black and a gray/blue one. Both have a dial made of iron meteorite, and the moonphase complication features two pieces of lunar meteorite, one for the Northern and the other for the Southern Hemisphere. As a cherry on the cake, the starry sky around these little moons depicts the stars as they appeared from Omega HQ in Biel during the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. Can it get any better?

Over the top is good

This all might be a little over the top, but if there’s one watch on which you can go a little further with all the Moon references, it’s the Omega Speedmaster. The meteorite’s dramatic texture is perfectly visible on both the black dial and the gray one. In addition, the moonphase complication was made as big as possible to let those moons truly shine. This Speedmaster Meteorite Moonphase is a true Moonwatch, albeit in a different sense, and I’m all here for it.

If I had to choose a favorite, I’d pick the gray/blue version. I like the contrast between the blue registers and the light gray meteorite dial. I also think the meteorite’s texture looks better on this dial. It’s the one that properly highlights the unique features of the Speedmaster Meteorite Moonphase. Of course, those features are also on the black version, but that one takes a more monochrome approach. It might look a little more like a traditional Moonwatch, but that’s exactly what it isn’t. That’s why I’d happily go for the more flamboyant version.

Impressive features

Like the current 3861-powered Moonwatch, the Speedmaster Meteorite Moonphase has a hand-wound Co-Axial movement, but this one is the new caliber 9914. You can look at it through the watch’s exhibition case back. It has a fairly closed architecture, but the Arabesque Geneva waves look the part. Besides, the movement has impressive features, like its accuracy of 0 to +5 seconds a day and resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. In addition, it’s water resistant to 50 meters, so, believe me, you can happily take this watch swimming and nothing will happen (as long as you don’t touch the pushers).

I know the JLC Master Control is no slouch regarding impressive features, but at least the Speedmaster has something to put up against it. On top of the Speedmaster’s complications, the JLC Master Control Chronograph Calendar also has the day and month indicators. Sure, those are nice, but that’s exactly what they are — nice-to-haves rather than must-haves.

Very nice, but sometimes, that doesn’t cut it

In general, Thomas, I think your JLC Master Control with its pristine silver dial is very nice. But is that enough to win me over? No, it isn’t. Looking at it, I can’t think of much that legitimately irks me about that watch. Sure, at 40mm, it might be a bit big for its more dressy character. Then again, it also packs quite a few features in that stainless steel case. Honestly, what bothers me most about it is that it looks so tame.

Of course, the finishing of the dial, case, and movement is sharp. Everything is in exactly the right place and proportioned quite well. But still, when I look at your contender, it doesn’t excite me. There are no standout features for me. The Omega Speedmaster Meteorite Moonphase, on the other hand, offers lots. Maybe not everyone likes it, but I’d rather have a bit more personality than just being everyone’s friend. What about you, Thomas?

Thomas: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar

Well, I am certainly not everyone’s friend if that’s what you’re asking, Daan. Ask everyone. More seriously, though, I think this is an interesting matchup for which we must credit our colleague Gerard, who, in turn, got the idea from a Dutch watch forum. Never in a million years would I have thought of this showdown because these watches feel like they’re worlds apart. However, there are more similarities than you might expect.

For starters, both are chronographs from respected heritage brands. Both combine the chronograph with moonphase and date indicators. The Master Control takes it one step further with a triple-calendar display. Here’s the interesting thing, though: they are no more than €200 apart. The Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite comes in at €19,000, while the Master Control Chronograph Calendar commands €19,200.

Ultimately, then, I think this is a clash of philosophies. I think you already alluded to this when you implied my contender was dull and yours was fun. I should probably address that point first.

Master Control Chronograph Calendar over Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite

I have a test for watches like this, Daan. It is a little mental experiment you can do when evaluating what a watch is trying to convey. Here it is: imagine yourself in a bar, having drinks with three or four of your best buddies. One asks, “Hey, what’s that on your wrist?” As your other friends turn their eyes to your watch, you reply, telling them what it is and what is cool about it. Now imagine how you will feel while doing so.

I can tell you this much: I would be awfully embarrassed if I had to tell my friends about pieces of meteorite, moon rock, and constellations from 1969. You will end your convoluted story with, “But it all makes sense because the Speedmaster is the Moonwatch, you see?” And then you have to admit you paid 19 grand for that story — one that likely has absolutely nothing to do with your life, by the way. I think I’ll pass.

So, what about the Master Control Chronograph Calendar? Well, there isn’t much to say. It is an under-the-radar JLC that packs a handful of the most iconic complications into one versatile package. If I run it through my friends-in-a-bar test, my answer would simply be, “This? This is a Jaeger-LeCoultre.” I would casually stick my left hand back in my pocket and equally casually move the conversation on to the next topic. It is, funnily enough, exactly what James Bond would do.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar

Let’s have a closer look at this Master Control. Inside ticks caliber 759, an integrated automatic chronograph movement with a triple-calendar module on top. Its layout is fairly traditional, with three equally sized sub-dials and the day and date apertures at 12.

Now we start seeing the Master Control really pull ahead. It starts with those equally sized sub-dials versus the Speedy’s oversized moonphase indicator. The use of color and the visual weight of all dial-side elements create great legibility and balance. Yes, it all feels quite serious, but that is because this is simply the best way to do it. If you want to present all this information in a usable and legible format, this is where you end up.

At the same time, the Master Control maintains a great deal of elegance in the process. It looks refined and classical, even timeless. If I had to gamble on which of today’s contenders I would still like 10 years from now, my money would be firmly on the JLC. If I had to sum up this matchup in one sentence, I think it would be something like this: The Master Control Chronograph Calendar offers complicated watchmaking in a deceptively simple package, while the Speedy packs it in fancy stuff.

Cast your vote!

There you have it — two very different watches doing super similar things in extremely different ways at nearly the same price! Which would be your pick if you had a cool €20K to spend? Would you go for the fancier Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite or the more elegant Master Control Chronograph Calendar? Cast your vote below, and share your motivations in the comments section! Oh, and have a lovely Sunday!