Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs: Tactical Time

The U.S. Navy SEALs and Jaeger-LeCoultre may not seem like natural partners. One thrives on high stakes, and the other pursues high horology. Both kick ass at the summits of their respective fields.

And that might be the key to the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs Limited Edition. It’s counter-intuitive at first glance, and it packs a mammoth name, but this dive watch definitely kicks ass. As one of only 1,500 units produced, the Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs is one exclusive badass.

At 46mm with a brushed titanium case and a scratch-defeating ceramic bezel, the GMT Navy SEALs gets off to a storming start. Its beefcake proportions and butch details ace the combat diver look, and the combination of a chronograph with a dual-time seems like a pretty universal combo. Those are the ultimate everyday complications whether you’re a weekend warrior or the real thing.

Moreover, Jaeger-LeCoultre ensures that the second time zone offers some of the advantage of a true 24-hour GMT by incorporating a day/night indicator for the reference time hand. And when the second time zone is unneeded, the user can hide the skeletonized reference time zone hand under the superimposed local time hour hand; the extra hand disappears.

JLC and the Navy SEALs have collaborated on field testing of the SEALs line. Members of the elite unit have been issued pre-production prototypes in order to stress test the development units. As a consumer, the benefit is clear: a more resilient watch. The grade 5 titanium used on the Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT is the toughest available, and it’s a fine complementary tone when paired with the matte black dial and matching ceramic bezel. Rubber caps protect the chronograph pushers and the central crown.

Jaeger-LeCoultre‘s original compressor crown system remains the fastest and easiest way to open and close an extreme dive watch’s controls. With a fraction of a turn, these crowns permit 1000 meters of water resistance and instant access to functions. For good measure, each of the watch’s three compressor crowns features a color-coded system of arrows that indicates whether the unit is locked or unlocked. Not only is the system as fool-proof as locking crowns come, but the prominent grip flanges enable easy operation when hands are wet, sweaty, or gloved. Try that with a screw-down Rolex Triplock…

In this instance, they are coupled to an in-house JLC chronograph featuring the latest in watchmaking technology. A column wheel, vertical clutch, free-sprung balance, 65-hour power reserve, laser-welded hairspring, SPYR-cut gear profiles, and ceramic winding rotor bearings report for duty.

This Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs Limited Edition can be viewed in high-resolution images on www.watchuwant.com. Video and content by Tim Mosso.