Reference 1548420 is the silver-dial, leather-strap build of the JLC Master Control Date 1548420 clone, and the dial is the quickest way to place it: applied open-cut Arabic numerals at 12, 9 and 6, faceted dart indices filling the hours between them, and a blued steel seconds hand that is the only colour anywhere on the face. At 39mm in stainless steel, the case matches the rest of the Master Control family in dimensions, but the dial execution tells a different story. The indices, hand style, and date presentation combine into a face that leans slightly more technical than the cleaner Ultra Thin variants. Collectors who have handled multiple Master Control references will spot the differences immediately.

Build Details

• Case diameter: 39mm
• Case material: stainless steel
• Reference: 1548420
• Crystal: sapphire
• Movement: clone Cal. 899/1, automatic, 28,800 vph
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
• Dial: silver-tone with applied markers

The 1548420 does not share a case with the Master Ultra Thin. The Master Control Date middle stands 8.9 mm tall under a flat polished bezel, where the Ultra Thin line is built thinner on purpose. What the two do share is the 39 mm diameter. The date sits at 3 o’clock on a white disc inside a polished frame, and that white rectangle is the single high-contrast element on an otherwise silver face.

What Collectors Notice

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control series earned its reputation through the 1000-hour quality control protocol, and the 1548420 reference carries that lineage. Where some Ultra Thin variants strip everything to bare essentials, this reference retains a touch more visual complexity. The applied indices catch light at different angles, and the seconds hand sweeps with a steady motion that confirms the automatic caliber inside. Pair it against the presentation box accessory for the complete ownership experience, or browse the full Master Control range to see how this reference sits within the broader hierarchy.

This vs Other Versions

The 1548420 occupies a middle ground between the minimalist Ultra Thin and the complication-heavy Geographic models. It offers enough dial detail to feel substantial without the added complexity of a second time zone or power reserve indicator. For anyone who finds the Ultra Thin too spare and the Geographic too busy, the JLC Master Control Date 1548420 clone hits the balance point that keeps a single watch relevant across more situations than either extreme.

The tan calf strap and the silver sunray make this the quietest of the Dates; the bracelet and black-dial versions sit one click away on the JLC Master Control shelf. How a clone 899/1 holds up against the 939A and the 770 is settled in our verdict on the Master line against the rest of JLC.

Specifications

• Model: JLC Master Control Date 1548420 clone
• Reference: 1548420 (Q1548420)
• Case: stainless steel, flat polished bezel, 8.9 mm thick
• Case size: 39 mm
• Dial: silver sunray, applied Arabic 12, 9 and 6, faceted dart indices, blued central seconds
• Complications: date at 3 o’clock
• Movement: clone Cal. 899/1, automatic, 28,800 vph
• Power reserve: 40 hours (genuine Cal. 899/1: 43 hours)
• Water resistance: 50 m (same as genuine)
• Crystal: sapphire
• Strap: tan calf leather with pale contrast stitching