A watch is one of the few items worn that extend our identity. Similarly, movie characters and their timepiece choices reflect their interests, style, era, priorities, and ancestry.
And one of the most iconic watches on the silver screen is worn by surgeon-turned-sorcerer Dr. Stephen Strange, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.
I mean, come on! It’s a character in the movie who time travels. So, it only makes sense that there’s hype around the timepiece he was wearing, especially among keen fans and watch enthusiasts.
That’s why I’m super excited to share with you the watch he wore in this article! But before sharing it with you, let’s first learn its significance in the Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange movie.
Doctor Strange’s Watch and Its Significance in the Movie
Doctor Strange’s watch symbolically acts as the last connection to his mortal life. It was a gift from his former lover (Christine Palmer), and he first wore it when he was still a neurosurgeon in Manhattan.
Additionally, the same timepiece Doctor Strange wore during a car accident damaged his hands and consequently sent him into a realm of other dimensions and mystic arts. The Master of the Mystic Arts headquarters was in Kamar-Taj.
After combining martial arts training and mystical learning, Doctor Strange awakens his third eye and masters sorcery. His powers come from the universe’s energy mixed with magical artifacts, like the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation.
His timepiece later cracked and broke, but he continued to hold on to it throughout the movie. Nearly midway into the film, when the bearded Strange is in Kamar-Taj, he pulls out his watch from his pocket, and we see a close-up of the shattered sapphire crystal.
At the back of the watch engraved, “Time will tell how much I love you – Christine.” (Rachel McAdams played Dr. Strange’s love interest.) The JLC became more than just a time-telling device in that emotional scene.
Six years after Cumberbatch’s first outing as Strange, he hit the big screen again in the sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In that 2022 film, Doctor Strange time traveled through the Multiverse to protect it from a former Avenger-turned-antagonist, Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch. Watch lovers and fans may spot the same watch again in that sequel.
So, What Watch Does Dr. Strange Wear?
It is the Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin (MUT) Perpetual – stainless steel version. It’s a 39mm timepiece that was seemingly chosen for the movie for two reasons. First, it has a contemporary appearance; second, it’s a moon phase watch.
The deep blue crescent shape in the dial serves as a day and night indicator. This feature brings a touch of the celestial, which is perfect for Dr. Strange’s role. From its name, the watch is also very thin (9mm vs. the 8mm – 12mm average watch thickness), which gives it a visual unity. It looks commendable clean for a watch that tells more than just time.
There was also a scene in the movie where Stephen Strange opened a drawer filled with impressive luxury watches. While it’s challenging to list all the watches in Strange’s impressive collection, we did see a Rolex Daytona, TAG Heuer Monaco, and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Noteworthy also is that these watches are stored in watch winders – a valid symbol of a mechanical watch enthusiast.
Technical Specs of Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual
Now, let’s stop discussing the movie for a while and focus on the watch itself. Here’s a quick look at its specifications:
- Case: Stainless steel with a diameter of 39 mm (1.5 inches)
- Dial: Silvered gray, silver-powdered, polished black nickel appliques
- Hands: Dauphines
- Functions: Year, moon phases, perpetual calendar, date, day, month, hour, minute, and seconds
- Straps: Black leather
- Movement: Self-winding, automatic
- Power reserve: 38 hours
History, design, and complication
The Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar watch is a beacon of horological engineering. A short history of this timepiece – it was introduced in 2013 and presented again during the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2016 trade show.
It epitomizes the brand’s philosophy of uniting timeless aesthetics and traditional complication. Some people in the fitness industry even call it “the ultimate dress watch” because of its distinct thinness.
The watch has elongated hour markers, polished Dauphine hands that subtly glint when exposed to light, and comes in either eggshell beige or sunray dial. The watch’s face looks elegant and refined.
The watch also uses caliber 868, an automatic winding movement and comes with 46 jewels and 336 parts. Moreover, the jewels allow for the second, minute, hour, date, month, year, and moon phases.
To better appreciate this feature, read: Why Do Watches Have Jewels?
JLC’s MUT is probably the thinnest watch I’ve seen of all-moon phase watches. It utilizes three registers with a moonphase positioned at 12 o’clock. It displays the date and day of the week.
Two additional details not necessarily found on all perpetual calendar (QP) watches are in this timepiece. The first detail is the year window at 7 o’clock, and the second is the aperture above the axis point towards 12 o’clock.
When it’s almost evening, the aperture turns red – a sign that the wearer should not adjust their watch. Changing a perpetual calendar between 10 pm and 2 am can damage the watch’s gears. Remember that other manufacturers have their time range, but this one is for JLC.
During the said hours, the watch’s gears are actively engaged in date changing. Speaking of the dials, you can opt for white gold or rose gold. Combine these designs and features in a timepiece, and you’ll know why it was worth seeing on the big screen worn by the main character.
Perpetual calendar- easy to set or correct
The watchmakers of this Jaeger-LeCoultre watch made life easy for the lucky individuals who’ll own it. There’s only one button to set or correct the perpetual calendar. You only have to remember not to adjust the calendar between 10 pm and 2 am.
If you press the button too many times and advance beyond the current date, wait for the power reserve to run out. Adjusting the time too far (months or years), you may need to bring it to a watchmaker.
So, always set the date of your perpetual calendar watch with care because there’s no reverse button. Nevertheless, you may not have to worry about this.
Strap and clasp
Jaeger-LeCoultre attached the correct strap type for its Master Ultra Thin (MUT) Perpetual Calendar watch. The black alligator strap is comfortable and thin. Some folding clasps tend to be bulky, but not the Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece.
A plus point is that it’s easy to resize because of the double-folding clasp. There’s also a logo there, making it appear classy.
Dr. Strange’s Rolex Daytona
Dr. Strange’s watch included the Rolex Daytona, a perfect chronograph for a man with exquisite taste. Instantly recognizable and iconic, the mechanical chronograph Rolex wristwatch (ref. 116520) is one of the most popular luxury sports watches.
It may have been discontinued in production in favor of the new ceramic and stainless steel Daytona ref.116500LN, but the ref. 116520 is still popular among watch collectors and enthusiasts. It remained a must-have luxury sports watch, especially for watch collectors.
It’s also the same Rolex seen in the wrists of famous personalities, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Rossie Huntington-Whiteley, and Ellen DeGeneres.
And as long as you keep this Rolex in decent condition, you will see some price appreciation over the years, although at a slower rate than its recent counterparts. Still, it makes a good value.
FAQs About Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches
Is Jaeger-LeCoultre worth buying?
Yes, Jaeger-LeCoultre is an excellent high-end watch brand. The calibers of JLC watches are even made entirely in-house. The brand is also known as one of the industry’s most inventive and creative watchmakers because of its innovative designs and high complication.
Why is Jaeger-LeCoultre so expensive?
A Jaeger-LeCoultre watch is expensive because so much time, discipline, and components go into making such a timepiece.
Assembling one JLC watch alone requires a lot of patience and steady hands with its hundreds of parts, gears, and springs that have to mesh together perfectly. That’s even before you think of how difficult it is to manufacture the parts and the number of components produced.
How many watches does JLC make a year?
Jaeger-LeCoultre manufactures about 100,000 watches a year. It has about 1,000 to 5,000 employees.
Wrap Up
TL;DR: The watch worn by Doctor Strange, as played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is the Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual.
There is plenty to like about this timepiece. Its design and features are a great representation of classical watchmaking. If you’re a fan of classic-looking timepieces, then this is your dream watch.
It’s light, comfortable on the wrist, and undramatic. There’s no doubt it’s a classical timepiece that can be worn casually, semi-formally, and formally.
It’s reasonable that it was the timepiece chosen for the movie. Aside from being undeniably sophisticated, it is reliable, durable, and holds a higher-than-average resale value. Indeed, it’s the best choice for a master mystic who can alter time.
If you like this review, you might want to read our other reviews at EvesWatch.com.
My name is Eve Acosta and I’m the person behind this site. Watches are what get me ticking ;).
No, but seriously, I just love watches, I have over 30 myself. It’s an obsession of mine, which is why my husband recommended me to put my hobby into some good use and build this site – so I did.
My passion for timepieces came from the fact that my parents own a small chain of shops selling timepieces. I’ve worked at the shop since I was 11 and fell in love with the merchandise.
