In 1949, to commemorate Jacques-David LeCoultre who passed away previously, Jaeger-LeCoultre released to the world its first complicated rectangular movement featuring an astronomic readout. Unusual even by today's standards in that its complications fitted into a small rectangular movement, it could display the month, date, and day of the week along with the phases of the moon. It is a display of amazing precision that can be worn everyday.
The company only produced 5,000 examples of the movement. 500 were for the European market, and the remaining 4,500 made for the U.S. market and they were split between the more common round cased version and this less common rectangular cased one.
Today's offering showcases one of these desirable watches. Its parts are fully JLC down to all hands and the winding crown.
Its case is honest and original with gold wear on the lugs and back edges. Its silver dial with its cutouts for displaying the month, day, and moonphase, has been restored by one of the leading dial experts in North America. And the unusual, rectangular highly-complicated Jaeger-LeCoultre movement is clean.
The leading LeCoultre expert in the United States, author of the Jaeger-LeCoultre: A Guide for the Collector, has just fully serviced the watch. After exactly 72 years, it continues to keep accurate time on the wrist and all calendar functions work just as they should.
For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a brand new Teju strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a full one-year international warranty, a Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate attesting to the watch's performance.
Complicated LeCoultre watches:
Usually when things are complicated, it means more stress, more work, and more effort, but in the end, it's worth it. The same holds true for vintage wristwatches, where gifted artisans and engineers from years gone by labored months and years to create complicated timepieces that transcend art and talent. When it comes to vintage wristwatches, the highest realms of respect and value are reserved for these watches that do much more than merely tell time.
- Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Country of origin: Switzerland, made for the U.S. market
- Year built: 1949
- Serial no.: 630,939
- Model: Triple Date Calendar with Moon Phase
- Case material: 10K gold filled
- Case markings (outside): 10K Gold Filled, nicely decorated FNB
- Case markings (inside): Cased and timed in U.S.A. by LeCoultre
- Case condition: Original plating, gold wear through to the tops of the lugs and edges of the back.
- Dimensions: 24mm wide (excluding crown), 40mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Dial: Silver, gold indexes stamped into bezel, blue outer date track, apertures for day, date, month, and moon phases, subdials in English, main dial has been expertly restored - the subdials are untouched
- Hands: All original and untouched, blue steel "epees" with with red arrow-tipped silver date hand, excellent condition
- Movement type: Cal. 486/AW, tonneau shaped, rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, flat balance spring
- Movement markings: LeCoultre, Swiss, 486/AW
- Band: Genuine Teju lizard, high quality, fully stitched, padded for comfort, brand new and unused. We also stock lizard and a variety of others straps in various prints, skins, and colors. Please ask us if you're interested.
- Width between lugs: 16mm
- Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition
- Serviced: The leading LeCoultre expert in the United States, author of the Jaeger-LeCoultre: A Guide for the Collector, has just fully serviced the watch.
- Timing: Timed on a state-of-the-art computerized system. After exactly 72 years, it continues to keep accurate time on the wrist and all calendar functions work just as they should.
- Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
