Jaeger-LeCoultre - The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE Geneva Friday, May 12, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre
    Year: 1959
    Reference No: E857
    Movement No: 1'389'231
    Case No: 775'046
    Model Name: Deep Sea Alarm
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. K815, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Tropical rubber
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel
    Dimensions: 39mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Jaeger-LeCoultre Extract from the Archives confirming production in 1959.

  • Catalogue Essay

    There are different categories of vintage dive watches: those that are interesting, different, technical, aesthetic, rare or original and there are those that encompass all these attributes and more, making them grails amongst collectors. The present LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm is undoubtedly a proud member of this exclusive club.

    Launched in 1959 and in production for only a few short years (production ceased in 1962) the Deep Sea Alarm was made in two versions: bearing the name LeCoultre for the American market - as with the present lot - and Jaeger LeCoultre for the European market. These watches were made in less than 1000 pieces.

    The late 50s saw the emergence of leisure traveling, jet planes were crisscrossing the Atlantic, the Cote d’Azur was still the vacation spot for the glitterati, Onassis ruled the seas and water sports were an upcoming trend. It is within this exciting era that Jaeger LeCoultre created an extremely innovative dive watch: the Deep Sea Alarm, a watch that did not have a rotating bezel to time the dives but rather an ingenious alarm function that would indicate to the diver that it was time to go back up to the surface. This made it the first diving watch with an alarm.

    Only a handful of Deep Sea Alarms have shown up at public auctions in the past years and even less have survived in such condition due to the harsh underwater environment they were used in.
    The present lot, preserved in overall excellent condition, has aged with grace and elegance. The dial has turned a pleasing espresso brown whereas the luminous markers on the bezel and dial as well as the hands have all turned a perfect and matching caramel in color.

    In 2011 Jaeger LeCoultre reissued this model in a limited edition dubbed Tribute to Deep Sea Alarm.

    This Deep Sea Alarm is a must have not only for the collector of vintage dive watches but for any discerning vintage collector looking for a timepiece rarely appearing at auction and which with time will become rarer to come across.

  • Artist Biography

    Jaeger-LeCoultre

    Swiss • 1833

    Not all companies in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger LeCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker." Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named LeCoutre, the firm provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished mechanical movements with which they completed their watches.

    In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out LeCoultre's help in creating the world's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the creation of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The duo decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know and adore it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.

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Ref. E857
A rare and attractive stainless steel diver's wristwatch with alarm

1959
39mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 30,000 
€18,500-27,800
$19,800-29,700

Sold for CHF50,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE

Geneva Auctions 13 – 14 May 2017