Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre Year: 1956 and 1958 Reference No: A & B: E114 C & D: E212-62 Movement No: A: 1'268'134 B: 1'268'211 C: 1'203'581 D: 1'195'088 Case No: A: 738'520 B: 738'478 C: 677'951 D: 678'050 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: A & B: Manual, cal. P478/C, 17 jewels C & D: Manual, cal. P800/C, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 33.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Each watch is accompanied by Jaeger-LeCoultre Extract from the Archives confirming the production year of the watch
Catalogue Essay
How often do you get the chance to find a true and honest New Old Stock watch? Consisting of two identical twin watches, the present lot of four New Old Stock Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces is a true time capsule taking us back more than half a century ago. Never opened nor worn, these watches have been sourced by a collector who had the chance to find an unsold stock from a retired watchmaker. The simple yet efficient design of the dial is typical for watches of the 50s. One pair only displays four Arabic numerals whereas the other pair displays the even numbers. The models with the even numbers also feature a very interesting and attractive railroad outer track graduated for every 4 minutes and giving the watches a fantastic rhythm and harmony. In stainless steel with applied indexes and numerals, these watches have been waiting a long time to find a home and are ready now to enjoy some action!
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.