This mid 1940s Jaeger Le-Coultre military style watch is an incredible piece of design. It is a clean and classic design with a 33.5mm Stainless Steel case with a polished finish and very sharp lugs. The dial is beautifully aged, with an even champagne tone. The finish is grained on certain angles, with a speckled shimmer in others. This is a complex as attractive dial finish with its varying looks. The Large Arabic numerals are original, as are the thermally blued sword hands, all with original aged Radium lume in pumpkin tone. The unique design of central second hand points to the railroad track around the middle of the dial. The large Stainless-Steel crown is original with an excellent coin edge finish. Inside the watch is a recently serviced Jaeger LeCoultre calibre P478 movement, keeping excellent time, in top cosmetic condition. It is a sturdy, reliable and beautiful movement, as is expected from Le-Coultre. The gold tone of the movement is bright, with a striped brushed finish.
Dating to 1946 and considering that this was a tool watch, designed to be put to work, the condition of this watch is excellent and makes this a very good example.
The case back is in good condition for the age, with light surface scratching from opening attempts. The main face has a brushed finish which is in good condition, whilst the sides are polished. It is signed with the serial number 376099. The inside is signed: Acier Inoxydable, LeCoultre Co, Swiss, Pour Deboiter Tourner Le Mouvement.
The crystal is a replacement plexiglass which is in perfect condition, fitting the profile of the watch very well.
The watch is on a period black lizard style leather strap, with is in good vintage condition. This will fit up to an 8 inch wrist.
The movement is a Le-Coultre calibre 478, with parechoc shock protection. It is manual wind with central sweep second hand. It has a power reserve of 40 hours and is in great condition cosmetically and functionally. The movement is in good condition and is working well. It is keeping time to -25 seconds a month, with an amplitude of 312 degrees and a beat error of 0.4m/s.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
This is an excellent original dial which is an aged silver tone all over, presenting as more champagne with age. The dial has a grained finish in certain angles, with a speckled shimmer in other lights. This is a complex as attractive dial finish with its varying looks. The large Arabic numerals are the hour markers, with original aged Radium lume in-fill. The central second track doubles up as the minute track with a clear railroad track with 60 markers and thicker dashes at 5-minute intervals. The dial is signed Jaeger Le-Coultre in the most appealing font below 12 O’clock and is in excellent condition. This is a very good original dial, with examples as good as this very uncommon with the passage of time.
Hands:
The hands are original and of Sword style. They are thermally blued, with the original Radium lume infill to the centre. This has aged to a beautiful pumpkin tone. The central second hand is also original and is in excellent condition. They are all in very good condition with the thermally blued tone having minimal discolouration.
Glass:
The crystal is a replacement plexiglass which is in perfect condition, fitting the profile of the watch very well.
Crown:
The crown is the original Stainless-Steel crown, which is large to allow easy winding, with a coin edge finish. It is in very good condition.
Case:
The case is made of Stainless Steel and is in good condition. The bezel is in good condition and has a polished finish, along with the lugs. The sides have a flat polished section, tapering at the bottom to meet the case back. The case is unpolished and original. A great example.
Caseback:
The case back is in good condition for the age, with light surface scratching from opening attempts. The main face has a brushed finish which is in good condition, whilst the sides are polished. It is signed with the serial number 376099. The inside is signed: Acier Inoxydable, LeCoultre Co, Swiss, Pour Deboiter Tourner Le Mouvement.
Strap:
The watch is on a period black lizard style leather strap, with is in good vintage condition. This will fit up to an 8-inch wrist.
Movement:
The movement is a Le-Coultre calibre 478, with parechoc shock protection. It is manual wind with central sweep second hand. It has a power reserve of 40 hours and is in great condition cosmetically and functionally.
The movement is in good condition and is working well. It is keeping time to -25 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 312 degrees and a beat error of 0.4m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 33.5mm
Case width with crown: 36mm
Case length: 33.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 42mm
Case Depth: 10mm
Lug width: 16mm