Here we have a clean and classic circa 1962 Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, retailed by Asprey of London, with Asprey co-signed dial. It has the 34mm 9ct gold English made case which is heavy and well crafted. It has the classic silver dial with the applied baton hour markers. It has the thin index style hands and tapered central seconds hand. The screwback has the presentation engraving ‘Ithel Davies, an appreciation of 50 years loyal service, John Summers & Sons Ltd, 1912-1962’. Inside it has the hallmarking for 9ct gold from London assay office, with the De Trevars makers mark. The movement is the Jaeger LeCoultre calibre K880 automatic movement, which is keeping accurate time to within 10 seconds per day. The watch comes with its original signed paperwork.
 
This was a presentation watch and we love the history the engraving to the case details. John Summers & Sons Ltd were a major British iron and steel produced, latterly based on the Dee Estuary at Shotton, Flintshire.
 
Ithel Davies was a loyal company man, a trait rarely seen in todays world of work. Within his 50 year span of work with the company, he witnessed significant change, beginning with a company that was the largest manufacturer of galvanized steel in the country. Since 1908 the company’s new offices and HQ were transferred to Shotton. The company saw significant expansion throughout the first half of the 20th century, taking over the Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron company, Castle Fire Brick company and the Shelton Iron, Steel & Coal Co. By 1951 the company was nationalised, becoming part of the Iron and Steel corporation of Great Britian, denationalised shortly afterwards and re-nationalised in 1967.
 
The watch has the classic dress design, being both simple and elegant. It is a silver base tone with the light satin brushed finish. It has the applied baton hour markers which are thin, with the 3, 6 and 9 markers being larger with the facetted design. The 12 o’clock marker is differentiated with its larger sizing and more complex facetted design. Below 12 o’clock is the applied ‘JL’ logo with the Jaeger-LeCoultre name below. Above 6 o’clock is the ‘Asprey’ co-signing with the ‘automatic’ text. To the base of the dial is the ‘Swiss made’ signing. The hands are the neat index style in a gold tone, with the central second having the thin tapered design.
 
The case measures 34mm in diameter and is of high quality, which is immediately tangible when you hold the watch and feel the weight of the 9ct gold case. It is of two piece construction, with the solid front and screw case back. Despite the weight, the watch is effortlessly comfortable on the wrist due to its neat design and 10mm case depth. The bezel is notched, with the flat case top and sides. The 42.25mm lug to lug measurement adds presence to the watch and the tapering of the lugs inwards and downwards, means this wears beautifully.
 
The case back screws in place and is marked with the serial number which matches the paperwork. It has the presentation engraving ‘Ithel Davies, an appreciation of 50 years loyal service, John Summers & Sons Ltd, 1912-1962’. Inside the case has the hallmarking from London assay office for 9ct gold with the ‘DTE’ makers mark. This is the mark for De Trevars, the sole agent for Jaeger-LeCoultre watches in the UK at the time.
 
The movement is the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre K880 automatic movement. It was capable of achieving chronometer grade standard in its day and was so well designed that it was developed to become the calibre 881G, which was fitted in the JLC Geomatic Chronometer watch. An evolution of the calibre, the K888 is still produced today which demonstrates the quality and staying power of the design.The K before the calibre refers to the Kif Flector shock proofing which was designed and patented by Jaeger-LeCoultre. It has excellent cosmetic finishing with Geneva waves decorating the bright plates and rotor, whilst the screws are hand polished.
The service history is unknown, but it is in good condition and is keeping accurate time to within 10 seconds variation a day.
 
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
 
Dial:
The dial is original and is in good condition. It has a couple of areas of marking, noticeable to the edge between 10 and 11 o’clock and 1 and 2 o’clock. The hour markers are original and have the bright shine.
 
Hands:
The hands are original, in a gold one. They are in good condition and shine brightly.
 
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is original. It has some slight marking to the edge at the top. We have left the crystal on it as it is original, it can be replaced if desired.
 
Crown:
The crown appears original as they were not always signed. The gold plated tone has worn to the face with a silver tone showing.
 
Case:
The case is formed of 9ct gold and is in good condition with only light scratching associated with age.
 
Caseback:
The case back is formed of 9ct gold and is in good condition. It has no denting and only light surface scratching. The serial number is clear. It has the presentation engraving.
 
Strap:
The watch comes on a new genuine leather strap, with a gold plated buckle.
 
Movement:
The movement is a LeCoultre calibre K880. It is an automatic movement, with sweep second hand and shock proofing. It has a jewel count of 17 and a frequency of 19,800 BPH.
 
The service history is unknown, but the movement is in good condition. It’s keeping time to -10 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 280 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s.
 
Case dimensions
Case width: 34.5mm
Case width with crown: 36.7mm
Case length: 34.6mm
Case length lug to lug: 42.5mm
Case depth: 10.75mm
Lug width: 18mm