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 were split between this more common round cased version and the less common small rectangular cased one.
Today's offering showcases one of these very desirable watches. Its parts are all original down to all hands and the winding crown.
Its full size, attractive case is in excellent condition with wear where the case is opened on the side. Its silver dial with its cut outs for displaying the month, day, and moonphase, is an older restoration. And its unusual, rectangular, highly-complicated Jaeger-LeCoultre movement is clean.
One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it. After 60 years, it continues to keep perfect time, running within a few seconds per day and all calendar functions work just as they should.
For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a lizard grain leather 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: c. 1949
- Serial no.: 697,179
- Model: Triple Date Calendar with Moon Phase
- Case material: 10K gold filled
- Case markings (outside): 10K Gold Filled D & A
- Case markings (inside): Cased and timed in U.S.A. by LeCoultre, 353505
- Case condition: Near mint condition with light scratches and wear. No wear through of the gold.
- Dimensions: 35mm wide (excluding crown), 41mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Dial: Silver, gold applique Arabic indexes, blue outer date track, apertures for day, date, month, and moon phases, subdials in English, restored in vintage times. Please inquire if you would like a fresh restoration.
- Hands: Original, gold, dauphine with arrow-tipped silver date hand, very good 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: Lizard grain, remborde. 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: One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
- Timing: Timed on a state-of-the-art computerized system. Running extremely accurately. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
- 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
