Important Collectors' Wristwtches, Po...

New York, Sep 26, 2007

LOT 39

?Reverso? Jaeger-LeCoultre, No. 1658578, Ref. 250. 1.09. Made in the 1990s. Very fine, rectangular, 18K yellow gold reversible wristwatch.

USD 2,400 - 3,000

EUR 1,800 - 2,200

Sold: USD 2,832

C. Five-body, solid, polished, reeded bezel, sapphire crystal. D. Two-tone silver with painted Arabic numerals. Blued steel "épée" hands. M. Cal. 846, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 4 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 23 x 38 mm. Thickness 7 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Jaeger LeCoultre, "Reverso".
The history of the "Reverso" begins in 1930, when Cesar de Trey, a Swiss traveler in India, conceived of a watch that could be turned over to protect its dial and crystal. The LeCoultre company in Le Sentier began producing the watch, with a case developed by the Jaeger company in France. In 1931 a patent was granted for a rectangular watch case that could be swiveled so that the solid case back protected the delicate mineral crystal from breakage. The "Reverso" watch became one of the company's most famous models. Today, over 70 years later, its case has been carefully optimized, but its character remains unchanged. Embodying the style of the Art Deco period, the clean lines and the high quality of the "Reverso" watch have made it Jaeger LeCoultre's leading model and the company has extended the line to offer a greater variety of one of the most characteristic and famous timepieces in the history of the wristwatch.