Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 74

Stainless Steel Geophysic Jaeger LeCoultre, ?Geophysic, Chronometre?,movement No. 1331686, case No. 748162. Made circa 1958. Very fine and very rare, water-resistant, anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss, indirect center seconds, stainless steel chronometer wristwatch with a stainless steel Jaeger LeCoultre buckle. Accompanied by the original guarantee.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

USD 4,600 - 6,500 / EUR 3,100 - 4,500

Sold: CHF 12,000

C. Two-body, polished, lapidated lugs, concave bezel, screwed down case back. D. Off-white with applied steel baton indexes and Arabic 12 and 6, luminous dots on the rehault, outer minute/seconds division. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. P478/BWSbr, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance, swan-neck regulator, self-compensating flat balance spring, adjusted to five positions and to temperatures, parachute shock absorber, hack mechanism, swan-neck regulator, anti-magnetic dust cap. Case, dial and movement signed. Diam 35 mm. Thickness 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Jaeger-LeCoultre realized the Geophysic in anticipation of the International Geophysical Year, which ran from mid-1957 through 1958. Some 67 countries officially participated in a variety of experiments and observations of geophysical phenomena such as aurora, geomagnetism, glaciology and solar activity. Apparently the Geophysic was often presented as a sign of hommage, for example being given to the crew of the first nuclear-powered submarine, the US Nautilus, after their successful first voyage under the north pole in 1958. The real highlight is the movement, designated 478/BWS/br. nomenclature that indicates the version of caliber 478 with fine regulation and beryllium balance and forch. It is apparently the most highly realized version of a series of 12 1/2 ligne (about 28mm diameter) JLC movements stretching back to about 1940, and has been fully adjusted. Only 1.038 examples were made in stainless steel and 30 in pink gold. In 1962, this automatic watch was renamed Geomatic.