Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, May 10, 2009

LOT 8

Gold Geophysic Jaeger-LeCoultre, ?Geophysic, Chronometre?, movement No. 1276366, case No. 747374A, Ref. E168. Made in 1958. Very fine and extremely rare, water-resistant, anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss, indirect center seconds, 18K yellow gold chronometer wristwatch with a fitted 18K yellow gold Jaeger-LeCoultre buckle. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives and a box. To be sold without reserve

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

USD 8,700 - 13,000 / EUR 6,600 - 10,000

Sold: CHF 10,200

C. Two-body, polished, lapidated lugs, concave bezel, screwed down case back. D. Off-white with applied gold baton indexes and Arabic 12 and 6, luminous dots on the rehault, outer minute/second division. Luminous yellow gold 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. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam 35 mm. Thickness 11 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

1957 ?1958 was designated International Geophysic Year. The idea was that many different countries around the world would make experiments in various aspects of the earth sciences such as seismology, electromagnetism, glaciology, radioactivity and solar activity. 67 countries took part in making observations. The Jaeger LeCoultre ?Geophysic? wristwatch was inspired by Geophysic Year and to publicise it, some were given to the crew of the first nuclear powered submarine, the US Nautilus after their voyage under the North Pole in 1958. This watch was made to be anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss to combat the effect of magnetic fields that could render the timekeeping of watches useless, 1038 pieces were made in stainless steel and 30 in gold. From 1962, the Geophysic was fitted with an automatic movement and renamed ?Geomatic?.