Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 08, 2014

LOT 405

JAEGER-LECOULTRE GEOPHYSIC Jaeger-LeCoultre, "Geophysic, Chronometre", movement 1331928, case No. 748304. Made in 1958. Very fine and extremely rare, water-resistant, anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss, indirect center seconds, stainless steel Chronometer wristwatch with a stainless steel Jaeger clasp. Accompanied by an extract from the Archives and a Jaeger-LeCoultre box.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

HKD 50,000 - 66,000 / USD 64,000 - 8,500

Sold: CHF 52,500

Two-body, polished and brushed, lapidated lugs, inclined bezel, screwed down case back. Off-white with applied steel baton indexes and Arabic 12 and 6, luminous dots on the inner bezel, outer minute/second divisions. Luminous steel epee hands. Cal. P478/BWSbr, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to fi ve positions and to temperatures, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, parachute shock absorber, hack mechanism, swan-neck regulator, anti-magnetic dust cap.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 35 mm. THICKNESS 10 mm. 1957 -1958 was designated International Geophysical Year. This was an international scientific effort in which 67 countries took part in making observations and carrying out experiments in various aspects of the earth sciences such as seismology, electromagnetism, glaciology, radioactivity and solar activity. The Jaeger LeCoultre "Geophysic" wristwatch was inspired by the Geophysical Year. To publicize the effort, watches were given to the crew of the the wUS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine, after its trip 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 disturb the timekeeping qualities of the watch. 1038 pieces were made in stainless steel and 30 in gold. After 1962, the Geophysic was fitted with an automatic movement and renamed the "Geomatic". This example is one of the best to have ever been offered at auction with a near mint case, the original crystal and perfectly matching luminous on the crystal and the hands.