Hong Kong, May 28, 2022
LOT 206
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Ref. E 168, indirect centre-seconds; “Chronomètre” “Geophysic”; stainless steel
HKD 126,000 - 250,000
EUR 15,000 - 30,000 / CHF 15,800 - 31,500 / USD 15,900 - 31,800
Sold: HKD 162,500
Stainless steel, manual-winding, round-shaped, anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss, chronometer wristwatch, water-resistant with screwed case-back, lapidated lugs, white colour dial with applied radial steel indexes, suspended Arabic numerals (6-12) and centre-seconds; the movement protected inside a soft iron calotte (protective container) against magnetic fields.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, Le Sentier (Vallée de Joux)
Model “Chronomètre” “Geophysic”
Reference E 168
Year circa 1960
Movement No. 1 276 276
Case No. 747 805 (signed LeCoultre Co.)
Material stainless steel
Bracelet black leather strap
Buckle stainless steel buckle
Diameter 35 mm. (bezel)
Caliber P 478 / B W Sbr, polished steel index-regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw, adjusted to five positions and temperatures (signed LeCoultre Co.)
Height 43.7 mm.
Width 35 mm.
Signature dial, case and movement
Accessories original fitted box, certificate of origin; Extract from the Archives
Notes
The original Certificate (by Jaeger, Horloger de la Marine de l’Etat, Paris, No. 39 821) mentioned that this watch was sold by Etablissements Mild, on December 31, 1963, to M. Dumoutier, Paris.
The Extract from the Archives, dated March 15, 2022, mentioned that this watch was manufactured in 1958.
--
What is Geophysics?
Geophysics, a branch of Earth sciences, is the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods, especially by seismic, electromagnetic, and radioactivity methods. The theories and techniques of geophysics are employed extensively in the planetary sciences in general.
--
Faraday
By the 1950’s the use of electromagnetic motors and nuclear power created a new set of problems for watches – that of stray magnetic fields, which rendered most watches useless. Most “antimagnetic” watches are only rated to 60-80 Gauss and are therefore only suitable for resistance to slightly above normal magnetic fields. Other companies at the same period, released “anti-magnetic” watches. These, however, rarely exceeded a level of resistance to 500 Gauss. They were anti-magnetic due to the beryllium balance and pallet fork combined with an Invar balance spring and an “antimagnetic dust cap”. The problem with this is that beryllium contains a small amount of iron in its alloy and is therefore susceptible to magnetism at a certain point. This is also true of the balance spring, which, once magnetised, becomes irregular in shape and duration of pulsation, due to the coils sticking together. The theory behind this is quite brilliant in its simplicity: in much the same way a compass in an iron box does not work as it is shielded from magnetic fields, the movement of the watch continues to work due to the same phenomenon. Similar to a Faraday cage, which conducts stray static charges away from sensitive electronic equipment, the cage in the watch conducts stray magnetic fields away from the movement of the watch. For example, an 8000 Gauss magnet, has a stray magnetic field of 500 Gauss at 6 feet, thus any normal watch will stop functioning properly due to the movement becoming magnetised.
The Extract from the Archives, dated March 15, 2022, mentioned that this watch was manufactured in 1958.
--
What is Geophysics?
Geophysics, a branch of Earth sciences, is the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods, especially by seismic, electromagnetic, and radioactivity methods. The theories and techniques of geophysics are employed extensively in the planetary sciences in general.
--
Faraday
By the 1950’s the use of electromagnetic motors and nuclear power created a new set of problems for watches – that of stray magnetic fields, which rendered most watches useless. Most “antimagnetic” watches are only rated to 60-80 Gauss and are therefore only suitable for resistance to slightly above normal magnetic fields. Other companies at the same period, released “anti-magnetic” watches. These, however, rarely exceeded a level of resistance to 500 Gauss. They were anti-magnetic due to the beryllium balance and pallet fork combined with an Invar balance spring and an “antimagnetic dust cap”. The problem with this is that beryllium contains a small amount of iron in its alloy and is therefore susceptible to magnetism at a certain point. This is also true of the balance spring, which, once magnetised, becomes irregular in shape and duration of pulsation, due to the coils sticking together. The theory behind this is quite brilliant in its simplicity: in much the same way a compass in an iron box does not work as it is shielded from magnetic fields, the movement of the watch continues to work due to the same phenomenon. Similar to a Faraday cage, which conducts stray static charges away from sensitive electronic equipment, the cage in the watch conducts stray magnetic fields away from the movement of the watch. For example, an 8000 Gauss magnet, has a stray magnetic field of 500 Gauss at 6 feet, thus any normal watch will stop functioning properly due to the movement becoming magnetised.