Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2015

LOT 501

LECOULTRE REF. 857 DEEP SEA ALARM AUTOMATIC STEEL LeCoultre, Deep Sea Alarm Automatic, case No. 775231, Ref. 857. Made in 1959. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with alarm and 2 crowns. Accompanied by Lecoultre serviced papers dated on 2014/12/12 (total amount is JPY 254,016) , Extract from the archives and lecoutre later hands.

HKD 230,000 - 310,000

USD 30,000 - 40,000 / CHF 28,000 - 37,000

Three-body, polished and brushed, lapidated lugs, graduated black bezel, case back with outer screw ring and engraved with the Deep Sea logo, the crown at 2 o`clock activates the central revolving alarm dial, the one at 4 o`clock is for time-setting and winding. Bicolor black and silver with luminous baton indexes, outer 5-minute/second radial Arabic markers, at the center, revolving alarm setting dial. Luminous steel dauphine hands. Cal. K815, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self compensating flat balance spring, index regulator, bumper-type rotor.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-10-01

Very good

Patinated

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 39 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm. The LECOULTRE DEEP SEA is without a doubt the most collectable sports watch ever produced by the manufacture. Not present in any literature or advertising and produced only during 3 years from 1959 to 1962 in 1061 pieces (even less than the later Polaris made in 1714 examples), it was marketed as not only the first diving wristwatch by Jaeger Lecoultre but also as the first diving watch with mechanical alarm. Seen here in its USA edition (it was also produced as a European model featuring a different dial configuration), In fully original, unrestored condition, even featuring the extremely rare and original bezel (replacement bezels are no longer available so they are often found with reproduction bezels), original crowns and an extremely well conserved dial and hands, a rare all original example.