 |
PM |  | |
Quote | | |
Reply | | |
Full Topic | |
| Joined: | Wed Mar 19th, 2008 |
| Location: | Richmond, Canada |
| Posts: | 1209 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
Welcome to another classic watch. I haven't been at 3-T much but I will share with you one of the rarest finds that came my way.
The Watch:
1955 Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 478/c.
The Case:
Beautiful solid stainless steel 2-piece snap-back case with classic minimalist design and thin inset original crown.
The watch measures 33.5mm in diameter with 16mm with Hirsch Black Genuine Crocodile strap. Signed inside the back Acier Inoxydable LeCoultre Co. Swiss.
The Dial:
Original factory printed silver dial with steel baton applied markers and outer printed minute track, signed Jaeger-LeCoultre, Swiss Made. Beautiful condition with just a slight even patina to give it that great vintage feel.
The Movement:
Large 12 1/2 ligne calibre 478/c manual wind movement in wonderful condition throughout with indirect center seconds and shock protection on the balance pivots signed Jaeger-LeCoultre Fab. Suisse, Swiss.
Summary:
The 1950s are regarded by many connoisseurs are the decade in which mechanical watch making in Switzerland was at its height and certainly, the quality of both construction and finish in the calibre 478 movement has not been equalled in recent years. To the man in the street with a limited knowledge of classic wristwatches, this is an attractive and elegant old Jaeger LeCoultre, but to someone who is really familiar with the subject, it is also far more than that on many levels.
In simple terms of plain specification, the 478/c is a 16 jewelled manual movement with an exceedingly advanced system of regulation, this allowing the running speed of the balance wheel, and therefore the accuracy of the watch, to be adjusted far more precisely than it could be on almost ever other movement from the same era. But to not look any further than a skeletonised view of this calibre is to completely miss the point as to why it is such a gem.
It is worth noting that this same movement was purchased from Jaeger LeCoultre by Vacheron Constantin, which assigned it the calibre number P1008/BS and fitted it to its “Chronometre Royale” models of the 1950s.
Thank you and enjoy.
Kind regards,
Simon
Attachment: IMGP0078.JPG (Downloaded 110 times)
Last edited on Fri Nov 9th, 2012 03:36 am by Simon_Leung