Ca c'est du précis !!!!! Enjoy !!

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écrit par Patrice le 29 janvier 2002 12:50:05:

Vu sur Ebay UK.
This early 1930's Jaeger Le Coultre ladies’ watch must be one of the finest cocktail watches that has ever been offered on Ebay. I purchased the piece 8 years ago for my wife as a wedding present and have had it regularly serviced ever since. I have just acquired a ladies’ Patek Nautilus for my other half and we are both agreed that the Jaeger should now be liquidated. The piece has various features that make it highly sought after. The dial is in the three tone “coppery”, salmon pink colour. This is the most unusual of all the Jaeger dial colours, apparently caused initially by the high cost of the “ingredients” in the pink anodising material when compared to those used in the production of the other dial colours. The dealer from whom I purchased the watch offered me an identical model, at the same time, with a regular silvered dial, at a considerably lower price than this one. Though attractive, the silvered example had far less of that delightful “jazz age” look about it, and, after careful consideration, I decided that it was worth the difference in purchase price to buy the more desirable watch. It is worth mentioning that the dial, like the rest of the watch, is in near perfect condition. It is in the “Duo Plan” style with diagonal, art deco style markers, again, a rare and desirable dial design in Jaeger Le Coultre watches. The hands are entirely original and again, need no restoration. The crystal has a slight scratch, this would easily polish out. The movement is housed in its original stainless steel case, which is obviously a Jaeger Le Coultre item (the reference number marked inside case front is 862). Notice the wonderfully evocative, “fan shaped” lugs. I have always been of the opinion that Jaeger Le Coultre cases were (and still are!) of significantly higher-grade manufacture than their Rolex counterparts and this example would certainly attest to this opinion. The case is in near mint condition and needs no polishing. The case back exterior bears the serial number 351862.Many cheaper watches from this era used base metal cases. I have noticed this even with some examples by Omega and Rolex. In order to work with stainless steel much specialist machinery was required and a considerable amount of machine tool investment was needed on the part of watch manufacturers. Obviously these costs had to passed on to the eventual end user and stainless watches were VERY expensive. Both Rolex and Jaeger actually charged more for their stainless models than for their silver cased pieces and, consequently, the steel models are now both rare and very desirable. Probably the most obvious example of this phenomenon is the relative price of steel vs. silver Rolex Princes, but we won’t digress onto that subject at this juncture. The movement is a stunning example, and in superb condition. Finish quality, as always on items produced by Jaeger, is remarkable in the extreme. Obviously, the hand wound, all mechanical movement is fully jewelled and adjusted. The movement keeps excellent time and has just been cleaned and lubricated. I am fairly confident that this grade of Jaeger movement was chronometer rated, but I don’t actually have the paperwork to categorically state this, so potential bidders might be advised to make contact with the current Jaeger Le Coultre company in order that they can ascertain the details regarding this matter by consulting their archives. The bracelet is totally original to the watch and is signed “Montal”. Montal, along with “Gay Freres” (manufacturer of the beautiful Rolex bubbleback “rice grain” bracelets) were one of the most respected Swiss bracelet manufacturers of the 1930’s and their wares were purchased by many of the companies firmly ensconced in the upper echelons of the mechanical watch industry at this time. There is no measurable wear in the bracelet and once again, condition is near perfect. The watch would take pride of place in any serious Jaeger collector’s arsenal along with the usual Memovoxes, Reversos and the rest. I would certainly not be selling it, other than for the arrival of a new Patek into my household. As regards price, I am a little unsure as to what the watch is worth. I paid just over £500 for it 8 years ago, and was recently offered £650 when I happened to be passing Somlo Antiques in Piccadilly, London, and dropped in to see what they would consider the watch to be worth. Having researched a little bit, both on the internet and in various published price guides, I would suggest that its real market value is around the £700 level. In order to “start the ball rolling”, I have set the initial bid at a nominal level, obviously far less than the value of the watch. It is of course to be expected that this piece will climb to quite a high level, but, as with all my auctions, there is no reserve, so somebody might be lucky and get a bargain! Willing to post worldwide free of charge and I can accept US dollars cash. Goodluck and thanks for looking!


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