Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 10, 2015

LOT 361

JAEGER-LECOULTRE GEOPHYSIC Jaeger-LeCoultre, "Geophysic, Chronometre", movement 1276496, case No. 748037, Ref. E168. Made in 1958. Very fine and extremely rare, water-resistant, anti-magnetic to 600 Gauss, indirect center seconds, stainless steel Chronometer wristwatch. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 8,000 - 12,000

HKD 65,000 - 97,000 / USD 8,300 - 12,500

Sold: CHF 16,250

Two-body, polished and brushed, lapidated lugs, inclined bezel, screw-down case back. Off-white with applied steel baton indexes and Arabic 12 and 6, outer minute/second divisions. Luminous steel dauphine hands. Cal. P478/BWSbr, enclosed in a Faraday cage, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to five positions and to temperatures, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, parachute shock absorber, hack mechanism, swan-neck regulator.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

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 U.S. 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".