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jimmyd13
·So my search for the rare and beautiful continues ...
Some weeks ago, I found one such watch that I had to own. An 18ct half hunter with engine turned decoration and enamel to the front cover. Everything about this watch screams quality. The case is sublime; the movement exceptionally well made; but most intriguing was the inscription on the inside with a date of 1898. Very simply, I wanted it and was prepared to pay more than anyone else at the auction. You might see why:
At the risk of sounding mercenary, I estimated the scrap value of the case at £600 sterling. I was perfectly happy to pay more than I did to aquire it.
Anyway, I was due to visit one of my watch elves to pick up a little haul and drop this and a dozen others off. He took one look at the movement and told me it was a LeCoultre. Or was it Longines? One with an L.
I havent seen the watch since but he messaged me today to say that the parts for my bullhead had arrived and all the watches were ready for collection. And, by the way, this is "that gold one before I started the service":
LeCoultre is clearly visible at the bottom of the image.
So, we have a 25th birthday present from 1898. An extremely wearable 38mm. And possibly a very early LeCoultre wrist watch, some 15 years before this style became popular.
I'm reaching out to those with far more knowledge of LeCoultre and their history ... I dont think this is a converted pocket watch but can anyone confirm the date of that movement? Have any of you seen a watch, like this, this early from LeCoultre? Was it a LeCoultre movement cased by another watch maker? So many questions and, short of begging for any help from JLC, I have exhausted my few resources.
Some weeks ago, I found one such watch that I had to own. An 18ct half hunter with engine turned decoration and enamel to the front cover. Everything about this watch screams quality. The case is sublime; the movement exceptionally well made; but most intriguing was the inscription on the inside with a date of 1898. Very simply, I wanted it and was prepared to pay more than anyone else at the auction. You might see why:
At the risk of sounding mercenary, I estimated the scrap value of the case at £600 sterling. I was perfectly happy to pay more than I did to aquire it.
Anyway, I was due to visit one of my watch elves to pick up a little haul and drop this and a dozen others off. He took one look at the movement and told me it was a LeCoultre. Or was it Longines? One with an L.
I havent seen the watch since but he messaged me today to say that the parts for my bullhead had arrived and all the watches were ready for collection. And, by the way, this is "that gold one before I started the service":
LeCoultre is clearly visible at the bottom of the image.
So, we have a 25th birthday present from 1898. An extremely wearable 38mm. And possibly a very early LeCoultre wrist watch, some 15 years before this style became popular.
I'm reaching out to those with far more knowledge of LeCoultre and their history ... I dont think this is a converted pocket watch but can anyone confirm the date of that movement? Have any of you seen a watch, like this, this early from LeCoultre? Was it a LeCoultre movement cased by another watch maker? So many questions and, short of begging for any help from JLC, I have exhausted my few resources.
