Pablo Picasso is known to have worn a JLC TDMP with tear-drop lugs. The watch appears in multiple photos of Picasso, most notably in a famous portrait by Yousuf Karsh, which was discussed in this forum several years ago.



A similar watch graces the cover of Zaf Basha’s essential Jaeger-LeCoulture: A Guide for the Collector. This is the shot that got me interested in the model.



The TDMP was produced in 33mm and 36mm versions, and cased in steel, pink gold, steel with pink gold bezel, or yellow gold. My “Picasso” is a 36mm yellow-gold example.



It was presented by LeCoultre & Cie to an Edouard Weibel in 1954, for 32 years of service. My Google search for this gentleman has come up empty, but he must have been a valued employee.



Round TDMP watches contained either caliber 484 or caliber 494. Mine has cal 494/1 A Br
(Br designating Breguet hairspring). Basha tells us that cal 494 came in gilt and rhodinated versions, and had a production run of 4700 pieces from 1946 to 1949. The serial number on my watch dates the rhodium-plated movement to 1949.





I’ve read that JLC reissued the TDMP in the 1980s, assembling watches from NOS parts… something to be aware of if on the hunt for this model.

Here it is in its natural habitat:

 

Stunning dial

 

That’s a special one, thanks for sharing it here!

 

Wonderful piece!

have you thought about a pigskin strap in the same color? The texture on pigskin seems to really pop dressier watches from their era esp if they are in gold.

don’t get me wrong I love ostrich and have it on a few vintage sports watches.

 

Stunning watch

 

Great idea. You’re right, ostrich is a little too sporty for this piece.

 

Damn that watch is beautiful

 

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

 

Amazing, thanks for sharing!!!

 

Fantastic watch! When I met it’s successor at an AD, it haunted me until I made it mine.

 

Is that the correct crown? It looks much fatter than most I have seen on this model.

 

Good eye, probably a replacement.

 

Just seen this, thanks for sharing

 

Here's my steel TDMP: