
Somewhere In Time in 2012 I was bidding in a Auction in St Paul Minnesota and There was the Lecoultre chronograph with a very yellow crystal , YOU NEVERRRR find this old shark chronographs with perfect subdials and IM A PICKY collector , So I loved them but I could never find one in MINT CONDITION !
Somewhere In Time in 2012 I was bidding in a Auction in St
Paul Minnesota and There was the Lecoultre chronograph with a very yellow
crystal , YOU NEVERRRR find this old shark chronographs with perfect subdials
and IM A PICKY collector , So I loved them but I could never find one in MINT
CONDITION ! this one looked mint , the seller stated that the sub dials were
clean . I saw the rotating bezel and I assumed it was a bezel for another model . I
won the auction and the watch was sent to Miami, I was living in Sao Paulo
Brasil at the time so I never go the watch delivered there, the watch was kept in my safe here in Miami
for not kidding 43 months and 11 days
, when I finally came back home , My
wife said , " hey this old watch is here why don't yoy take it to the
watchmaker " I really didn't even
checked it .. I went there and asked him is this crystal destroyed he said " No a polish will do , is not the
crystal is dirt " Well to my
surprise NOT ONLY A PERFECT DIAL Came out but we cleaned everything and it was
just MINT !!! I said to my watchmaker , " I need to get a bezel " ,
he replied " For what ? " THE
he showed me " Hey The bezel is for
this model and this model only ! it aligns with a small lip at 9 o'clock to be
removed "
HERE you cant remove it .
Here YOU CAN REMOVE IT
And I was LIKE WHAT :0 !!! No way this cant be !!! So I knew some where in Paraguay my retired assistant has some old parts that I gave him to save , So I asked him please send them asap !! and yes there in the middle of a bunch of things !!! 2 Near Mint Shark Bezel I had bought many years ago !!!
Great !!! THEY ARE FINALLY TOGETHER !! and then I just
couldn't wait !! I had to do it myself !! So I check every angle and I was
ready to open it !!!
SLOWLY and very
carefully !
I was happy
!!! But then I tried the first bezel
The case was larger !! They Didn't fit !!! WHAT ??? another
prototype in my life
... The last prototype was a JLC Polaris That I bought
here in south Florida 1960's Polaris and The JLC Company purchased from me to
remake the re-edition of the polatis in Platinum
... I couldn't believe a
thunder strikes twice in the same place ...
Remember , this watch I bought a regular old chronograph in 2012 , I paid the equivalent of 1800 usd .
NOW The case back reference is the same as regular Shark E 2643 ?
It came with a mint , Champion Band Made Proudly IN THE USA
The watch is amazing , Right now I'm contacting JLC to TRY
to get and archive for this watch a maybe an explanation why the larger case
and what I CALL THE ALBINO BEZEL
AND MY WIFE NAMED "THE GREAT WHITE SHARK"
Hope You Enjoyed The Story
Here are some Nice PICs of What I believe is a SPEEDBEAT
First Generation
The Jaeger LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Shark, reference E2643, is a notable vintage chronograph from the brand's Deep Sea line. This reference is distinguished by its specific dial configuration and the use of an external movement, a practice sometimes seen in watches of this era. It represents a period when Jaeger LeCoultre explored various designs and technical solutions for its sportier offerings, appealing to collectors interested in the brand's historical chronographs.
This reference features a stainless steel case, housing a manual-wind Valjoux 72 movement. The case dimensions are characteristic of chronographs from its production period. The crystal is likely acrylic, consistent with watches of this vintage, providing a warm aesthetic over the dial. The robust construction was designed for practical use, reflecting the functional intent of the Deep Sea series.
For collectors, the E2643 is significant due to its Valjoux 72 caliber, a highly regarded movement among enthusiasts of vintage chronographs. The "Shark" designation, while not officially documented by the brand for all markets, is a collector-applied nickname that highlights its distinctive appearance and perceived robustness. This reference appeals to those who appreciate the historical collaboration and the specific aesthetic of early sport chronographs.
Would be interesting to know the movement number of the E 875. I have one with lower case number than yours. Best Blomman
Proto? Best, Nicolas
Havent open it in a long time , I will ask my Watchmaker . do you have the same back ?
i will look for them , I think i might .
Interesting is that among my 4 E875 there is 3 different case back styles. Best Blomman
This thread is active on the Jaeger-LeCoultre forum with 7 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →