Jaeger-LeCoultre

Indeed, it can take one or two decades to learn everything about a watch, a reference. 

The Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic is one of them, certainly. 

The most famous reference is the E 168, and it is a perfect example of what I formerly said. 

You thought that there was only one dial? There were two, the " normal ", and the Crosshairs. 

You believed that only one type of hands was good, the spade shaped ones? No, the Dauphine hands were correct, too. 

You imagined that all the Geophysic were chronometers AND anti-magnetic watches? You are wrong. Indeed, if all the Geophysic are chronometers, all of them are not anti-magnetic. 

The evidence? The Geophysic DeLuxe, Reference 2985. That is something I knew, thanks to the leaflet which was dedicated to the Geophysic, in the late Fifties:

This document says that the " De Luxe " doesn't have a magnetic shield, but it is protected against current magnetic fields.

The Geophysic DeLuxe is a very different Geophysic. It only shares the movement, the Cal P 478/BWSB with the Reference E 168. 

The rest is specific to the 2985, as we'll see right now. 

- The case is a tad smaller,with a diameter of 34 mm. In reality, it is not noticeable at all, though. 

The lugs are not the same, nor the shape of the case, and the DeLuxe doesn't have a screw-in case back, but a snapback one.

The crown is integrated to the case, and is much thinner, too;

- The dial and hands are proper to this reference. 

I found the technical draw of this dial, dating from December 1957, which you can see here:

As we often say, the dial gives the watch its own personality. It is the case, here, with the well named " DeLuxe ". 

More luxurious, less tool, for sure. You will also notice that the DeLuxe has no luminous material on the hands and indices, at the difference of the E 168, and that they are differently shaped.

It took me 20 years to see a Geophysic DeLuxe in real life. There is a reason for that. According to the Manufacture, there were only 23 pieces made in pink gold, and 80 in yellow gold. No DeLuxe were made in steel. The production years were the same as the E 168 ( 1958-1961 ).

Now that I could see the yellow gold version, I still have to fall on the pink gold. And once I will manage to do that, I will still have to find a E 169, which is Geophysic with an integrated bracelet and a handset and dial of the DeLuxe, as illustrated below.

 

Will it take me 20 more years for that? 

I told you, collecting watches and information can take a whole life. Modesty and humility are the key words, here, which is very fine for me. 

Best.

Nicolas

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