Jaeger-LeCoultre

Introducing one of the strangest watches ever produced by Jaeger Lecoultre: The Master Quartz LED, also referred to by JLC as the Master Quartz Digital. It features a quartz movement that displays the time using a light emitting diode (LED) display. With ...  

Superb post and very interesting reading. What a great journey in the 70ies! With this watch, we're somewhere between " Star Wars " and " Saturday Night Fever ", indeed. Shaped like an UFO, the Red Leds added a lot to the interest of this kind of watches.... 

I also wanted a LED watch when I was a child. I remember being quite impressed by them at the time. One of the fun parts of being an adult is that sometimes we get to make our childhood wishes a reality. Thanks for the comments.

I was crazy about them - it was magic to see the person pressing the button and the time showing. Nevertheless, my first quartz watch was an LCD. Just recently I've found my first watch ever is hand wound (1976 ~ 1977) Very nice post and funky JLC, BTW! M... 

who did not wear one my friend? seikos, casios, timex... etc..... all digital with red leds..... cheers

I have a certain affection for LED watches, reminds me of my youth! Would love to own one.

They can often be found for very reasonable prices and are a lot of fun for the money.

Great article! I've been lucky enough to have owned 2 of the JLC Master Quartz 555 LED watches in NOS condition with all original boxes and papers. One of the watches (the one shown in pictures below) was sold last year to JLC for their Heritage Gallery f...  

You have mail, by the way... Best, Nicolas

BTW, I responded to your e-mail. Sorry for the delay. Greg

Since the examples I have found didn't come with any box or papers I didn't know that it was a reference 555. Good to know. I think it is great that when you visit the museum you can look at it and say that specific example was once yours.Very cool! Pleas... 

Mark, Regarding your PM about the back & serial number, I thought it might be good to include another picture for you in the public forum. The correct back indeed does have a serial beginning with "A" and 5 digits, as you suspected: I haven't had the oppo...  

I was pretty sure that the case back was correct, but comparing it with a known good example confirms it. Congratulations on having eight pieces in the Heritage Gallery. I thought having one in it was cool. Eight is amazing!

Mark, Here are the scans of the manual for the watch that you requested in PM. I though others in the group might also be interested....  

For sharing your information with us! Best Blomman

Unfortunately these reveal that my watch has an incorrect movement (based on the setting instructions)! Luckily one of the Wittnauers I have has the same movement referred to in the instructions so it looks like a swap is in order.

I think many of us here dream of taking one or two watches with us home from the Heritage Gallery… But you actually put one there – super cool! Congrats!!! Best Blomman

This whole thread is really interesting and fun to read. The 555 is actually kind of cool looking, IMHO. Well, it kind of answers the question, "What was JLC doing in teh 70s?" Thanks for posting this. Perfect reading for a gloomy Monday morning. respo

From the 30's through the 70's, JLC sent watches to the US in parts, to be cased-up by Wittnauer, then badged "LeCoultre," since the "Jaeger" name was being used by another party and couldn't be used by JLC. That changed, of course in the late 70's early ... 

The information on Wittnauer makes sense. Thanks. The JLC and GP connection is interesting. While JLC was a part of the Beta 21 project I believe that they only used it in one watch, the 1970 Master Quartz. By 1972 they were sourcing their quartz movement...  

I stumbled upon a mechanical Master Quartz in NOS condition a few years ago (pictures below), so I couldn't resist the purchase. I'm not generally a quartz fan, but the watch is quite attractive and intriguing. I had never realized that G-P supplied the m...  

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... WOW it is really eye-opener... if wearing this retro watch and walking along streets, i am sure it will be attracting a lot of attentions, especially from those young people. never seen this mode before, such look with gold color case and bracelet is ... 

It's funny you mentioned how young people would respond. A younger friend of mine who has no real interest in watches always asks me where "his" watch is. He really wants me to sell this one to him. I've told him that the next time I see one available I'l... 

For an electric post! I have seen this watch a couple of times but never paid any real attention because of the battery… Very interesting, thank you! Best Blomman

The Master Quartz LED is one of the exceptions. I really wanted (and didn't get) a LED watch as a child. Since I collect JLC, once I was aware of its' existence it became a must have.

A nice little piece of nostalgia! Funny and scary at the same time. JLC made in Mexico... God damn!!! I will certainly continue to enjoy winding my watch every morning. Best, Rob.

That's a cool JLC. Not my kind, but cool. Thanks for sharing. Vte

As Nicolas said, it brings back memories..... Cheers