Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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Ref E 2638: Another unexpected link between Present and Past.

There are moments full of surprises, in Life.

While I was looking forward to add another nice Vintage JLC Chrono, a friend of mine called me to tell me that he found something which may be of interest for my collection.

A few days after a short visit to my friend, I realized that it was not only a surprise, but 2 surprises, which were waiting for me.

1/ The first surprise is the watch in itself, which comes with its box and its paper, which is pretty rare for a watch sold in ...April 1965.

- The box:



Even the AD tag is still stuck inside the box!



- The Paper ( Warranty ) providing some cleaning and servicing advices:





- The total packaging:



Like if you were buying a watch at your favourite AD 50 years ago!

Here, an extract fo the 1961 Catalogue, showing this reference among others:



- Let's have a look at this Chronograph, now:

As you can see, this is a Jaeger Chronograph, with a dial in a stunning condition, and an unpolished case.

The silver dial shows 3 counters which are eating the 3 / 6 and 9 applied numbers.

The 3 counters receive a circular finish, while the main dial is plain and smooth.

At the base of the thin and long triangular applied indexes, you have a tritium pearl, which aged nicely.



A nice detail, which adds a small touch of sportivity and contrast on this elegant, classic, and well balanced chronograph: the discrete blue tachymeter, on the outer part of the dial.

The case is theorically small, as it measures 35 mm, but, in real, it looks surprisingly bigger, due to the important aperture of the dial, and to the lack of a bezel.

A feeling immediately confirmed once the watch on the wrist:



The case back is screwed, bearing the serial number of the watch:



It hides ( as, at this era, it wasn't important to show the movement through a sapphire case back! ) which seems to be a Valjoux movement, even if I don't recognize the famous 72, often used on Jaeger, Lecoultre or Jaeger-LeCoultre Chronographs, in alternance with the Universal Genève movement ( U.G Cal 285 ).





So, if someone can tell me what is the exact reference of this movement, it would be of great help for me.

You will note that the inside part of the case back, as the movement, are both signed by Jaeger.

I couldn't resist to get this nice Chrono, even if it wasn't programmed in my wish list, but this is certainly the charm of the surprises...



2/ The 2d surprise: The close link between the Past and the Present.

You certainly have in mind the new Master Chrono released by JLC this year.

If not, here is a picture ( Stainless Steel Boutique Edition )



And now, the regular Master Chrono, in SS:





Now, let's compare it with the E 2638...

Remove the date, replace the Tachymeter on the Vintage for the Pulsometer on the New one, no " eaten " applied numbers on the Modern,a bigger and thicker case than on the original one, very nice rectangular pushers on the Modern instead of the round on the Vintage, and now, what do you say?



Isn't there a certain " air de famille "?

Same shaped indexes, same Dauphine hands, 3 counters, same sport and elegant " spirit ".

If we want to go further in the similarities between the Vintage and the Modern, have a look at the extract of the 1961 catalogue I posted above, and see the Ref E 2634... We are indeed even closer than with the Ref E 2638.

As often, with JLC, History is an eternal resumption.

Best to All.

Nicolas.