Jaeger-LeCoultre

... i have recently acquired a JLC vintage watch, beautiful patina dial plus heat blue hands, everything look pretty good to me. i got this watch to home purely by accident, not my intention at all. as my intention was to search one vintage pocket watch b...  

1/ Why it is written 12 A instead of 476. 2/ Why your movement is signed LeCoultre while your dial is signed Jaeger-Lecoultre. I have no answer to these 2 mysteries. Best, Nicolas

Or perhaps we can ask MJLC? Thanks Nico, anyway. Stefan

thanks, Nico. stefan

Just a guess.. the answer could be that the watch was bought in Europe, then serviced in the US. I've seen some reference that service centers would swap movements so the service could be done while you wait. -Don

... about historical or technical aspects of your watch, but I can say it is really beautiful, so elegant and clean design of its dial. A real beauty! Watch collecting brings many satisfactions and enjoyment, as well as many misteries and incognitas! I wi... 

... we are here to learn from each other, that's why we find here to be a great place to stay. by the way, thanks a lot for your sharing and kind words too. stefan

One automatic, one manual - both beautiful! Congrats, my friend! Best Blomman

... really enjoy these two watches that have similar dial layout! stefan

If not then jlc must have archivesof all the movements they have concepted so you should get an answer easily

Could you say me if you have found an answer at your question ?

caliber 12A which is the predecessor to the 476. stefan

Thanks a lot for your answer. Then, it is the first Lecoultre's automatic calibre ?

... according to the movement number stated on my 12A watch, the production year was around in 1946 which has the same year produced as the 476, it is hard to say which was come first. stefan

If you do some searches you can find a number of examples of 12A, including articles that state that 12A is the same as 476, and that 12A was used on movements in the USA.

Think I might be able to help here. Some time ago I inherited my grandfather's JLC watch. He must have got it almost as soon as he came back from the Second World War. So far as I know it was the only watch he ever owned and it was working almost up until... 

Thanks much for assuring. I haven\'t heard there are two movement numbers engraved on inside one JLC movement, both are referred to the same movement but one by European while another one by US. I should try to ask my local watch maker help to open and ta... 

Mine looks identical inside to yours (photograph above - incidentally it looks like one of your bumper springs is cactus), though it has the more austere face as in the first photo - black & white advertisement at the top. It has the same yellow printed 1... 

Stefan - One last request - I'm trying to work out whether I need a new mainspring or not. While they are "unbreakable" as the replacement part package loves to advertise (must have been a novelty at the time), I suspect they can lose their "spring"/torqu... 

Hi Stefan - any luck yet? cheers, Wombat

Hi Stefan - looking to reassemble movement in it's case. If you could let me know how long it runs for that would be great. Thanks

Bumper movement has gone extinct since the 60s, its really hard to find one nowadays, good catch my friend