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A Jaeger-LeCoultre Barn Find - Tank Asymmetric Signed "Jaeger"
The term "Barn Find" is a term usually applied to classic cars. A rare classic car was stored and forgotten in a barn. And decades later, it was found, well preserved, and later a Concours d'Elegance winner.
Lot 119 originally had an estimate of 800 Euros. It hammered for 55.000 Euros and with buyer's premium, the amount came to 68,200 Euros.
Well, this barn find did not go unnoticed. This Jaeger Asymmetric (which might possibly pre-date the Cartier Tank Asymmetric) was recently listed and sold at auction for a staggering sum of 68.200 Euros (about $79,700 US dollars at current exchange rates). It was a complete surprise - the original auction estimate was 800 Euros.
Bidding was fierce, there were several bidders, and after an unexpected prolonged bidding period, the piece was won by an American. If the successful bidder is on WatchProSite, please feel free to contact me so I can congratulate you personally.
The piece is the only known example of a "Jaeger" branded watch of this type. While the design looks similar to the Cartier Tank Asymmetric, this Jaeger likely pre-dates the Cartier, which could mean that Jaeger is the true original artist of a piece we normally attribute to Cartier.
Please tell us about your barn finds! And what are your thoughts about Jaeger-LeCoultre reintroducing a modern version of the Asymmetric watch? We shouldn't let Cartier have all the fun right?
I find the watch to be a very handsome timepiece - perhaps Jaeger-LeCoultre should bring it back?
Lot 119 originally had an estimate of 800 Euros. It hammered for 55.000 Euros and with buyer's premium, the amount came to 68,200 Euros.
Photos from IvoireTroyes Auctions.
Not sure they would…
As charming as the piece is, the asymmetric world doesn’t sell in significant numbers and as both Cartier and JLC have the same parent, I think a return is unlikely 🤷🏻♂️
That did cross my mind.
Knowing that they're both Richemont owned, I did realize this. However, there are some advantages there too, no copyright infringement would be declared on either side. But yes, a return is unlikely!
A Wonderful Piece, lovely Patina, Great Idea, hope JLC take Note, thank you for sharing this 👍🙏
The Only Barn find I can think of is this NOS Zodiac from the 70s with a high beat movement which I found very unusual and reminded me of the AP Millenary.
Or a Friend's Paul Newman
Or a Friend's Paul Newman
Those are some gorgeous vintage JLCs!
Look at the hands of the calendar piece and the dive watch minute hand is so interesting. And why are the MEMOVOX sub-dials mirrored? Memovox is backwards in those.
Not the only known, but definitely only a handful resurfaced
Difficult to certify wether it predates the Cartier, because it is exactly the same watch as the Cartier (As with a lot of pre-1950s Cartier which were 100% JLC made and often available under both brands).
The fact is that indeed very few of these 'parallelogram' have been made by Jaeger / LeCoultre in the mid to late 1930s, and consequently even fewer re-surface over time.
But moreover the Jaeger (or LeCoultre) branded ones are even rarer since a lot of 'smart' watch dealers have converted them to Cartier dial (the watch being essentially the same).
Eg the one sold at MonacoLegend in December, which was visibly forged despite its supposedly famous provenance (hence it did not sell for more than the genuine Jaeger from last week)
Even rarer seems to be the version JLC made for Asprey, with its triple-lug design.
Blomman wrote a comprehensive article about these parallelogram / asymetric / lozange Jaeger / LeCoultre / Cartier / Asprey watches, you can google it it's very interesting.
Wondering how much this barn find would have fetched had it been sold in a more prominent auction.
Truly a gem
The fact is that indeed very few of these 'parallelogram' have been made by Jaeger / LeCoultre in the mid to late 1930s, and consequently even fewer re-surface over time.
But moreover the Jaeger (or LeCoultre) branded ones are even rarer since a lot of 'smart' watch dealers have converted them to Cartier dial (the watch being essentially the same).
Eg the one sold at MonacoLegend in December, which was visibly forged despite its supposedly famous provenance (hence it did not sell for more than the genuine Jaeger from last week)
Even rarer seems to be the version JLC made for Asprey, with its triple-lug design.
Blomman wrote a comprehensive article about these parallelogram / asymetric / lozange Jaeger / LeCoultre / Cartier / Asprey watches, you can google it it's very interesting.
Wondering how much this barn find would have fetched had it been sold in a more prominent auction.
Truly a gem
Wow. Interesting information you have there. Thank you for sharing!
I didn't know about the triple lug Asprey. At least it doesn't come to my mind. I do like the triple lug Cartier that they have today!
What a great informative post! Thank you so much for sharing!