Jaeger-LeCoultre

watch I have ever seen.  Talk to me.

If yes, have a look 4 threads down.  That is all the info I have on it which comes from 'The Book'.
It is indeed a beauty.
Andy.

The watch pictured in the masthead has been made in 2 examples, originally for Cartier, hence the movement signed 'european watch co' as were all the Jaeger movements found in the Cartier watches (actually Jaeger produced all the Cartier watches at that time, starting from 1907)

One of the 2 watches was made for Louis Cartier, and the other one (the one pictured above) was made for Henri Rodanet, who was the chairman of Jaeger at that time.
Henri Rodanet was a fully trained watchmaker prior to becoming Jaeger chairman, and he is the one who designed the famous caliber 101  (the worlds smaller mechanical watch movement).
Henri Rodanet worked for Jaeger initially as a watchmaker, then became technical director, and then CEO.
Mr Rodanet has worked during all his career for Jaeger, i.e. for 50 years !  (1902-1952)

Clavi: The watch pictured in the masthead has been made in 2 examples, originally for Cartier, hence the movement signed 'european watch co' as were all the Jaeger movements found in the Cartier watches (actually Jaeger produced all the Cartier watches at that time, starting from 1907)

Re. Cartier in the 1900s

1. Was this a LeCoultre movement or a Jaeger? Or was Jaeger a middleman?

2. Do you happen to know what kind of movement was in the original Cartier Santos of 1904. Was it a LeCoultre?

Hi,

At page 46 in "Le Temps de Cartier" book, it is written that The Santos was bearing the Jaeger name right from the beginning, mentioning the first watch sold in 1911. Nothing is said about the movement of the original prototype (dated 1904).

If Clavi has more info...

Cheers

Dje
This message has been edited by Dje on 2007-02-25 05:26:57

Thanks, dje.

In the following Cartier history it is suggested that Jaeger gets credit for the original 1904 Santos.

Cartier Monde Company History: www.fundinguniverse.com l

I do not know how accurate that is. Can we trust a site that list the Cartier London office address as "Nightsbridge"?

On the other hand they do give a seemingly authoritative source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 29. St. James Press, 1999.

... about vintage watches on this site! Very interesting facts about that Grande Complication and the signing of the movement indeed.
The watch is not only featured in the Book of Timepieces as one of 7 wonders but also in Mr. Cologni's Better Book of Timepieces. Sadly none of the books contains the information you provided. That may be neglectable for the Book of Timepieces but not for Cologni's massively overestimated book. Cologni allegedly undertook a lot of research for the book - I wonder where all these efforts went: they do not materialise in the book. Not for the featured Grande Complication and not for most of the other vintage (or better: not currently produced) pieces. Concerning the signing of movements: Cologni shows watches signed LeCoultre on the dial next to the seemingly fitting movements signed Jaeger-LeCoultre and vice versa. One could get the impression that he is not even aware of what's behind the different signing.
Christian

Hi Clavi,

Thank you for the information.

There is more technical info on Antiquorum's website and a nice view of movement on the back too.

They sold the watch to JLC in April 2004.

Search for Jaeger, minimum price 150 000, and then go down to lot 74. You'll get much info, both technical and historical.

Dje

You are a veritable font of knowledge concerning vintage MJLC and I appreciate our willingness to share.