Jaeger-LeCoultre

We are always complaining about modern boxes, which take too much place in regard of our small environment.

In a certain way, we are right.

Except in some very few cases, when boxes are really magnificient, and are worth invading our house, there is a better solution, in my opinion, mainly if we have a look on what were boxes in the past.

Hence this post...

1/ If you want to travel with a watch box on you, so the etui is THE solution for you.



For the elegant man who wants to change his watch for a special event, dinner, as you change your clothes.

This etui was made for several watches from the 60ies, like the Futurematic, or the Memovox.

2/ The small carton box, conceived for small watches, is less elegant than the etui, but it offers the same advantages:



It was used for Chronos like the Jaeger.



Is it cumbersome?

You just have the place for your watch, no less, no more...

3/ The Master Mariner Box:

3 times thicker, but as large as the Etui, it is a beautiful blue box with some golden decorations.





Designed for Master Mariner watches only, it demonstrates that it doesn't have to be big to be appealing.

4/ An array of Memovox boxes:

For manual or automatic Memovoxes, from the 60ies to the 70ies, from the etui to the traditional boxes, the diversity is not only linked to watches, but also on the packaging.

The big " cubic " brown box was dedicated for a Memo HPG, from the 70ies, while the flatter brown box was used for a Memo from the 60ies, and the flatter blue one, for a Memo from the 70ies.

The Etuis were destined to use Memos from the 60ies, too.



5/ " Jubilé " boxes..

1958 was an important year, for JLC, as it was the 125th birthday of the " Grande Maison ".

To celebrate this event, JLC released some great watches, such as the Géophysic or the 2233, and packaged them with an interesting box, shaped as a book you can store on your shelves.

You certainly know the one on your left, which housed the Geophysic.



As for the one on the right, even if it is written " For 125 years ", it is not strictly speaking a Jubilé box, according to my understanding, but rather a packaging reminding that the Manufacture celebrated its 125th Anniversary.

So, this last box was not dedicated to one of the " Jubilé Collection " watch.

6/ The Chronometers boxes:

As we speak about the Geophysic box, we don't have to forget that JLC made a special box for their other Chronometer, the Geomatic:



Here, on the picture, on the right of the Geophysic box, of course, and on its top, the symbol designed like a planisphere, the same thah the one you find engraved on the Geomatic case back:



6/ The Vintage JLC Diving watches:

That series of boxes is interesting.

From the left to the right, you have the box of the Deep Sea Alarm US ( I don't know what is the box for the Deep Sea Alarm Europe, by the way ), the LeCoultre Polaris, the LeCoultre Chronograph so called Shark, and on the top, the box of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris/ Polaris II or / and Chronograph.



Of course the outside writings " Jaeger-LeCoultre match with the inside writings.

They are not specially fine, except the box of the Deep Sea Alarm US, but a least they don't take too much place.

The Deep Sea Alarm US in its box, with its papers:



The place...

Take the boxes of the Duometre / MMR and add the box of the Navy SEALs Alarm, for example.

Now, compare these two boxes with the 14 Vintage boxes, and you will immediately see that these old packaging take much less place than the 2 modern!



Despite this interesting journey in the Past through these Vintage boxes, I think there is a lot to think for the " Grande Maison " about the conception of their boxes...

Do you think we are please or annoyed by the size of the modern packaging?

This is a tough question:

If you're an occasional buyer, you may be please to see that you'll receive a huge box for your watch, and you will store it easily.

But if you have several watches, are these big boxes a good thing?

Would your opinion depend on the watch, or on the quality of the box?

Food for thought.

To end with this topic, let me show you a real rare bird, a box conceived in the 50ies, which was used for watches and jewelry.

I don't really know which was the watch dedicated to this box, but I assume that any of your " most exceptional watch in the world " would deserve such a marvel.

If you don't have any jewelry, you could use the unused place to store your beloved straps, papers and Vintage Buckles!

Credit pictures: Greg B.





Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-02 00:01:39 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-06 01:53:51

Well - Nicolas: The first of the selected May - menu items - What a nice Hors d'oevre !!

That was a very nice, no in fact - a pleasant post - looking back in so much style into a time,
where the proper "wrapping", the noble containment was matching, even enhancing the pieces themselves.

- One realizes, that the manufacture(s) at that time saw a certain pride to demonstrate, almost I am inclined to say"exhibit"
their appreciated wonders in a format which multiplies the pleasure of possession for the ownership !

- Also, the practical aspects ( less bulky) appear nice and convincing, next to interesting colors, of course - those
to be seen in the context of the times. - Furthermore , I have to say, that for these Vintage boxes ( but also the tags !),
even more care was given to the fonts, the shape of the plaques and accessories.
- Thus, such a very enjoyable post - THANK you, what a pleasure to look at !

On a personal note, I liked best the blue Geomatic box with the planisphere, the one ( specifically inside) for the Vintage DSA),
and the "scarlet" red in the end ( credit GregB) - which makes a showcase by itself.
And of course the LC for the Polaris, one which we can relive, meanwhile.
Also the more elegant small etuis - for those who want to change, are attractive and joyful to me.

- The more, as we all had appreciated the revival and re-edition of this very nice green Box ( Outer and inner !!) for the Tribute of the Polaris
( it displays my TT 68 very nicely, the Plexi next to it..), I appreciate a nice "gift wrap"..

Finally when looking at these boxes and reflecting a bit about those "repositoires" - for beloved pieces, I started to wonder,
whether there might be again a nice box - idea ( also re-edited ?) for the upcoming Tribute DSA, soon to be released.

- IMO, that would again, make a nice little additional treat - Don't you think ?

What a nice and considerate look back into a time,
when presentation elements of style where enhancing the objects of desire ,

Very enjoyable,

Best, hs )

Superb.

The box of the Reverso platinum Nr 1, 2 and the Septantieme, for example, are awesome, as well as those which housed the LE RG Reversos from the 90ies.

Superb, but they take some place...

Simpler, smaller and less luxurious, the box of the TT Polaris is really cool, and I do hope that JLC will deliver the TT DSAs in something which will be really close to the original, too.

I like a lot the philosophy of the etui. After all we molre often wear our watches than we stock them in their box, don't you think?

I would appreciate a lot if JLC provided, with a more decently sized box, an etui, which would be very practical if we want to bring our favourite watch during our travels...

Best, and thanks for your input, my friend.

Nicolas.

No message body

To answer your question, I much more prefer the rather simple 'etuis' compared to huge and overly luxurious looking (though frequently china made) precious wood box sets that we see too often these days, and that are not practicle.

I am in a rush, but just happened to have the big flat red LC 125th anniversary box with me at the office:

 

I know that at least the memovox ref 3025 that we just discussed yesterday came with this box at some point, and there is a very interesting story with that.

I have some documentation but unfortunately not scanned / not available today, so I will have to come back to that one later...

As big as a 13 " computer?

Very nice one, by the way. Can't waot to see your other pictures and documention about it.

Agreed with you that most of the modern boxes, even when they want to be luxurious, are not that appealing and absolutely not practical.

There is something to work on, for the Grande Maison,  in my opninion.

Looking forward to reading you,

Best.

Nicolas.

Nicolas,

The "1/ If you want to travel with a watch box on you, so the etui is THE solution for you.", is the solution.

I'm a little tired of the modern "big is better" boxes concept.

Cheers

If you're a  " one watch guy ", then why not a big, luxurious, extremely well  finished, and flattering box?

If you're a collector, things are morte complicated: Where to store all these big boxes?

Therefore, I wouldn't say that they are ugly, but I find them, most of the time, not very interesting.

Yes,  most of the time, bigger is not better.

Best, my friend.

Nicolas.

Nicolas, you have a wonderful collection of vintage boxes!

 

Thank you for posting this thread – this topic has puzzled me for a long time.

 

I have a million questions but very few answers…

 

I will have to gather my reflections and come back to this post - soon.

 

 

Best, my friend

 

Blomman

OK, Nicolas – here is an attempt to gather what I think I know so far…

 

If we just talk about the regular boxes and not the special once for a while.

 

In my thinking boxes pre-1983 can be divided into three colours:

 

Green, Blue, Brown.

 

To cover all the LeCoultre boxes is like trying to cover all LeCoultre Memovox…

 

So many different, so if I start with the Jaeger LeCoultre standard boxes:

 

Basically Three different types (all watches are only examples, I have no proof they belong to this exact type of box):

 

- Square paper box (like your white and blue, I count that one as blue).

I have seen green, blue and blue/white.

 

 

 

- Blue etui shaped (many different sizes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Leather boxes. I have seen blue and brown.

Many different heights with different logos and interiors.

 

Blue:

 

 

 

Brown:

 

 

 

 

From what I have observed (this might be questioned and/or be wrong):

 

- Green oldest, then blue and youngest brown.

 

- I think blue and brown was used overlapping under a period of time but in the early 70ties brown was dominant.

 

As for the red/burgundy I have only see so far for LeCoultre/special boxes.

 

 

Best, my friend

 

Blomman

No message body

Basically: Green, Blue, then Brown, with, as you said, at the end of the 60ies, circa1968, should I say, a 1 or 2 year period where you saw both blue and brown boxes.

Things are not easy with Burgundy boxes, and specially the box  of the DSA US ( Who  knows what was the box for the DSA Europe, by the way... ).

It appears that BOTH Red and Green boxes were correct for the DSA US.

You know what I would like to see?

Small nicely finished boxes: Take the small Vintage boxes, cover them with leather outside, choose a nice wood for the inside,  et voilà!

Same for the Etui.

Best,

Nicolas.

I have seen a few different.

 

Most LeCoultre late 50ties early 60ies. But some Jaeger LeCoultre as well!

 

The European DSA? That is a good question!

 

Same as the US? Didn’t the Polaris have the same box for both US and European version?

 

Here are some burgundy boxes…

 

 

 

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

Go to the 10th pic from the top of my original post...

The " golden " box is the correct one  for the JLC Polaris, while the green one is for the Lecoultre Polaris.

Definitely, the box for the European DSA is different, it cannot be a Lecoultre.

But which one???

Hmmm, this round red box with this Geopysic inisde, can we have more pics, please?

Best, Blomman.

Nicolas.

This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-05 22:14:13

Leather outer, wood frame.

 

No print on the outside.

 

 

Inside print: Jaeger Le-Coultre , Geophysic Chronometer.

 

 

 

With a extra room for the buckle

 

 

Any theory?

 

For the De Luxe model?

 

Never seen anymore like it.

 

 

Best, my friend

 

Blomman

But it is true that I've never seen the box of the Geophysic De Luxe...

So it may be the good answer.

Let's see what the others say or think...

Best,

Nicolas.

No message body

No message body

No message body

Well, that was really instructive, nice extension further to Nico's
stimulating post !

- The more, I look and listen to you both, the more
I get allured to the Etui- concept, IMO for most of the watches,

- maybe except the real 'grails' - but then, also the pertinent boxes
should be manufactured with a higher degree of finesse, touch and imagination for
beauty, relevance and presentation of the piece.

Sometimes, it really is a lot of 'something' ( almost inclined to say 'nothing')
around the piece.

Your look back has provided us with so nice further
appreciation, that often 'less is more' .

Enjoyable, as always !
- thank you, Blomman

Best, hs


PS:
- would hope that someone at JLC listens,
also for things to come

I for one would love to see the rectangular flat box again!

 

I do like the etui a lot, but they are not stackable…

 

The blue and brown rectangular are..!

 

But, like Nicolas suggested – with wooden frame and leather outer.

 

With high quality crafmanship!

 

Actually, the rectangular have a wooden frame inside.

 

As always, thank you for your kind words!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

what a way to start the month of May!

Very interesting and this is an auspicous start to the other items on the menu!

I found the Jubile case very interesting, its too bad its no longer made for the modern pieces.  This way, the boxes can be placed on a shelf and not in my closet. 

I am in agreement in that to the casual watch buyer, a bigger and presentable box should come with a multi-thousand dollar watch.  But to collectors, these are just more of an annoyance. 

Of all the modern boxes, I have to give kudos to Panerai as either wooden boxes make good strap boxes.

Its funny, some rolex buyers complain that their boxes are not the same quality as PP or PAM for that matter. 

Great reporting and nice piece of JLC history!  Merci!

I find the Rolex box has the right size. I would prefer something less cheap, though, but it is ok.

Panerai???

The Pre Vendome boxes were perfect, correcttyl sized, not too high, all the contrary of the modern Panerai boxes... I had up to 30 Pannies, my friend, and  stocking the boxes was a huge problem, even worse if you have a LE box.

Patek is a good compromise, yes, in size, but when I see their Calatrava packed in a rectangular carton box, I would have much preferred the same box, but in leather.

Aaah, the Jubilé box... One of my favourite!

Best, Phil.

Nicolas.

 

I have both the "etui" box and the Memovox box. They are totally different but have each there charm.

My pleasure is to store my watches for long period (2 or 3 week) in there boxes and when the desire is too great, I choose one and during the opening, it's like if I was 50 years earlier. Just like in a dream, you come back from the dealer and open your present at home.

This subject is almost never approached nevertheless he is very interesting for collector like us

I hear you, my friend, and I totally understand the pleasure you can feel while doing so, but believe me, a " nice " burglary will make you change your mind very quickly.

The Etui and the traditional box, yes, both are very cool!

Hope that JLC wil release such solutions for our beloved watches.

Best,

Nicolas.

It is so elegant that it hurts not to have it!!
J.

No message body

When I try out a new restaurant
Usually the main course is good when the starters are good.

What an interesting post. I just love the array of boxes
in your collection.

I'm a sucker for all things vintage, I would not be appealed, even if these modern boxes
were smaller in size. I agree that these huge modern boxes
are cumbersome.

Eagerly awaits the rest of courses.
Chef Sir.

.

Ed