Jaeger-LeCoultre

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finding the box is sometimes as much a thrill as finding the watch.

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That you found THE Superocean Time Only???

Please....



Best,

Nicolas.

To collapse, as you say in GB.



I'm runnign after the time only version for some 8 years, now...

Best

Nicolas.

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Always interesting to see these vintage boxes as they are rather rare - more so than their original content, no?

In reply to one of your question in the post: I would never be influenced by the box in evaluating whether to get a watch or not. Only exeption is of course when buying vintage where the question is more if the original box is there or not - not if it is beautiful or not. The few watch boxes I have all sit in the back of a closet and I never take them out to admire (even if some of them are very nice!).

I guess the boxes grew so large over the past years to accomodate all the paperwork that usually follow with the watches. Maybe now that the documentation is readily available to almost everybody on the brand internet sites the boxes could again come down in size. I would really prefer smaller boxes. Luxury does not depend on size and I think that finely made etui size packaging would be a refreshing change...

Thanks for another interesting post!

Nikolaj

It is the case for the Geophysic, for example.

Not for the Memovox E 855, as you can, with a bit of patience, find a correct box, with out too many efforts.

Yes, the volume of the papers increased a lot, now that you have them in all the possible languages. They look like a book, now, which has an influence on the volume of the box, or better said, which is one factor, one explanation.

Now, the market is not only american or european, or asian,  it is worldwide, so are the papers.

What to do, then?

A suggestion: A nice small box, very well conceived and practical, then an etui, to allow you to travel with your watch, and a wallet for the papers ( as you need the papers of your watch  if you cross a boarder ).

The owner's manual? Simple, basic, in English, and in your own language, Basta.

If you want more explanations, you could have access to an owner databank, which would provide you more explanations.

Food for thought...

Best,

Nicolas;

 

 

Thanks Nico and blomman for showing us your various vintage JLC boxes resp. etuis!

The smaller etuis are much more elegant and sophisticated than the huge boxes which accompany many of the contemporary timepieces (Grand Seiko is one exception, I think).
D´accord, if you buy a PC and the box is also providing an integrated winder (which I cannot afford, btw ), it´s o.k. to get a big box, but what´s the good in an "ordinary" 3 hand watch? It definitely makes a casual transport impossible. So what does the box offer apart from occupying storage area? It attracts the attention of suspicious elements hanging out in front of luxury watch shops . How discrete it would be to simply store the whole package in your inner coat pocket.
I also like the etuis, because they remind me of my pens which are sold with similarly slim etuis. It´s just very handy, if you have several ones and they do not obstruct your writing desk drawer. Imagine the pen industry would adopt the box style from the watch industry!

These overdimensioned boxes also remind my of deceptive packaging: huge box, small content. In Germany this is forbidden for many products and will be persecuted.

Not everything was better in the old days, but many watch boxes or etuis doubtlessly were!

Just the opinion of an old-fashioned grumbler,

 anaesdoc

No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-04 23:46:46

anaesdoc

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... i have read few times on your post before penning down my response here.

i would say you are not only a lawyer by training, but you are also fantastic writer that can make such so-called simple watch boxes in a fun and enjoyable post.

i think it is because you are lawyer professional, you can look into small and simple thing that people would usually and easily ignore.

regarding your questions, i remember when i bought my first relatively serious watch, it came with a huge box. that time i love the box and keep it safe as it represented the significant milestone for my watch journey. but after a while when getting more watches along with more such huge boxes, i just started it so annoying and in fact in reaching a stage that i don't know where to find space for them, LOL.

from your post, it seems the watch boxes had started to upsize since 70s. if my observation is correct, that was the time the watches were become funky and bulky too. for most watches, only the case size became bulky, not the hands, hour indices were also become larger and tended towards to be squared like as well as having 3D look.

i guess there must be something significant happening during that era.

since there is little tendency of resizing the watch size back to a more reasonable size, maybe it could also make watch boxes into a smaller size too so that it can be matched accordingly?!

well done and look forward to your another two posts for this May. thanks, Nico.

stefan

I rather think it is part of a marketting decision.

I mean, the Manufactures thought at a certain moment that luxury items had to be packaged in big boxes, to enhance the ( right or wrong, by the way ... ) feeling of Luxury, to " look " serious.

Sometimes, it is à propos, when the box is very nicely made and finished. Sometimes it is just ridiculous, in my opinion.

I would rather be in favor of much smaller boxes, better finished, more original, with a nice design.

Let's see what the future will bring us!

Best, Stefan.

Nicolas.

I am a big fan of packaging, particularly the method of how watches are packaged and presented. I especially like boxes, cigar humidors, and things of the like.

Thank for sharing this post and explaining to us how Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces were packaged in the past. This posting hits that special spot for me.

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Honestly, we all know the boxes are useless. They're stored in a closet, away from sight, never to be seen or used again. And this is coming from a person who pays great emphasis on packaging and presentation. In many ways, minimalism is probably better for everyone, but then it gets boring and in the world of one-up-manship, every firm wants to have a decent box.

I think honestly, that the boxes watches are presented in today are superfluous and unnecessary. In fact, I think that the emphasis on the box is really just a "box war" between brands since no brand wants to have a box that is severely lacking compared to another brand.

From an appreciation perspective, I personally appreciate woodwork, and I especially like lacquered wood boxes, humidors, etc. The wood box used by Patek Philippe is considered to be high quality upon a superficial glance. But upon closer inspection, the woodwork is not particularly fanciful, there is no use of veneers of especially fine wood, and the boxes are mass-produced in Thailand, not artisanal pieces. Then there are boxes from Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, and Breguet where the boxes truly are magnificent and traditionally made. And then there are watch boxes such as those for the Montblanc Villeret that is of (presumably) rosewood in a unique oval design.

Haven't really seen a watch box that I really loved for a long time. The last time I saw a box that I really loved was a pen box that came with a Montblanc Skeletonized pen made by Kurt Schaffo in 1999. To date, that is the most elaborate Montblanc pen box I've ever seen.

I think that the most beautiful box I've ever seen was for my Blancpain PC Chrono in white gold, and the one of my Septantieme.

Better than the PP boxes I had the opportunity to have.

Most of the time useless, though, except if they are small enough to be easily carried on a travel.

Can't agree more with your analysis, Patrick.

Best,

Nicolas;

Maybe the size of the box depends on the image of the brand or of a particular line of pieces from that brand.

I might expect a big box from Panerai, Hublot or AP.

I'd love a small, functional understated but well-made leather case for JLC like the etui(?) size for say, the Reverso.

It may paint a picture of what JLC is all about for that particular line.  Elegance in economy.  That it doesn't need to shout to introduce itself.

 

Yes, I think that the packaging should also reflect the image we have of the brand.

Can't agree  more with your words, and I do hope that the brands will read you.

Best,

Nicolas.

Outstanding condition almost like new.. Those boxes are just superb. Thanks for sharing.

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...the tremendous amount of work that goes into the design, shape and type
of printing used for consumer packaging. My younger sister has been in graphic
design for over twenty years and her stories of the demands of clients never
cease to amaze me.

Her clients must, of course, remain anonymous but include extremely large,
very well known and multi-national corporations who will sometimes spend
months researching the target demographics before approaching her firm with
a request for packaging.

Prior to committing to any design the clients convene "focus" groups and then study
these group's reactions to every element of the proposed package. These studies
can and do go on for months at a time. The end results however is always a
compromise between the company's artists and their "bean-counters."

I would imagine that "La Grande Maison" put the same amount of research,
resources and creative energy into their packages as they do into their watches.
Thank you Nicolas for proving this assumption correct.    
N

I feel functionality and pleasure are the two most important factors, here.

At least to me.

Best.

Nicolas.

Watch boxes are something I am very interested in.

I have around 250 vintage boxes of various brands. I am convinced that like bracelets there was 1,2 or very few companies making these accessories for all the major swiss watch manufacturers. The vintage Patek and Vacheron boxes might be slightly better quality however all of the brands had boxes that were remarkably similar in design to the ones of their competitors.

Does anyone have any idea who manufactured these items??

 

Regards,

 

oinkitt.