| Author | Message | ||
     John Ireland New member Username: Figcar Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2004 Rating: N/A |
And so it begins...just grabbed my second LeCoultre off ebay. There were others but I liked the dial and the condition of the case on this one the best. But what did I buy? I'm guessing it is a less complicated version of the basic Futurematic. And perhaps with some of the fragilness of the Future? I've never been a believer in the purpose of the power reserve indicator but the elegance and the history of the company makes me happy to own whatever I'm lucky enough to afford. The case is 35mm (36mm including the crown?) so I am guessing this is one of the bigger Powermatics. Am curious if LeCoultre made/sold watches with just their name outside the USA. Example my Duo Plan only has the Norwegian jeweler's name on the dial and the movement is signed LeCoultre...no Jaeger anywhere to be found. Also questions as to why the bumper automatic (also used by just about everyone but Rolex)? It seems a "second best" solution to the auto wind problem...so why didn't everyone go with the full spinning rotor...was it a copyright/patent issue? Here are the pix...would love opinions and information. Thanks, John   | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 676 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Hi there, looks like a pretty nice example. The movement in there caliber 481, is not an ancestor of the caliber 497, but rather the caliber 476. The 497 & 481 are pretty much unrelated in terms of design. The 481 have a notoriously finicky power reserve indicator, often not going all the way down or getting stuck altogther, they can be tricky to set up right. To answer your other questions, LeCoultre OR Jaeger was used until 1937, then it was LeCoultre in the US, JLC elsewhere and Jaeger for some markets like France and for instruments. As far as the bumper, they are bi directional whereas the very early full rotors where uni-directional, so perhaps some though the bumper was the way to go until it became obvious that this was obsolete technology by the 1960s. | ||
| John Ireland New member Username: Figcar Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2004 Rating: N/A |
Well the powermatic arrived and is better than the pictures. The case is 35mm...36 w/ the crown. It was completely wound down and in the red on the power reserve...and I was surprised at how quickly it wound up. It's on my wrist and running fine...needs a more impressive band, maybe a peanut croc. The dial isn't as pale as in the pics...more soft and yellowy... candle-light white I think paint makers call it. I'm not sure the crown is correct...it isn't signed but it may have just worn off. I'll check it out at a vintage watch store with the same model. Anyway it is beautiful...and I'm very happy. John. |