| Author | Message | ||
     Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Zaf, I have 1 of these, mvmt. serial #612,2--, in a round 18k case with tear-drop lugs; dial, case and movement all signed 'LeCoultre'. Would this have been 1 of the 4,500 movements exported to the US you mention on p. 68 of your book? The watch cases you mention don't seem to cover this one. By the way, great book!!! Thanks, Chris. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4480 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
So your rectangular movement is in a round case? | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Yes - photo attached. Comment? Thanks!  | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Incidentally, there is another round-cased one very like mine with a shaped cal. 486/AW 17j movement for 'sale' on farfo.com, but the case is 14k instead of 18k, and it doesn't have teardrop lugs. As you will see, the day/month apertures on these round dials are closer together to accommodate the wheels of the rectangular movements, than will be found on round dials with the larger, round 15j movements. Cheers, Chris | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4482 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the photo, OK, so what is your question? Whether that combo belongs in an 18k tear drop case? Can you provide a photo of the dial side? | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Sorry - no photo of the dial side of the movement. I wondered where this watch fits in terms of the 5,000 cal. 486/AW movements you refer to being made in 1949, with 4,500 exported to the US and split between the 1949 rectangular edition and round-cased gold-filled watches. Some of those round-cased watches seem to have been 14k and 18k solid gold cases - ? | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4486 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Definitely 14k which is an omission in terms of the book. I have not seen that configuration in an 18k USA bound watch with that case style. | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Zaf, I appreciate the response. | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
By the way, here is a picture of the inside of the back, showing the hallmarks, etc., and the LeCoultre signature.  | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4487 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Looks like a Swiss made case, made for the American market. I must say I have not seen this setup before with the rectangular movement. They're typically gold filled, or 14k *USA made* cases with straight lugs. Not Swiss made 18k cases with tear drops. Honestly, I am more comfortable with how this one is marked: http://www.classicwatch.com/discus/messages/732/39919.html?1268765610 albeit 14k. | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Zaf - isn't the 14k case shown in your attachment also a Swiss made case? It has the Squirrel 14k hallmark and the tree JLC hallmark, and doesn't say 'cased in USA' as far as I can see. So if JLC made 14k cases in Switzerland for the US market, why not the odd 18k one too, as they were making them anyway for the European market? | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4489 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
That's certainly possible. Is the back marked with a serial number and an "A"? | ||
| Christopherg New member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Uh, no - the back is unmarked - as is, I note, the back of the beautiful JLC pink 18k gold round-case tear-drop lug triple date moonphase you have for sale (ref. rx2690). I'm guessing that case was not made in Switzerland as it doesn't seem to have the usual hallmarks. It's all so complicated! | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4490 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
The "ladies head" on the insides is a Swiss Hallmark. On my example, it's normal, it is a Spanish market case, so all bets are off in terms of markings. |