| Author | Message | ||
     Christopherg Junior Member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 12 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
I have just seen online a watch described as a 1940s vintage Reverso. The dial is signed Jaeger-LeCoultre, but it has no seconds hand at all. The movement is not pictured but is described as '17j manual winding, adjusted 4 positions, monometallic balance, straight line lever'. Is the absence of a seconds hand troubling? Or was that fairly common in the '40s? Chris | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4512 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
The no seconds hand model is generally the first variant of the Reverso, most often with just "Reverso" on the dial, so if it's stamped "Jaeger-LeCOultre" on the dial, I'd say it would need a very close look. Something doesn't match up. | ||
| Christopherg Junior Member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Zaf. As I said, this one purports to be 1940s and otherwise appears to be just that - except for the lack of a centre seconds hand. Case is 18k gold case in a steel frame. Photo attached. What do you think?  | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4514 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I think it is genuine, but it looks like a 1980s/early 1990s one. | ||
| Christopherg Junior Member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 14 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Zaf - that sounds right to me. | ||
| Christopherg Junior Member Username: Christopherg Post Number: 15 Registered: 03-2010 Rating: N/A |
Zaf, you are going to love this. The watch in question was a lot in an online auction catalog, described, as I said, as a 1940s Reverso, but with no picture of the movement. After our conversation above, I contacted the auction house with my concern about the dating of the watch, and requested a photo of the movement. I was assured that it was indeed a 1940s watch, and that a photo would be sent. Lo and behold, when the watch was opened, the movement was a cal. 846 from the 1980s Classic Edition of the watch, just as you predicted. The catalog description is now being corrected. Well done! | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4519 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
That's why they pay me the big bucks. |