rdenney
363
Mine looks like the slightly later version...
Jan 28, 2015,12:23 PM
...that is in your 1955 catalog, but it's only a minor variation on the example in the 1945 catalog. I dated the movement, not the watch, so it's possible that the watch was made a year or three later, and perhaps the dial migrated to the later design right after your 1945 catalog.
But I have seen a number of examples (though in pictures of unconfirmed origin) at were the same reference but had raised Arabics instead of painted Arabics. But I rather thought the 2953's all used the 12-1/2''' movement and used an inner minute track to keep the hands the same length as the 33mm watches that used a smaller caliber 820. Those seem to put the minute track around the outer edge. Note that the seconds hand on mine is almost exactly the right length, though it was labeled in the seller's parts bin as being for the caliber 820. Perhaps by the late 50's, they abandoned that bit of possible interchangeability.
Thank you for providing the details--I love having the promotional material for the interesting watches in my collection.
Rick "for whom the research is part of the fun" Denney
Comments:
view entire thread
Sweden’s biggest order of JLC watches through history?!
By: blomman Mr Blue : January 27th, 2015-12:24
Friends, Some years ago I found this ad from 1957: As gifts to employees that had been with the company for 25 years or more, the Swedish Metal Association ordered for their 50 years anniversary a total of 1276 Jaeger-LeCoultre gold watches! What I find i...
Well Blomman
By: Starman : January 27th, 2015-13:08
Past couple of years I am afraid a lot of companies were not that loyal to their employees either! Hope companies don't start giving away JLC watches; we have to keep it our little big secret. Still a nice piece of history in general and of JLC history; t...
I have no clue why ....
By: blomman Mr Blue : January 27th, 2015-13:38
They choose JLC... Best deal on 1276 watches..? These are solid gold. Yes, the work climate changes... Best Blomman
I would say both....
By: blomman Mr Blue : January 27th, 2015-13:40
It is a very small angle on the dial if I don't recall wrong, but it is also different surface/tone on the inner and outer part of the dial. Thank you, my friend. Best Blomman
Mine seems to be all one color
By: rdenney : January 27th, 2015-22:36
Blomman, you and I have corresponded about my JLC ref. 2953 that is identical to the lower picture in your 12-1/2''' catalog page. Perhaps you found that page as a result of our correspondence. I do believe that the change in color is not two-tone, but ra...
I haven't forgot about your request, Rick!
By: blomman Mr Blue : January 28th, 2015-10:49
Hi Rick and welcome here (officially)! Yes, your request and the fact that my friend showed me the same reference triggered this post! And also my question if the Swedish order had special dials... Your watch from 1945 have the same dial as in the catalog...
Mine looks like the slightly later version...
By: rdenney : January 28th, 2015-12:23
...that is in your 1955 catalog, but it's only a minor variation on the example in the 1945 catalog. I dated the movement, not the watch, so it's possible that the watch was made a year or three later, and perhaps the dial migrated to the later design rig...
Here are a few data points...
By: rdenney : January 28th, 2015-13:20
...from past for-sale listings by Zaf Basha: He believes the dial to have been refinished perfectly. The movement also dates to 1945. The seconds hand is the same shape as mine, though gold, but the minutes and hours hands have the same dauphine shape. He...
The Swedish version is 35.5 mm
By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-13:02
I would rule out all watches with other case shapes/lugs and other calibers as other references than 2953... I can't be 100% sure, but normally if different case shape = different reference. Same goes for movement... I have asked for my friends movement n...
I suspect the 2953 had several different dials over the years
By: rdenney : January 27th, 2015-22:42
I have seen photos of watches that responded to searches on the reference 2953 that had applied Arabics on the cardinal positions as this one does. But the late-50's date is much different than what I suspect is the mid-40's date of the watch in your cata...
