Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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An In Depth Review of The Mark 7 A

This is my latest addition ( and probably my last ) in my short Vintage Military JLC watches collection.

From Left to Right: Mark 7 A ( 1942 ), Mark 7 A Weems ( late 1942 ), WWW ( 1944 ) and Mark 11 ( 1953 ) :



I already made a post about these Mark V 7 A Weems, WWW and Mark 11, so I will only focus here on the simple Mark 7 A, or should I better use the plural as there were 2 " simple " Mark 7 A.

The more current, and better known Mark 7 A with the thin case and lugs: ( Picture by courtesy of JLC Heritage Gallery )



The much rarer Mark 7 A with the bigger case and and fatter lugs: ( Credit pic: Zaf Basha )



In fact, it seems that the bigger case with fatter lugs is a kind of transitional Mark 7 A.

I mean that the first Mark 7 A seemed to be the Weems, since 1940, and that then came the big case, in 1942, just before the release of the current Mark 7, with the thin case, in 1943

Aproximatively 1000 Weems were made, and 4 000 " simple " Mark 7 A.

From these 4 000, less than 1000, according to Zaf, came with the bigger case, to give you an idea.

These numbers are to be compared with the 2950 Mark XI, and the much more common WWW ( less than 10 000 ).

Let's go back to the Mark 7 A.

I/ The dial:

The first thing which " jumps " to the eyes is that the dial is signed Lecoultre although the watch is delivered to the British Army, and looks very close to the Mark 7 A Weems dial.



This is an unusual mismatch, as the movement is signed Jaeger Lecoultre...

Why?

There is no official explanation, here.

The most probable explanation is that these watches were delivered in hurry, and that there was no other choice than using the available dials in stock...

There are a few exceptions, tough, as some dials came with the Jaeger-Lecoultre Signature, refinished by the Ministry Of Defense ( MOD ), but here again, we can also find the Lecoultre Signature, as shown below ( Don't know who to credit for this picture ).



The hands are the same than on the Weems, and curiously shaped on mine, although some other 6 B had the same, like the Omega, for example, so, to me, on mine, these spade hands have probably been replaced.

Here a picture with the correct hands on another Mark 7 A " Big Case " ( to be credited to Zaf, once again ) :



II/ The case:

Here, the early Mark 7 A , and the " normal " 7 A share the same case, in shape and dimensions ( 32 mm / 33 mm for the Mk 7 A Weems ).

Still, there are some significant differences.

- The most visible of them is the thicker case and lugs of the early model.





To be compared with the " normal Mark 7 A:



It depends on everyone's taste, but to me, the Big case gains in strength what it looses in Elegance, but is Elegance the first purpose of a Military Watch?



- The 7 A no Weems have a chromium plated case ( except the case back, which is stainless steel ), while the 1942 version is all stainless steel.

The 1943 Mark 7 A ( pic to be credited to Zaf ) :



The 1942 Mark 7 A:



You will also observe that on the 42, the crown is much thinner.

- The lugs are fixed on the 43, while spring bars are mounted on the 42.

1943 ( Credit pic to ...Zaf, again ) :



- The case back received 2 different kind of writings on the 43:

" AM ", like on the 42, indicating the issue year, or the typical British Arrow, with no issue year. while the 42 has only the AM engravings, with the year of release.

Here, the Mark 7 A 1942:



Both 42 and 43 have a snap back case, with a different engraving, inside:



While on the 43, it is written " Acier inoxydable fab suisse ".

III/ The movements:

Let's make it simple:

2 movements are mainly used on the Mark 7 A: The Cal 450, and the Cal 470.

Both share the same dimensions ( 28, 25 mm big, 4, 55 high ), display a Central Second, beat at 18 000 alternances per hour, and 15 jewels ( sometimes 17 ) .

The main difference is that the 470 has a gilt finish.

Chronologically, things are simple, as the Cal 450 was used on the Mark 7 A Weems and non Weems till 1942, and was changed for the Cal 470 since 1943.

Here a Lecoultre Cal 450, housed in an US Weems ( note the VXN engraving )



And there, the Cal 450 in the 1942 Mark 7 A:



So, the Mark 7 A big case necessarily uses the Cal 450 of the Weems.

IV/ General thoughts and Conclusion on the Mark 7 A 1942:

The 1942 model is certainly the less known Mark 7 A, and the less known Vintage JLC Military watch, compared to the WWW, The Weems, and the Mark 11.

Still, it is not the less interesting watch.

Its transitional and short life makes it rare, and especially, elegant.





When you first see it, you are far away from thinking that you're in presence of a Military watch: No traditional black dial, a very modest size, you really have to turn the watch to begin to understand that it conveys a Military past, a Story.

Actually, it has all the virtues to be a Military watch: The accuracy ,and reliability, the legibility, the simplicity, and, with the 1942 Mark 7 A, a very attractive " Bad Boy " look, due ot its thicker, yet elegant case.

As always, be very careful with Numbers:

When you read that the case is 32 mm " big ", you're instinctively thinking " Not for me...Way too small..No way. "

I'm not trying to convince you that you're in presence of a big watch.

It is indeed a small one, but ...Too small?

Let's see it on my 17 cm Wrist, which is an average ( human ) wrist size:



I' ll let everyone making his own opinion, but mine is made, and I truely love wearing it!

Undisputably, another piece of History from JLC.

Do you hear the Spitfire roooaaaaaring?



Best,

Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-11-15 14:03:26 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-11-18 03:42:30

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