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Jaeger-LeCoultre

Sweden’s biggest order of JLC watches through history?!

Jan 27, 2015,12:24 PM
 

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 interesting with this article is:

- Swedish connection to the JLC brand in the 1950’s. As a vintage collector I can only say that Sweden never was a big market for JLC.

- At that time, this must have been considered a very generous gift.

- A company with over 1200 people that had been with the company over 25 years! Today I don’t think it is that common for people to be that loyal to their work.


So, why do I show you this ad now? Well, these watches pop up occasionally here in Sweden for sale. I never got one, but a friend of mine did. And a few weeks ago he showed it to me…

smile


Reference 2953 in 18 K yellow Gold, manual caliber 12 ½.





What is very interesting is that from the looks of it this watch has a special dial. Or the ref 2953 did exist with several different dials?


This is the “normal” look of the 2953. Two tone zone dial.






Would be interesting to know if these dials were special ordered…





This was not a one-time order; I have seen these watches dated all the way to 1961.

This  particular piece is from 1959.





A fun part of watch collecting is to know the history of your watches, don’t you think?!

smile

 

Best

Blomman

This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-01-27 12:25:33


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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

2953: Two tone or " pie " dial? Superb post, by the way. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 27th, 2015-13:11

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

Probably... We'll have to investigate! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 27th, 2015-13:53

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...  

Welcome here, Rick! Nice watch, and very nice movement, too. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 27th, 2015-22:51

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...  

Our favourite Archivist is here. ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 28th, 2015-12:04

As always! ;) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-12:52

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... 

The research is a BIG part of the fun! :) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-12:53

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... 

There is one watch which makes me think about the 2953...

 
 By: amanico : January 27th, 2015-22:49
This one... P 476. But which is not... Best, Rick. ...  

See my reply above [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 28th, 2015-10:50

Excellent story Blomman, TFS! [nt]

 
 By: Asimut : January 28th, 2015-10:54

Thank you, Asi! :) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 28th, 2015-11:04