JLC Marine Nationale SHOM Watch History

You certainly remember than some months ago, I wrote something about the SHOM, a post which can be read here, for the most curious of us:

jlc.watchprosite.com

We had the pleasure to discover the Ref 159, housing a reliable and accurate Cal P 478 which was produced between 1945 and 1965.







You will, without any doubt remember one of these advertisings, from Jaeger: " Horloger de la Marine de l' Etat ( Watchmaker of the State Marine ) from 1931:



Let me know share with you another (and later ) chapter of JLC and SHOM common History Book.

I had the honor to have between my hands, for a few days before it goes to an auction house, Millon Et Associés, a very special and important watch, a Jaeger-LeCoultre sent to the Marine Nationale Service Central Hydrographique.

Here is a part of the watch history, through a scan which was sent to me:



From the first Class Chief Hydrographe, Chief of the scientific instruments, Mr Le Fur, to ( a French Officer ) Mr Polony, based in St Pierre D'Oleron:

"... I have the pleasure to inform you that the S.C.H sent you a wristwatch in stainless steel, water resistant, leather strap, fitted with a Jaeger Box.

The watch is under warranty for 2 years.

In case of problem, you will have to contact the Jaeger Factory, 1 Rue Vernier, Paris.

The watch has been regulated for an accuracy of 15 seconds per day.

Watch 910 164. "

The watch in question has been sent by mail on the 2d of February 1967, and the decision had been taken on November,16th, 1966, according to this document.

We also have an idea on the way this watch was bought: First ordered to Jaeger France, then sent to the Service Central Hydrographique, then shipped to the future wearer who belongs to the French S.H.

Let's discover this mysterious watch first, to understand how interesting it is.

Let me warn you, you will have a huge surprise, if you read this post till the end...

1/ The dial:



At first glance, it looks like the dial of the SHOM we already know.

At first glance only, because there are three big differences:

- The minute indexes are centered.

- The hands are shorter than on the first SHOM.

- This M.N came much after the first SHOM, which is clearly visible on the hour markers, which are not radium anymore, but tritium, now.

Simple, yet elegant, and very legible, it is a toolwatch, and a nice one, which perpetuates the spirit of the first batch of SHOMs.

2/ The case:



Compared to the former SHOM from the end of the Fourties, there are, here again, some strong similarities:

- The diameter of the case is the same: 34 mm.

- The side of the case is brushed, while the top is polished.

- Same shape of the lugs.



But there are some important differences between the 2 watches:

- The lugs are drilled on the first SHOM, not on the later one.

- The bezel is larger on the later.

- The crown, smaller and thicker, is signed on the later.





3/ The case back:

The differences are much more important, here.

While on the first SHOM, you had the engraving of the Service initials " S.H " then the number, on the later one, you have much more writings, as you can see here, and the the anchor, symbol of the French Marine.



When I saw the symbol of the French Marine, it immediately made me think about the shape of the applied JL logo on the buckle:



Don't you think we are on something, here, and that the JL logo is shaped like an anchor?

Inspired element of design, or historical significance?

The other detail which jumps to the eyes is that while the SHOM has a snap back case, the case back is screwed on the Marine Nationale, to insure water resistance, which is an important improvement.



The case number provides an interesting information:

With a 9xx xxx number, we can think that the watch was made around the year engraved on the case back ( 1965 ) even if I think it is a bit before, around 1963 / 1964.

In fact that is the first time I see case number higher than the movement number, and you will see why when we'll speak about the movement, but this is truly an uncommon phenomenon.

The inside part of the case back is common with the SHOM one, signed LeCoultre and bearing the mentions " acier inxydable / Swiss ".



4/ The movement:

Here is the divine surprise...

Remove the case back, and ...

Does it look familiar to you?



YES! The famous Cal P 478 / BWSBr... The Geophysic movement!

Thanks to its movement number, which is 1 373 xxx, we can date this Chronometre to... 1959.

Of course, as each P 478 / BWSBr, it hacks, and its accuracy is much better than the 15 secs per day, as requested by the French Marine in its order...

A reliable movement, but also a very pleasant one to admire:







5/ The interest of this watch:

I see at least two interesting points, here.

- This Marine Nationale belongs to the category of watches with not only a story, but also with History, like the Military watches, the SHOM, and the Geophysic.

- This is one of the missing links ( I now think it is indeed more prudent to use the plurial ) when it comes to Chronometers ( Torpedo Boat pocket watch, Cal 170, Mark 11, SHOM, Geophysic, Geomatic, Cal 906 ).

Now, we also have this one, and certainly a few others, but I will come back to that in a dedicated topic.

- It is certainly a rare bird, as many of the collectors never heard about it, with its part of Mystery, due to the use of a Ref 159 case, which uses a srew in case back ( technical improvement, compared to the normal Ref 159 ), and houses the famous Geophysic Calibre.

Which are its origins? Special order from the SCH to the Manufacture? How many were made?

This lack of clear answers is regrettable for the collective knowledge, but a good thing for the fantasy and the imagination.

Sometimes, it is indeed not that bad to not have all the answers to our interrogations...

Looking forward to reading your comments,

Best.

Nicolas.

Aknowledgement: Sincere thanks to Didier Guedj, for having let me take some pics of the watch in question, and for the first picture of this post.

NB: This auction will be held at the Hotel Drouot, in Paris, on the 27th of May, for those who are interested. This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-18 01:03:24 This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-20 13:59:37