Jaeger-LeCoultre Triple Date Ref. 2721 Overview

With or without moonphase, the Triple date, made between the mid 40ies to the Mid Fifties, is certainly to be classified among the most beautiful Vintage JLCs.

Better than beautiful, I would say " refined ".

Let's focus here on the Triple Date.

An extract from the JLC catalog, circa 1947:



Two references were produced, the 2721 and the 2723.

The difference between the two references is mainly about the size, the 2721 case being 35 mm big, while the 2723 is 3 mm smaller.

Let's see all the details on this 2721...

1/ The case:

In my opinion, the " big " 35 mm case is more appealing than the " modest " 32 mm, which looks a bit too small.

The ratio diameter / thickness is excellent, the proportions are harmonious.



Two assets which enhance the class of this watch: The godroned side of the case, and the teardrop lugs.

The codes of " Belle Horlogerie " are here, obviously.







At 2 and 4 o'clock, you will find 2 small pushers: The lower is used to set the date, while the upper one allows to change the month.

The day is changed with the crown. Easy and practical.

Here you have a snap back case, and when you remove it, all comes: The case back and the dial, from the plexy and the case.



The non signed crown is slim, but easy to wind. When Elegance is not detrimental to comfort of use...

To be complete, I have to say that the Ref 2721 came in different metals: Stainless steel, solid gold, or stainless steel / gold.

2/ The Dial:

Like for the case, there were also different dials, with one common thing: The beauty.

Copper, silver, applied hour markers, or associated with applied numbers, luminous or not, black, dauphine hands or luminous skeleted, there was an impressive variation of possibilities.

I count a bit on Clavi to feed the topic on this matter, with some pictures from his collection, but just for the pleasure of the eyes, and for the need of the demonstration, here is one picture to be credited to him:



I will here focus on the black dial of my 2721, which is amazingly powerful and elegant at the same time.

A superb layout of the dial, with a very pleasant combination of colors.

A white minute indexes at the outside part of the dial, on which is stuck the date, in red, then the amber hour markers, the day and the month windows, and a generous small second subdial, all these elements literally exploding on a vibrant black dial.

Eye catching:





I'm not very sure that the skeleton losange gands are the correct ones, on my watch, as, as far as I know, I think they are differently shaped, like on the following picture:



For the pleasure 2 close up of this awesome dial, without any plexy:





This black dial is not only mesmerizing, it is also quite rare, even if I don't have the production numbers.

3/ The movement:

Here again, things are not simple, as there were 3 movements, the first one being the Cal 451/ A, which was produced between 1944 and 1945 in 400 pieces, then replaced by the Cal 464/ A between 1944 and 1945 in a production of 1800 pieces. ( Informations provided by Zaf Basha ).

Then came the Cal 484/ A which was used for both the Triple Date and the Triple Date Moonphase, produced between 1945 and 1949 in a quantity of 8250 movements.

The Cal 484/ A is a manual wound movement, offering a 50 hours power reserve, beating at 18 000 vibrations per hour, which received a gilt or a rodhium finish ( both have been observed ) and a pare choc protection.

As we speak about the finish of the movement, it is also one of the interest of the Triple Date, which has to be mentionned.

The anglages are awesome, the decoration is sober, both playing the partition of elegance.

Here are some pics borrowed, once again, to Clavi, pics which are worth any words:





4/ Thoughts and conclusion:

The criterias of a fine watch, in my opinion, are a fine case, a great dial and a nice movement.

I do think that these cirterias are gathered in these Vintage JLC Triple Dates, Moonphase or not, as demonstrated above.

The rich diversity of these watches will allow each of us to hunt and find our own Triple Date, if we ever find one.

Indeed, these watches cannot be considered as rare, as they were produced from 1947 to 1955, according to the catalogs, but finding a specimen in good condition is not that an easy mission, and, if you add the different movements used on them, you can approximatively deduce that The Triple Dates, moonphase or not, were produced at around 15 000 pieces, which is not that common.

At this time, there were not cheap watches, as the last known MSRP, in 1952, for a Ref 2721 or 2723 ( no difference in the price, though ) was 240 Swiss Francs, for the stainless steel version.

The Triple Date is certainly one of these watches which are strongly linked to the D.N.A of the Grande Maison.

Indeed, the roots are so strong that even nowadays, we have a modern version of this historical watch, since its rebirth in the mid 90ies.

One last point about the size, for those who wonder if even the " big " case is not too small, and better than words, a shot, on a 17 centimeters hairy wrist:



Definitely a watch to fall in love with, and to definitely consider in a Vintage JLC Collection, in my point of view.



Best to All,

Nicolas.
This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-01-08 08:17:57 This message has been edited by amanico on 2013-01-12 06:58:13