Friends,

Over at the Girard-Perregaux forum I have been posting a series of “Throwback Thursday” posts.

Now I would like to include Jaeger-LeCoultre in this series.

Let’s start with 1964. Why 1964? What happened in 1964?

Well, the boxer Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali and the heavyweight champion of the world…

Roy Orbison sang “Oh, Pretty Woman”…

Our dear Jaeger-LeCoultre Moderator Nicolas was born…

And: The British Air Minister is selling out some of their Jaeger-LeCoultre E 161 watches a.k.a. the Mk 11!

The JLC Mk 11 had only a short run, 1948 – 1953, 2950 pieces in total, compared with its sister the IWC Mk 11 which were produced for several decades and approximate 9000 pieces. (Info credit Markeleventrackingpage)

Not long ago we discussed which was the first ever wrist watch chronometer from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Was it the E 161 with the Calibre 488/SBr?

Interesting to see is the beautiful decoration of the 488/SBr, a Military watch, a tool watch.

Or was it the E 168 with the Calibre P478/BWSBr?

The decoration of the P478/RWSBr is much less than on the Military ancestor.

With the E 161 is that there are no indications of Chronometre on the dial, movement or case.

Compared with the E 168, the Geophysic which has the “Chronometre” stated on the dial.

The British Minister of Defence had Chronometre specifications when ordering the Mk 11. 

But was the E 161 an Officially Certified Chronometre?

We know that some of the Calibre 448/SBr were sent to the Kew Observatory, the King’s Observatory or as it is referred to in this ad, the Royal Observatory.

“The Cream of Air Ministry watch releases! From the Royal Observatory. Can be synchronised to one second!”

Now the question is if all Calibre 448/SBr for the E 161 were sent to the Observatory or only a few?

The ingress leaves it open for interpretations…

“From the Royal Observatory”, i.e. all of them has been there?

“Can be synchronised”, it has been proven that the Calibre 448/SBr is able of Chronometre specifications but not all has been sent to the Observatory?

Further down in the ad its stated “They are capable of being rated to chronometer accuracy”.

Capable..? So, no real conclusive here more than – yes, at least some of the Calibre 448/SBr for the E 161 were in fact sent to the British Observatory.

Question is, were all of them Chronometre officially certified?

If yes, why is this fact not presented anywhere else?

Why no indication on the watches?

One day we might get the answer…

Best

Blomman

PS. I recommend to read the full ad, a lot of fun and interesting details here.